8 Baby Girl Names Ending in A (One Through a Nickname)
There is something about a name that ends on an open ah. It trails off softly, and it is easy to sing in a lullaby. A lot of the girl names parents love most share that ending, from short ones like Ada to long ones like Wilhelmina.
The ending does create one practical issue: a final A can run into a last name that starts with a vowel. Olivia Adams, for example, gets a small bump in the middle. I note those bumps below, along with ranks from U.S. Social Security data. To be straight with you, only seven girls' names on my current list end in A. The eighth is Eleanor, whose nicknames Ella and Nora give you that same sound.
How we picked: Seven names end in the letter A as written, and the eighth reaches that sound through its common nicknames.
-
1Ada
The shortest A name here, and a palindrome. Ada reads the same in many countries, though pronunciation splits between AY-duh and AH-dah. With a one-syllable surname, the whole name can end before it starts, so a longer middle name helps. It ranked No. 219 in 2025.
More about Ada → -
2Nova
Nova ends in an easy uh and has a V to keep it from going mushy. It ranked No. 46 for girls in 2025, so it is no longer rare. Mind a surname that opens with a vowel: Nova Ellis can sound like Novella.
More about Nova → -
Four syllables roll downhill into a soft A. Cecilia gives you Cece, Celia and Ceci for the early years. The spelling trap is Cecelia, so you will say 'I, not E' at the pharmacy. A short, firm surname, like Hart, keeps it from drifting.
More about Cecilia → -
If you want an A ending with real length, this is it. Wilhelmina is ten letters and four syllables, and it ranked No. 1517 in 2025, so few girls will share it. People will split on whether to say the H, so choose early.
More about Wilhelmina → -
Olivia is the No. 1 girls' name of 2025, and it ends on a gentle uh. It is easy to say and easy to spell. The trade is company: she may be Olivia R. all through school. A vowel at the start of your surname adds a little bump.
More about Olivia → -
The firm T in the middle stops Matilda from going soft, and then the A lets it go. Tilly, Tilda and Mattie give her range. People will mention the Roald Dahl book, often. Mathilda with an H is common in Sweden, so spelling can wobble.
More about Matilda → -
Only two syllables, but people say it two ways: KLAIR-uh or KLAH-ruh. Choose yours and stick to it. Clara comes from the Latin for clear or bright. A long surname heavy with vowels can blur it, so test the full name over dinner.
More about Clara → -
Eleanor itself ends in R. It earns a spot because Ella and Nora, two of its common nicknames, both land on that open A. You get the long formal name and the soft ending. It ranked No. 12 in 2025, so expect classmates who share it.
More about Eleanor →
One trick for A names: say the full name with your surname and listen for where the two words meet. If they slide into one sound, a middle name that starts with a consonant can separate them. And if you love the ending but not these names, many nicknames land there too. Tilda and Mina are two of my favorites.
Save this list
Save it to a Pinterest board to find it again when you pick names.
Questions about this list
Why do so many girl names end in A?
Many come from Latin, where an A ending often marks a feminine name. Olivia, Clara and Cecilia all have Latin roots. Over time the ending started to sound girlish to English speakers as well.
What surnames clash with an A ending?
Ones that start with a vowel, especially A. Olivia Adams or Nova Ellis can blur at the join. A surname that opens with a hard consonant keeps the two words clear.
Is there a short A name with no nickname?
Ada is about as short as it gets, and there is nothing to trim. Nova has very few nicknames either. If you want a name that stays exactly as written, those two are the safest picks here.
Ranks come from U.S. Social Security Administration data. Meanings follow the sources on each name page.