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Name Help: Another Five-Letter Ends-with-A Name for a Daughter

November 18, 2022 By appellationmountain 25 Comments

Name Help: A Sister for Amaya and AnikaName Help is a series at Appellation Mountain. Every week, one reader’s name questions will be discussed.

We’re relying on thoughtful comments from the community to help expectant parents narrow down their name decisions. Thank you in advance for sharing your insight!

Maria writes:

We are expecting our third daughter and we’re feeling pretty stuck with names.

Our girls are Amaya Rose and Anika Love.

Two issues:

  • The biggie: I love, love, love that our girls’ names go together so well! At the same time, I never really confuse the names. (We pronounce Anika ah NEEK ah. And yes, we got it from Empire.) And me and my girls all have five-letter names that end with A, so I’d like this daughter to have the same.
  • Smaller, but still causing me stress: Both Rose and Love are last names on my side, which felt like The Best Coincidence at the time our girls were born. But there are no more similar choices, and I’m not sure what to do.

Names we have considered:

  • Eliza – my mom’s suggestion, actually for Anika. I kind of think it’s too traditional. I’m open to not using another A name, but not sure Eliza is it. But I really like the way it sounds with Amaya and Anika.
  • Alina – I like this, but I think it maybe sounds too close to her sisters’ names. Also, I think I’d want to pronounce it like Elayna, which maybe would be a hassle?
  • Adora – My husband’s favorite. I was half on-board until he admitted he got it from She-Ra.
  • Liana – I really like this! But again, the A thing. Or maybe we could use Aliana, and just forget the five letters? Alana doesn’t thrill me, but maybe I’m just being fussy?

My husband has ideas sometimes, but is pretty much going to go with whatever I pick.

Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.

Abby replies:

Congratulations on your new daughter!

My first question – and I know it’s not fair to ask and might not be possible to answer! – will this child complete your family?

None of us ever knows for sure, but if you’re fairly confident that this is your last pregnancy, I’m inclined to encourage you to stick with the pattern. More or less. Because it does seem to give you a lot of joy. So either another feminine A name, or possibly another five-letter, vowel-centric name that ends with A, maybe?

But if you imagine that you’ll add to your family in the future? Then it’s probably time to shift the pattern. You can choose a different first initial, a different number of letters … or maybe all of the above. Because if it’s tough choose a third name, imagine what it might feel like to try again for a fourth child.

I’m going to assume that you’re leaning towards the “our family is complete” side of the question, and try to finish the pattern, more or less.

FIVE-LETTER, (MOSTLY) VOWEL-HEAVY, ENDS WITH A NAMES FOR GIRLS

ADARA

Adora makes me think of Adara. It has Hebrew roots, and means “noble.” There’s also a bright star in the constellation Canis Major known as Adhara or Adara, from an Arabic word meaning “maidens.”

ADRIA

Short for Adriana and another feminine form of Adrian, Adria is a place name borrowed from a Roman settlement.

ALIZA

Depending on how you pronounce it, Aliza can be a Hebrew name meaning joy. (I’ve heard this pronounced more like ah-LEE-zah.) Or it can be Eliza-with-an-A.

EVANA

The feminine form of Evan, Evana feels rare but accessible. Irish actress Evanna Lynch, of Harry Potter fame, spells her name with two Ns.

LIORA

Another Hebrew name, Liora means “light for me.”

LUCIA

We think of the English name Lucy, but Lucia is the original Latin, from the word “lux” – light. One drawback: it’s pronounced multiple ways: loo SHAH, loo CHEE ah, loo SEE ah. The upside? You could choose the one that works best with Amaya and Anika.

SIENA

Siena is an Italian city. Spelled Sienna, it’s a Top 200 favorite for girls, climbing rapidly in use across much of the Western world.

TALIA

Thalia is a Greek goddess; her name means “to blossom.” Talia can be Hebrew or possibly short for Natalia.

RECOMMENDATIONS

I’m surprising  myself my really liking Aliza, pronounced like Eliza but spelled with an A, for Amaya and Anika’s sister. You do like the name, and I think re-spelling it with an A is just enough of a twist to make it feel slightly more modern.

That is, of course, assuming you’re not planning a big family. Because it would be painful to break that pattern after three girls!

Because otherwise, I’d probably pull for Siena or Liora. They’re lovely and lyrical and sound just like sisters for Amaya and Anika. But they also open space for possible names for future siblings without locking you in to such a rigid pattern.

