Traditionally, any and all names ending in -a automatically were given to team pink, too feminine for a little boy to wear. After all, look into the top 5 for girls and you’ll find that every single name ends in -a. But lately, the -a ending for boys has been amongst the latest trends, with biblical names gaining speed and international choices stemming from Spain to Italy to Hawaii ending in this novel sound. As more and more baby boys continue to receive names ending in -a, the bias connecting -a to girl names has vanished, and more -a boy names are coming to light. Today, we’re taking a look at some of the boys' names ending in -a that show stylistic promise for parents looking for a contemporary name for their son.
Ezra- A current biblical name with a striking Z embedded within it (and of course, the -a ending), Ezra has done nothing but soar in the past few years, shooting up to #49 in 2019, which may bother parents that have a rarer moniker in mind. Rest assured, however, that Ezra’s sound is distinct despite being somewhat popular. A nickname proof biblical choice, Ezra also blends in with the style formula of top 10 favorites while still having a unique feel. Not only is the biblical figure a heroic role model, a more modern yet still heroic namesake is Ezra Bridger, an adventurous heroine in the series Star Wars Rebels.
Luca- This Italian variation of the Luke and Lucas trends has been particularly well-loved in recent years. At #87, Luca’s crisp and refreshing sound and nickname Luke has propelled him up the charts. Meaning “bringer of light,” Luca is a stunning and Italian choice for a family who wants to honor their heritage while still choosing something trendy and stylish for their son. Luca has worldwide appeal as well, ranking at #12 in Germany and #24 in his home country, Italy. Although some may read this name as Loo-sa, as in an elaboration of the girl name Lucy, it’s pronounced Luke-uh, which gives it a stronger masculine edge. Thanks to the continuation of this new trend, I doubt that this lovely Luke name is done climbing just yet!
Asa- Despite this biblical appellation lacking in a few areas upon first glance, Asa is actually a beautiful and novel choice. First of all, let’s clear up pronunciation. Although he appears As-uh initially, he’s actually pronounced Ace-uh, making the sound much more appealing. Others would argue that Asa too closely resembles chart-topper Ava for girls, but I think that Asa definitely has a different feel and style, and is plenty masculine enough to suit exclusively boys. What is slightly more worrying is one particular namesake that accompanies this otherwise lovely name. Asa Earl Carter, leader of the Ku Klux Klan, isn’t exactly a great first impression for people to take from the name and may be more well known considering the recent uprising against oppression of minority races.
Ira- Short, vintage, biblical, and ending in -a, it’s a shame that no one is using this name. However, it’s not hard to see why not. With Isla (eye-la) dominating the ranks worldwide for girls, many supporters of Luca, Asa, and Ezra just can’t see Ira as a boy. Nevertheless, Ira is a distinctly different name for a little boy today, while still complying with the latest sound trends. And if you wish to see a grown man suit the name, look to radio hosts Ira Glass and Ira Flatow. Although Ira is a bold choice for a boy, it could be the perfect solution for parents who are conflicted between bestowing a unique name on their baby to stand out from the rest or choosing a stylish and on-trend name for their son. If you do want to use this name on a girl, I find the Welsh sound-alike Eira, meaning “snow” a gorgeous and feminine variation.
Juda- With Jude flourishing lately, brother name Juda might have some luck as well. Strong, biblical, and with the lovely meaning of “praised,” Juda and alternative spelling Judah are a stunning example of a masculine name ending in -a. Although Judas, a similar name with negative religious connotation, is unfortunately close to Juda, which may cause parents to second guess this name. Juda doesn’t appear in the top 1000, but his -h spelling ranks at #190.
Koa- Hawaiian names are all the rage nowadays, and Koa is the perfect addition to the mounting collection of trending Hawaiian monikers. Koa is also a stunning and rare alternative to the much more popular Noah if the religious significance doesn’t hold any value for your family. Powerful but with softer sounds, this newbie to the top 1000, a new addition in 2017, is climbing fast. Koa ranks at #740 to this day, and the meaning “warrior” is certainly beautiful for a little boy. Some associations with the name include the acronym for Kampground of America and the name of celebaby Koa Egan, the son of singer Kian Egan of Irish boy band Westlife.
Dakota- The name of a Native American tribe as well as a part of the names of two states, Dakota is a celebaby favorite. A shockingly popular #347 in recent stats, Dakota is somewhat controversial due to his roots as the name of an indigenous tribe and because it’s so split between both genders. This name meaning “friendly one” has seen some use in the past few years and most likely will continue to climb despite being disputed by people offended by the ties to an oppressed group of people.
I hope you found some boy names ending in -a that appealed to you! I personally love most of the names I listed and think that they’re all nice possibilities for a son.
Sincerely,
~Delphina Moon
Which of these names is your favorite? Do you find boy names ending in -a too feminine? Let me know down below!
I read your comments on the name Aidan. Do you have comments about my name: George? After your response, I will tell you how I pick George as my English name back in 1965 when I was still living in Taiwan.