Brainstorming many names that start with A is easy, but choosing your baby girl or boy’s perfect name can be unexpectedly tricky and be a source of stress or pressure for soon-to-be parents. However, you do not need to become overwhelmed with the number of available names. It is much easier to decide on a single letter, then expand on determining names for your bundle of joy.
Some names that start with A are Amy, Asher, and Andy. There is something special about the names starting with the letter A for babies, girls, and boys as it is the first letter in the alphabet. You have tons of options, so pick something unique and meaningful for your child.
If you are not convinced that names starting with the letter A have many beautiful names, this article might change your mind, and you might be inspired to name your baby girl or boy with a name from this list! Read this article to learn more about the following:
- What makes names beginning with the letter A so special
- The importance of naming your child
- Unique unisex, boys, and girls names starting with the letter A
- Popular names starting with the letter A in the United States of America and worldwide
What Is So Special With Names Beginning With A
When you pick a name that starts with the first letter of the alphabet, this can ensure your child is placed in the front of the line when they start school, especially if they decide to sort each student by their first name. But beyond these reasons, the initial A has some of the most unique and meaningful names from around the world.
Additionally, you may be somebody that does not want your child to share the same first name with many others in their class at school. Traditional baby names are not everyone’s cup of tea, and it may be more in line with your potential interests if you are planning to give your child a rare name. Many naming options that start with the letter A are quite lovely but are not widely used.
How Our Name Affects Who We Become
Even though one can change their names legally, names have permanence, and choosing one is a meticulous procedure for most people. Sometimes, names can even influence behavior. Scientists named this phenomenon the “name-letter
” effect, and it is debated if the name or even the first initial of the name can affect outcomes in life.
Researchers from Yale and the University of California San Diego reviewed approximately 15 years of grade point averages (GPA) from MBA students from a private university. Those whose names started with a letter C or D earned lower grades than students whose names begin with the initial A or B.
However, students with the starting letters of A or B did not do better in grade point averages than students whose initials were not part of the grading system. So, initials may not cause a big difference in performance, but the study is still interesting to consider.
Assumptions From a Name
Sometimes we do not even need any research or scientific studies to prove how important names are. When we see or hear somebody’s name, we even automatically start assuming what the person’s age, ethnicity, gender, or personality is like- even though we have never met or spoken with the person.
Due to these assumptions based on a name, some parents want to come up with more traditional or unisex names without giving their child a name that stands out from their peers. Other parents prefer giving their child a more modern name, with different spellings, and making them more unique. Making their child stand out and giving them an uncommon name can encourage their child to be confident and help make a lasting impression.
Any names with connotations that are directly attached should be considered. While you might like how the name sounds, or the special meaning behind the name, if there is a negative connotation connected to it like a criminal, then most people will make unfair judgments due to your name.
Realizing how easily people are judged and avoiding any circumstances where their child can get bullied in school is why parents choose names that are simple to prevent this discrimination.
Essentially, choosing a name is not easy, but the name you eventually choose will affect your child for a long time. Names can affect how your child will be perceived and is a core part of your child’s identity.
Unique Names That Start With A
Here are some unique names that start with the letter A. While they are broken down in genders for boys and girls, there is also a gender-neutral category for those that want their baby’s gender to be a surprise! With conventional and more traditional names or modern and trendier names, the following list is sure to please everyone:
- Araminta: A significant name in history as the abolitionist Harriet Tubman’s real name, who helped hundreds of slaves escape to freedom.
- Arnaud: While the name is a bit old-fashioned in Europe, this classy name has meanings such as eagle and power.
- Alya: This sweet name for baby girls means heaven, sky, and loftiness.
- Avalon: The name from King Arthur mythology makes your baby girl seem magical.
- Alondra: A beautiful Spanish name for a baby girl that means lark.
- Asa: A rare name in Hebrew that originates in the Bible, Asa does what is both good and righteous. While this is generally a male name, it can also be a mighty name for a baby girl as it translates to a healer.
