Image © Jonathan Borba, Unsplash; under a creative commons licence.
Names ending in a are among parents' top choices for baby girls in the UK at the moment.
Of the top 10 most popular girls' names of 2020 so far, 6 of them end in a. So why are they proving so popular?
Putting aside the fact that girl names ending in a are some of the prettiest out there, the simple fact of the matter is that the way European languages have evolved has also made them some of the most common. Traditionally, the female form of Latin names end in a. This means that many of the Latinate languages of Europe (as well as English and the various other languages that are so heavily influenced by Latin), from which so many of our favourite names derive, have naturally produced a whole host of girl names that end with a. It is also traditional in various other languages to create female names out of male names by adding the suffix 'a', making girl names ending in a both prevalent and beloved the world over.
From Olivia to Layla, Mia to Sophia, we've got tons of the top names to help you make your selection. Whether you're looking for something well-loved or attempting to steer clear of the most common choice, our list of girl names ending in a should provide you with all the inspiration you need.
Carmela -(Hebrew origin) means 'orchard'.
Helena -(Greek origin) means 'light'.
Gina -(Italian origin) means 'queen'.
Juna -(Latin origin) means 'June'.
Ivanka -(Slavic and Hebrew origin) means 'God is gracious'.
Mikela - (Hebrew origin) means 'who is like God'.
Bella -(Italian origin) means 'beautiful'.
Asia -(Greek origin) means 'the rising sun' or 'lively'.
Amaya -(Arabic origin) means 'night rain'.
Elsa -(Hebrew origin) means 'God's promise'.
Frida -(German origin) means 'peace'.
Dora -(Greek origin) means 'gift'.
Ariana -(Italian origin) means 'most holy'.
Alexa -(Greek origin) means 'defender of man'.
Ciana -(Italian origin) means 'God is gracious'.
Ayla -(Hebrew origin) means 'oak tree'.
Dana -(Hebrew origin) means 'God has judged'.
Danika -(Slavic origin) means 'morning star'.
Mia -(Italian origin) means 'mine'.
Gia -(Italian origin) means 'God is gracious'.
Nova -(Latin origin) means 'new'.
Alyssa -(Greek origin) means 'noble' or 'rational'.
Zoya - (Persian or Greek origin) means 'life'.
Bianca -(Italian origin) means 'white'.
Athena -(Greek origin) referring to the goddess Athena of wisdom and war from Greek mythology.
Flora -(Latin origin) means 'flower'.
Juanita -(Spanish origin) means 'God is gracious'.
Anya -(Russian origin) means 'grace' or 'gracious'.
Carolina -(Latin origin) means 'free man'.
Lyra -(Greek origin) refers to 'a lyre' (a small, harp-like instrument).
Cara -(Latin origin) means 'beloved' or 'dear'.
Lila -(Arabic or Persian origin) means 'night'.
Zara -(Arabic or Hebrew origin) means 'blossoming flower' or 'lady'.
Octavia -(Latin origin) means 'eighth'.
Anna -(Hebrew origin) one of the top names on our list, Anna has been a consistently high performer in popularity lists for years. It is said to be derived from the Hebrew 'Hannah' and means 'grace'.
Angelina -(Greek or Italian origin) means 'messenger' or 'angel'.
Mila -(Russian origin) means 'dear' or 'gracious'.
Rosa -(Latin origin) means 'rose'.
Jenna -(English origin) means 'fair one'.
Ophelia -(Greek origin) means 'help'.
Gabriella -(Hebrew origin) means 'God is my strength'.
Inesa -(Greek origin) means 'pure' or 'innocent'.
Elora -(Hebrew origin) means 'God is my light'.
Sasha -(Greek origin) means 'to defend'.
Alicia -(German origin) means 'noble'.
Katiya -(Russian origin) means 'pure'.
Martha -(Latin or Aramaic origin) means 'lady'.
Aria -(Italian origin) means 'air'.
Lana -(Greek or Slavic origin) means 'light'.
Etta -(English origin) the short form of 'Henrietta', Etta is believed to mean 'ruler of the home'.
Rebecca -(Hebrew origin) means 'to tie' or 'to bind'.
Nora -(Arabic origin) means 'light'.
Lucia -(Italian origin) means 'light'.
Lena -(Hebrew origin) means 'woman of Magdala'.
Estella -(Latin origin) means 'star'.
Susanna -(Hebrew or Greek origin) means 'lily'.
Talia -(Hebrew origin) means 'dew of heaven'.
Eleanora -(Arabic or Greek origin) means 'God is my light' or 'light'.
Zora -(Slavic origin) means 'dawn'.
Kayla -(Hebrew origin) means 'crown of laurels'.
Genna -(English origin) means 'white wave'.
Monica -(North African or Latin origin) means 'advisor'.
Fiona -(Gaelic or Scottish origin) means 'fair'.
Corrina -(Greek origin) means 'maiden'.
Lyla -(Arabic origin) means 'night'.
Pippa - (Greek or English origin) means 'horse-lover'.