As for middle names, I think I’d err on the side of choosing either another short virtue name, or possibly looking to see if there’s a longer family name that might be adapted? Any name starting or ending with an EL sound could be Elle.

If that doesn’t feel like a possibility, this list might have a great word/nature/virtue name for your daughter.

Readers, over to you. What would you name a sister for Amaya Rose and Anika Love?

More names you might like:

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  • Welcome Brynn EleanorWelcome Brynn Eleanor
  • Name Help: A Brother for Logan, Parker, and ChaseName Help: A Brother for Logan, Parker, and Chase

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Comments

  1. Megan says

    November 23, 2022 at 11:09 AM

    For you I like Alexa and Aliya as the more tame/mainstream options and Azura and Aloia as the more distinctive options. I also saw another user mention Aisha, which is gorgeous. I definitely think you should pitch Adara to your husband, I think it’s a really great compromise that goes well with Amaya and Anika.

    Reply
  2. Moll says

    November 20, 2022 at 11:48 PM

    I love Avila, like the place in Spain. The emphasis is on the first syllable (AH-vi-la, not Ah-VI-La) so it would have 5 letters, start and end in A, but break up the pattern of having the emphases on the second syllable!

    Reply
  3. diane says

    November 20, 2022 at 4:52 PM

    AmAya and AnIka use an A and an I vowel in the middle of the names. My instinct is to find a name that uses one of the other vowels, an E, U or O.

    Amay@ Ro$e, Anil@ Love and…

    Audra Hope
    Adela Hope
    Aurora Hope
    Adora Hope
    Alena Hope
    Aleta Hope
    Altea Hope
    Azora Hope

    Six letters
    Andrea Hope
    Alegra Hope

    Reply
  4. Julie G says

    November 19, 2022 at 6:02 PM

    Adela
    Aliza
    Alcia
    Alora
    Aelia (means Sun)

    I lean towards Hope or Joy for middle.

    I think my favorite is Aelia Joy.

    Reply
  5. Hannah says

    November 19, 2022 at 5:44 PM

    So many great suggestions!

    I especially love Liana. It fits nicely with your other daughters’ names, while introducing some beautiful new sounds. I have a student named Liana, and she is just the sweetest!

    Regarding the middle name, could you simply repeat one of your other daughters’ middle names, since they are so significant? I also like the idea of Maria or another family first name.

    Reply
  6. C in DC says

    November 19, 2022 at 4:00 PM

    Alena / Elena for the e LAY na prn.
    Adela
    Audra
    Aurora/Arora
    Agape
    Aisha

    I suggest Joy / Joye as a middle name.

    Reply
  7. Ariana says

    November 19, 2022 at 11:56 AM

    Keeping with the A—a pattern but not 5 letters: Arista, or hey, Ariana. I love Aliyah with the sister names, could be respelled any number of ways to suit the pattern better: Aliya, Aleah, etc.

    Reply
  8. Alison Doherty says

    November 19, 2022 at 1:02 AM

    Aliza has my vote as well. But I also like Adora/Adara!

    Reply
  9. Em says

    November 18, 2022 at 9:50 PM

    Amira

    Not only does it fit the 5 letters A-A pattern, but it is the same letters as Maria mixed up in a new form and sound.

    Also…
    Aviva
    Azizza
    Mira
    Maura
    Layla
    Isla

    Reply
  10. Christine says

    November 18, 2022 at 7:51 PM

    Love the suggestion of Avila! Zelda has the “z” and ends in “a” like Eliza.

    Reply
  11. Bea says

    November 18, 2022 at 7:24 PM

    Alina is surprisingly popular, but I have only heard it pronounced Uh-LEEN-uh. If you want it pronounced Elayna, try Elena! Elena is typically pronounced Elayna, and it suits Amaya and Anika so well. Alena is a touch more unusual and could be pronounced Elayna, or Alayna or Alaina if you can flex on the number of letters to preserve the overall pattern.

    Laila also seems like it would go well with your girls while moving the pattern in a new direction.

    Reply
  12. Maclary says

    November 18, 2022 at 6:13 PM

    I see Malia has already been suggested, and that was my idea. Yes, it’s only one letter away from Maria, but that could solve your middle name dilemma as you could use it as an honour name (for yourself) as a first name. Then you are free to choose any middle name you love (I like the suggestions of Hope or Joie). Amaya, Anika and Malia sound like sisters to me!