Girl Names That Start With A
Names for girls that start with the initial A is widespread. Some traditional names and trendier names that begin with A also end with an A. In the ranking of the top 50 names for baby girls in the United States, France, England, and Wales, one of the most famous names starting with the initial A for girls is Alice. Names beginning with the letter A are trendy for girls. Here is a list of 31 names for girls starting with the letter A:
- Amy
- Amber
- Abby
- Abella
- Adora
- Ariana
- Alex
- Amara
- Athena
- Alyssa
- Alivia
- Adele
- Ana
- April
- Anne
- Aisha
- Anya
- Ann
- Agnes
- Anita
- Alise
- Ailee
- Amanda
- Ada
- Adeline
- Alaina
- Azalea
- Ariella
- Alicia
- Ayla
- Ana
Boy Names That Start With A
Names for boys that start with the letter J might be more popular, but names for boys that start with the initial A are ranked second in popularity. According to Nameberry approximately 10 percent of all male births in the United States are given a name that begins with the initial A. Here are 30 names for boys starting with the letter A:
- Asher
- Axel
- Abel
- Arthur
- Alan
- August
- Austin
- Adriel
- Allen
- Albert
- Armani
- Allen
- Alec
- Arturo
- Antonio
- Alvin
- Amos
- Avi
- Adler
- Ash
- Arvin
- Archie
- Auggie
- Aelfric
- Ahmet
- Aiden
- Aiko
- Alek
- Alfonso
- Ali
- Allen
Baby Names That Start With A
When choosing the perfect name to give to your baby boy or girl, there are several reasons you may consider a gender-neutral name. Maybe you are trying to make the gender of the baby a surprise, want to avoid gender stereotyping, or prefer a non-binary name to consider the possibility of gender fluidity. It might be another reason entirely, but unisex names are memorable, cool, and fun. Here are 30 unisex names starting with the letter A:
- Andy
- Archer
- Aspen
- Ainsley
- Ailin
- Alva
- Aali
- Ace
- Aero
- Alix
- Alpine
- Ashby
- Auburn
- Azra
- Aya
- Akiva
- Aidan
- Adel
- Ade
- Adal
- Ali
- Andrea
- Angel
- Austen
- Ansley
- Amare
- Amadi
- Alvah
- Altair
- Alex
Analyzing the Last Century in the United States
For male and female babies born over the last 100 years (from 1920 to 2019) in the United States, the following shows the most common names starting with the letter A from the Social Security Administration. Along with the name, the information describes the number of times parents gave their child’s name.
This information was recorded from more than a combined 356 million babies, with more than 175 million from male births and more than 171 million from female births.
It is crucial to note that the most common names mentioned do not necessarily mean that the name was prevalent for every single year for all 100 years. For instance, Mary’s name might have been named the most popular name for girls throughout the century but is ranked at a low 127. The most common name is not necessarily the highest or most popular in rank with this in mind.
The 5 Most Popular “A” Names for Boys From 1920 to 2019
| Ranking | Name | Male Birth Name |
| 19 | Andrew | 1,252,016 |
| 46 | Alexander | 666,982 |
| 52 | Aaron | 579,578 |
| 55 | Adam | 551,342 |
| 2 | Arthur | 415,722 |
Interestingly, many of the most popular names starting with the letter A during the decade of the 2010s do not make it on the list. Some of these boys names in the top 200 are:
- Aiden
- Anthony
- Adrian
- Angel
- Austin
- Ayden
- Asher
- Alex
- Axel
- Ashton
- Antonio
- Adian
- Alejandro
- Alan
- Abel
- Abraham
- Amir
- Avery
The Most Popular “A” Names for Girls From 1920 to 2019
| Ranking | Name | Male Birth Name |
| 16 | Ashley | 847,504 |
| 23 | Amanda | 772,882 |
| 32 | Amy | 680,682 |
| 34 | Angela | 658,437 |
| 36 | Anna | 629,400 |
Like the boy’s list of names, many of the most popular names starting with the letter A during the decade of 2010s do not make it on the list. Some of these girls names in the top 200 are:
- Ava
- Abigail
- Amelia
- Avery
- Addison
- Aubrey
- Aria
- Audrey
- Allison
- Aaliyah
- Alexa
- Arianna
- Ariana
- Alexis
- Alyssa
- Autumn
- Aubree
- Alexandra
- Alice
- Annabelle
- Andrea
- Adeline
- Angelina
- Adalynn
- Aliyah
- Aerial
- Adalyn
- Athena
- Adriana
- Alaina
- Alana
- Amaya
The name Ava ranked in the top five names for births in the last five years from 2015 to 2019. With not only one but two A’s in the name, this shows the popularity of A being the first letter.