Fara -(Arabic origin) means 'happiness'.
Keira -(Hebrew origin) means 'a beam of light'.
Camila -(Italian or Latin origin) means 'perfect' or 'unblemished'.
Lola -(Spanish origin) means 'sorrows'.
Fia -(Latin origin) means 'fire' or 'flame'.
Joanna -(Greek, Hebrew or Latin origin) means 'God is gracious'.
Natasha - (Russian origin) means 'born on Christmas day.'.
Imara -(Swahili origin) means 'strong'.
Greta -(German origin) means 'pearl'.
Isla -(Scottish origin) this beautiful name, derived from the name of a Scottish island, has become increasingly popular over the past few years.
Diana -(Latin or Greek origin) means 'divine'.
Lydia -(Greek origin) means 'from Lydia'.
Zinnia -(Latin origin) means 'flower'.
Jessica -(Hebrew origin) means 'gift' or 'to behold'.
Samantha -(Hebrew origin) means 'God heard' or 'listener'.
Willa -(German origin) means 'protection'.
Clarissa -(Latin origin) means 'clear' or 'bright'.
Kamila -(Arabic origin) means 'young person in religious service'.
Aurora -(Latin origin) a newer (but no less beautiful) addition to the more habitually popular names on the list, Aurora means 'dawn'.
Lia -(Italian origin) derived from the Hebrew 'Leah' which means 'weary'.
Eva -(Hebrew origin) means 'life'.
Julianna -(Latin origin) means 'young' or 'youthful'.
Dahlia -(Hebrew or Scandinavian origin) meaning 'flowering branch' or 'valley flower'.
Linda -(Italian or Spanish origin) means 'pretty' or 'beautiful'.
Dina -(Hebrew origin) means 'judged'.
Dania -(Hebrew origin) means 'God's my judge'.
Luna -(Latin origin) a newer addition to the popularity charts (allegedly thanks to John Legend and Chrissy Teigen!), Luna means 'moon'.
Inessa -(Russian origin) means 'chaste'.
Bea -(from the Latin 'Beatrix') means 'she who brings happiness'.
Samara -(Arabic origin) means 'protected by God' or 'guardian'.
Isabella -(Hebrew origin) means 'pledged to God'.
Johanna -(Hebrew or Greek origin) means 'God is gracious'.
Baya -(Spanish origin) means 'berry'.
Sophia/Sofia -(Greek origin) means 'wisdom'.
Victoria -(Latin origin) means 'victory'.
Adriana/Adrianna -(Latin origin) means 'man of Adria'.
Livia -(Latin origin) means 'envious'.
Liza -(Hebrew origin) means 'God is my oath'.
Pamela -(Greek origin) means 'all honey' or 'sweetness'.
Ella -(German origin) there are several supposed meanings of this name, our favourite of which is 'fairy maiden'.
Cassandra -(Greek origin) means 'prophetess'.
Sylvia - (Latin origin) means 'of the forest'.
Christina -(Greek or Latin origin) means 'Christian'.
Ava -(Latin origin) means 'life'.
Yolanda -(Greek or French origin) means 'violet'.
Miranda -(Latin origin) means 'admirable'.
Arabella -(Latin origin) means 'given to prayer'.
Dayla -(Hebrew origin) means 'bough' or 'branch'.
Delia -(Greek origin) form the Greek island, 'Delos'.
Erica -(Old Norse origin) means 'eternal ruler'.
Eliza -(Hebrew origin) means 'God is my oath'.
Freya -(Old Norse origin) means 'lady'.
Amelia -(German origin) means 'work'.
Julia -(Latin origin) means 'youthful'.
Kaya -(Hopi origin) means 'my elder sister'.
Layla -(Arabic origin) means 'night'.
Dalia -(Hebrew or Swahili origin) means 'branch of a tree' or 'gentle'.
Emma -(German origin) a consistently high scorer in the top names category, Emma means 'universal' or 'whole'.
Maya -(Hindu origin) means 'illusion'.
Katrina -(German or Greek origin) means 'pure'.
Veronica - (Latin origin) means 'true image'.
Nathalia - (Latin origin) means 'Christ's Birthday'.
Francesca -(Italian origin) means 'free one' or 'from France'.
Maria -(Latin origin) means 'bitter'.
Olivia -(Latin origin) Olivia was the most popular girls' name in the UK from 2016-2018, and still remains one of the most coveted names on our list. It comes from the Latin 'oliva' and means 'olive tree'.
Kyra -(Greek origin) means 'lady'.
Claudia -(Latin origin) means 'lame' or 'crippled'.
Imra -(German origin) means 'entire' or 'whole'.
Jada -(Hebrew origin) means 'wise' or 'he knows'; (Arabic origin) means 'goodness'.
Savanna -(Spanish origin) means 'open plane'.
Nyla -(Arabic origin) means 'winner'.
Hanna -(Hebrew origin) means 'grace' or 'favour'.
Elena -(Greek or Italian origin) means 'shining light'.
Stella - (Latin origin) means 'star'.