I think a thread where everyone can share their favourites is a great idea! I love love love girl names that end in -a. My style is girly and sophisticated, I like literature associations and prefer long names. I don’t have any combos but here are my top favourites - from guilty pleasures to names I would use - and I hope some of them give you inspiration:
[name_u]Eloise[/name_u] - a long time favourite of mine. It has everything - it’s elegant yet strong, there are lots of possible nicknames and it works for all ages.
[name_f]Nerissa[/name_f] - such a beautiful Shakespearean name. I love that it is unusual but sounds stylish and I like [name_f]Nessa[/name_f] as a nickname.
[name_f]Valentina[/name_f] - [name_f]Valentina[/name_f] is elegant and romantic, easy to pronounce and recognisable all over the world; I like [name_u]Val[/name_u] or [name_f]Valley[/name_f] as a nickname.
[name_f]Ophelia[/name_f] - I love the name - it is so light and elegant and just rolls off the tongue - and I love the [name_m]Hamlet[/name_m] association. I am more likely to use it as a middle name simply because it’s long and I think any nicknames would ruin the beauty of it.
[name_f]Frederica[/name_f] - [name_f]Frederica[/name_f] owns such vintage charm, I think it is a beautiful and very underappreciated name.
[name_f]Avalon[/name_f] - this one has been my favourite since I was a kid; I love the legend for [name_m]King[/name_m] [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] and [name_f]Avalon[/name_f] is an island from the legend. I love [name_f]Ava[/name_f], pronounced aa-va, as a nickname.
[name_f]Raphaela[/name_f] - another long and elegant favourite of mine that I am more likely to use as a middle name simply because shortening it would ruin its beauty.
[name_f]Cordelia[/name_f] - I love the name, I do, but I would probably never use it because it’s a bit over the top and I don’t like [name_f]Cori[/name_f], [name_f]Cora[/name_f] etc as nicknames.
[name_f]Adelaide[/name_f]/[name_f]Adelaida[/name_f] - I just cannot decide which spelling I prefer. I love the city. [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f] is the English version and if I were English it would be the obvious choice, but I’m not and I think where I live the just as elegant [name_f]Adelaida[/name_f] would be a better choice. I like [name_f]Addy[/name_f] as a nickname.
[name_f]Claudia[/name_f] - A classic. I have a friend named [name_f]Claudia[/name_f] and another named [name_m]Claudio[/name_m] and they are both lovely people. I love [name_m]Claud[/name_m] as a nickname.
[name_f]Daenerys[/name_f] - my favourite character from the book. I’m in love with the name and would so use it as a middle name.
[name_f]Alicia[/name_f] (pronounced a-lee-see-a) - love it and associate it with the gorgeous and talanted [name_f]Alicia[/name_f] Vikander but would never use it because of pronounciation issues.
[name_f]Anastasia[/name_f] (pronounced a-na-sta-see-a) - I have a thing for Russian names (maybe it’s because I’m partly Russian) and [name_f]Anastasia[/name_f] is one of the most beautiful names I’ve ever heard but I’ll probably never use it since the English pronounciation is horrible.
[name_f]Philippa[/name_f] - I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] [name_f]Philippa[/name_f]. I feel like she can do whatever she wants - she can be a painter, or an accountant, or a doctor. The name has such vintage charm and is suitable for all ages.
Antoanetta - my favourite version of [name_f]Antoinette[/name_f]; the bad association is obvious, nevertheless the name is gorgeous and I would definitely use it as a middle name.
[name_f]Odetta[/name_f] - It has vintage charm, a musical meaning and [name_f]Oda[/name_f] is an adorable nickname.
[name_f]Annabel[/name_f] - the horror movie hasn’t changed a bit how much I like the name. [name_f]Belle[/name_f] is a beautiful nickname meaning beautiful.
[name_f]Rosalie[/name_f]/[name_f]Rosalia[/name_f]/[name_f]Rosalind[/name_f]/[name_f]Rosalinda[/name_f] - I adore almost all names that can be shortened to [name_f]Rosy[/name_f] as [name_f]Rose[/name_f] is my favourite flower.
[name_f]Estella[/name_f] - I love [name_f]Stella[/name_f] and I love [name_f]Estelle[/name_f] and [name_f]Estella[/name_f] combines them both. It is vintage but feels fresh again. I don’t like any nicknames for it; if I have an [name_f]Estella[/name_f] she will probably go by her full name.
[name_f]Margarita[/name_f]/[name_f]Marguerite[/name_f] - [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f] is the [name_m]French[/name_m] variation of [name_f]Margarita[/name_f]. I like the spelling and the pronunciation and everything about it but I fear it will be misspelled a lot. [name_f]Margarita[/name_f], on the other hand, is lovely, easy to spell and definitely the better option for where I live; the only problem is the association with the drink although it doesn’t really bother me. [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] is a cute nickname.
[name_f]Louisa[/name_f]/[name_f]Louise[/name_f] - I prefer [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] for a first name as it sounds more complete; [name_f]Louise[/name_f] I’m more likely to use as a middle name although they’re equally lovely. Me Before You has made me love [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] even more. Also, both names have lots of other literature and historical associations. I love [name_f]Lulu[/name_f] as a nickname.
[name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] - Another lovely Shakespearean name! [name_f]Bea[/name_f], pronounced like bee, is an adorable nickname.
[name_f]Jacqueline[/name_f] - I’m in love with the [name_m]French[/name_m] pronunciation! It is such a gorgeous name!
[name_f]Alina[/name_f] - a lovely Russian name with a great meaning. It is so soft and simple and beautiful and can be shortened to [name_f]Lina[/name_f].
[name_f]Larissa[/name_f] - Another Russian favourite of mine. It is such a pretty name with [name_f]Lara[/name_f] as a nickname.
[name_f]Julietta[/name_f] - [name_f]Juliet[/name_f] might be a little too obvious but [name_f]Julietta[/name_f] is unexpected, sounds exotic and still has a [name_m]Shakespeare[/name_m] association.
[name_f]Cassia[/name_f] - The movie Pompeii is where I first heard this pretty and unusual name and instantly fell in love with it. It can be shortened to [name_u]Cass[/name_u] but if I ever have a [name_f]Cassia[/name_f] I think she’ll go by her whole name.
[name_u]Holland[/name_u] - the only country name I would ever use for a child. Associated not only with the beautiful country but also with the talanted [name_u]Holland[/name_u] Roden.
[name_f]Vivienne[/name_f] - Another [name_m]French[/name_m] favourite of mine. It is so pretty and [name_f]Vivi[/name_f] is a lovely nickname.
Leontina/[name_f]Leontine[/name_f] - I love [name_m]Leo[/name_m]- names for both boys and girls. [name_f]Leontine[/name_f] I am more likely to use as a middle name while Leontina - as a first name. They are unusual and elegant and [name_f]Leonie[/name_f] is an adorable nickname.
As for these girl’s names, they have a bit more meaning behind them. At least for me. I love that [name_f]Nora[/name_f] means light. I’m a photographer, so light is kind of a nice way to honor that. [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] would be to honor my mom in a distant kind of way. She adores [name_f]Lucille[/name_f] Ball and I grew up watching I [name_u]Love[/name_u] [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] all the time. And [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] is just perfect all around with it’s meaning of she who brings happiness. Not to mention, my favorite designer, [name_f]Kate[/name_f] Spade, used it as her daughters middle. [name_u]Frankie[/name_u] is special to us because it’s the first girl’s name we said we both loved.