Names That Increased in Popularity in the United States
The Social Security Administration from the United States also tracks the names of male and female births from the years 2018 to 2019. The following information shows that names starting with the letter A are slowly increasing in popularity and are beginning to rank higher in the past few years. Some of the names that are rising in popularity starting with the letter A for males include:
- Amias
- Aziel
- Atreus
- Archie
- Azrael
- Aayan
- Adibus
- Abdiel
- Ayan
- Alaric
- Aldo
- Alfred
- Atlas
- Axl
- Azariah
- Aron
- Alistair
- Aydin
- Alvaro
- Apollo
- Alonso
- Ayaan
- Atticus
- Alden
Alongside the information about the rising popularity for male names starting with the initial A includes baby girls’ names from the Social Security Administration database. Interestingly, names that end with the letter A are rising in popularity while long three-syllable names are slowly decreasing in popularity in the United States. Some of the names that have been growing in popularity in the past few years for baby girls include:
- Amoura
- Alaia
- Alaiya
- Ainhoa
- Aalaya
- Amora
- Alora
- Aila
- Astrid
- Adele
- Ariya
- Armari
- Ariella
- Aliana
- Alianna
- Amaris
- Amani
- Averi
- Aleena
- Amira
- Alma
- Aliza
- Aileen
- Ayla
There are also many parents choosing gender-neutral names or choosing names that were traditionally associated with baby girls rather than boys. Among the names that have been gaining in popularity, starting with the letter A is Ariel and Alexis. Many other unisex names for babies can sound similar but have different spellings. For instance, the name Avery can be for a baby boy, while for a baby girl, the name can be spelled as Averi.
24 Popular International Names That Start With A
You might be based in a country, but your ethnic roots might come from elsewhere. If you plan on honoring your ties to another country, here are some of the most popular international names from all over the world. There are many names with lovely and meaningful descriptions from Australia to Russia when finding the best name to describe your little one.
3 Popular Names From Australia
- Amelia: A very feminine name for girls, the name means full of the gift of life.
- Ava: A popular name even in the United States, the name’s meaning is the one with a beautiful voice.
- Abigail: Originally from Hebrew, it means joyful father. An excellent name for a baby girl whose dad is ecstatic.
3 Popular Names From Africa
- Abeba: A name for your baby girl, it means flower. It is also a palindrome, so it spells the same way forward and backward!
- Aberash: A perfect name for a special girl, the name means she is shining and giving off light.
- Amara: A lovely name for girls, the name means mercy, kindness, and grace.
3 Popular Names From Chile
- Anais: A girl’s name meaning grace.
- Agustin: A popular name for boys, the name has a religious connotation as it honors Saint Augustine.
- Antonia: A popular name for girls, the name’s origin is derived from the Latin word that means the priceless one.
3 Popular Names From Finland
- Aada: A girl’s name, it means nobly natured.
- Anni: A variation of the popular name Annie, this girl’s name means grace.
- Aino: A beautiful name ranked in the top 5 in Finland, the name means the one and only.
3 Popular Names From India
- Arnav: This boy’s name means ocean, a great fit if you love the sea!
- Ananya: The name is for girls as it means she is one of a kind and unique.
- Aarav: With a Hindi origin, this boy’s name means peaceful.
3 Popular Names From Japan
- Ai: For a girl, this name means love.
- Akiko: For a baby boy born in the fall months, the name means autumn child.
- Akira: For a baby boy, it means bright and clear dawn.
3 Popular Names From Poland
- Alva: An excellent name for girls as it means that the girl is feminine and small.
- Alice: A name for your precious princess as it is was of German origin with noble meaning. While Alice in Wonderland may have popularized this name, it is a very feminine traditional name.
- Antoni: While this is a variation of the popular name Anthony, it means priceless.
3 Popular Names From Russia
- Alexey: A masculine name for baby boys, the name means the one who defends or is a defender.
- Anastasia: A name for baby girls, it originally meant resurrection and was a common name for girls born around religious holidays such as Christmas or Easter. The name is mostly known for being the last Russian czar’s long lost princess and was popularized due to the Disney movie.
- Andrey: The Russian form of the popular name Andrew and the popular Russian name Andrei’s variation is a boy’s name meaning manly.
Conclusion
Parents spend a long time deciding their child’s name since names are a part of who we are and can reflect many elements of our heritage and culture. Whether you are naming a baby boy or girl, there are many beautiful, meaningful, and unique names starting with the letter A.