    Reply
  13. Emmy says

    November 18, 2022 at 5:42 PM

    I LOVE Liana so pretty! I wouldn’t worry about using A at the start . It’s got the a ending.

    Liana Joy, Amaya Rose and Anika Love.

    Loving Liora and Talia as suggestions.

    Middle name… Agree that a virtue or nature would work well

    Hope
    Lark
    True
    Wren
    Joy
    Pearl
    Bliss
    Skye

    If you decide you really want A at the start, two names that are similar to several you mentioned but meets the A234a pattern.

    Alira

    Alora (like Adora but not)

    Alira Wren, Amaya Rose and Anika Love.
    Alora Skye, Amaya Rose and Anika Love.

    Reply
  14. Cristina says

    November 18, 2022 at 5:24 PM

    What about Alana, Althea, Adela (I know…suggested already, but love this), Aneta, Anita, or non-A names I love are Greta, Viola…so many…I like Dove for a middle name…symbol of peace.

    Reply
  15. Andrea says

    November 18, 2022 at 2:44 PM

    I had a coworker who named her daughter Alora, which is pretty.

    Others: Adira, Alita, Ambra, Amira, Anisa, Ariah, Astra, Azura.

    Non-A: Bella, Brina, Danna, Delia, Della, Jeana, Lilia, Malia, Sasha, Stina, Tasha, Teena, Trina, Xenia, Zanna

    Reply
  16. Skye says

    November 18, 2022 at 1:37 PM

    You’ve received some great suggestions. Just wanted to add Alora and Alana. Middle name suggestions: Grace, Joy, and Glory.

    Reply
  17. Renee says

    November 18, 2022 at 12:07 PM

    Oh yes I was totally coming here to suggest Elora like @marisa – you like the sound of Adora (but maybe not the reference to She-Ra) and you’re open to Eliza. Elora seems perfect for this set.

    And I have a great middle idea that may help with not using an A first because it continues the -o-e obe-syllable pattern: Joie! French for joy. Elora Joie. Yes please! (Maria also would be wonderful for her middle)

    If you reallly want that A, tons of great suggestions and I’ll add:
    Adela (you could do A-dell-uh or a-day-la)
    Aphea (A-fay-uh / not to make your pattern more stringent but I totally noticed it’s M, N so P feels right next)
    Aleia – you can spell it a bunch of ways but this feels far enough from Amaya (unlike Alaya)

    Good luck!

    Reply
  18. Iris says

    November 18, 2022 at 11:02 AM

    Amaya, Anika and Avila! Avila Hope!

    If you prefer another initial, maybe Fiona or Diana. Fiona Hope!

    Or maybe a name that starts and ends in -a, but not limited to 5 letters:
    Aurora Hope
    Alicia Hope
    Agatha Hope

    Also, your family reminds me of the Dutch royal family (it’s 6 letters for them):
    Queen Maxima
    Princess Amalia
    Princess Alexia
    Princess Ariane

    Reply
  19. Kelly says

    November 18, 2022 at 10:27 AM

    Classic-but-currently-underused Laura came to my mind when you mentioned your criteria.

    Reply
  20. Marie says

    November 18, 2022 at 10:22 AM

    I love the suggestion of Maria for the middle.

    Adara Maria (as noted). Very cool

    Other names
    Anita
    Arden (doesn’t end in a but is 5 letters)
    Aisha
    Alisa

    Reply
  21. Alyssa says

    November 18, 2022 at 10:14 AM

    All the suggestions are great. My first thought was Idina or switching the spelling to Adina to fit the A theme!

    Reply
  22. renchickadee says

    November 18, 2022 at 10:03 AM

    I keep a list of names like these, so I love all the suggestions!

    From my list, Amira, Malia, and Zaria are probably too close to the other names in the family, but maybe …

    Anora (another way to spell Honora)
    Ailsa
    Elara
    Inara (a Firefly character)
    Junia
    Lydia
    Nadia
    Naida

    Reply
  23. keats says

    November 18, 2022 at 9:47 AM

    Adara Maria is pretty perfect.

    I also love the suggestions of Lucia and Talia.

    I’d keep with the pattern. If baby number 4 happens, worry about that then! Congratulations!

    Reply
  24. Willow says

    November 18, 2022 at 9:44 AM

    My first thought are Aella and Agata! Middle name could be Blythe.

    Reply
  25. Marisa says

    November 18, 2022 at 8:17 AM

    I really like Adora and Adara for you. What about Elora? For a middle, What about your name, Maria? It would be significant and meaningful.

    Reply

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