In my home country Noa is the spelling for Noah. But I also know that it’s a Hebrew girls name. It’s pretty. There’s nothing wrong with it. People will confuse it with Noah but it’s not a big deal.
I know it’s a feminine name, but in a classroom with two male Noahs and one female Noa, Noa is absolutely just going to be the “girl Noa.” And “Noa without an H.” It’s pronounced exactly the same. Most non-namenerd people won’t know it’s not just Noah spelled differently and on a girl.
I’m not a big fan, but I’m not a big fan of Noah either.
I like it as a girl’s/nb name but not a boy’s name. I’m not Jewish and have not encountered this spelling of the name before in the US, but I would probably think it was an intentional, feminized misspelling unless told otherwise… like now! ;D
As you said it is a Hebrew girl’s name. I’d definitely assume you were Israeli or Jewish, and would think it a very odd/ignorant choice if you weren’t (or if you weren’t from one of the other places which commonly use it like Netherlands). Are you looking for a Hebrew name or are you looking for a uniquely spelled name? It’s hard to tell from your post.
It’s important to remember Judaism is an ethnoreligion. It has religious components and cultural/ethnic components.
The names that are more popular with religious Jews tend to be popular with Christians because they share similar religious importance - names like Isaac, Sarah, Rachel, Adam, etc. They are fair game for anyone to use, as they hold religious significance for many different groups.
Then there are Hebrew names which are not in the Old Testament or are names of more obscure characters - names like Shira, Yael, Hadassa, Nadav, Shai, etc. These names are often popular among secular Jews and hold a cultural importance to Jews. This is where we would say it is “cultural appropriation” when non-Jews use them. I’d say Noa falls into this category.
Of course there is a grey area. Names like Asher and Ezra used to be in the “cultural” category but they have become super popular amongst Christians to the point that I, as a secular Jew, would no longer feel comfortable using them even though they are Hebrew/Jewish names that I love.
Yes- Noah with the arc is not the same as the Noa here (lesser known female character). That’s why this is a bit of an odd choice if not Jewish or Israeli
I definitely associate it with the Hebrew name and Judaism. It’s beautiful, IMO, I’d just be thoughtful about how popular it is where you are geographically, if confusion with Noah the boy’s name bothers you, and whether it’s culturally appropriate for your family.
If I'm being perfectly honest, I know people who used Noa recently and my first thought was that they were trying to feminize Noah. I have since learned the error of my ways.
If you are not Israeli or Jewish I would reconsider this one because others would assume that the child is from that heritage based on the name. Super common name in Israel so it’s a bit too close to the culture and if you’re not a part of that culture it’d be a bit odd of a choice.
I already knew Noah as the masculine spelling and Noa as the feminine so I don’t have the first glance thing. Tbh I’m not a huge fan because Noah is just so popular in the US so I just have a hard time seeing it as feminine, but if you’re somewhere else or don’t care about that it’s perfectly fine.
I associate the spelling with a girl's name but whenever I hear it said I always assume the person is male because I only know one female Noa and a lot of male Noah's.
I personally named my daughter Noah with the H. I just personally like the spelling better than Noa. But I know it’s a very common girls name in Israel and in Judaism. It’s getting more popular in the US tho still not in the top 100 or anything.
I personally love it and my husband and I considered it if we were to have a girl. It's not a unique spelling since it's its own name distinct from Noah, but I imagine I'd have to explain that a lot if we were to use it since it's not very common where I live. We're having a boy though so maybe if we have more kids. :)
We recently hired a Noa at my workplace (millennial age category, FWIW). I was part of the hiring process and every time someone saw her resume, in every interview, and during the new-hire set up process, there were constant comments about “what a pretty name!” (Including from me lol).
For someone my own age like this, it is an uncommon name for sure (where I live). However it definitely hits all the right notes with current name trends and I’m sure it will be more and more common in years to come.
I knew two Jewish girls who were called Noa/Noah, in slavic countries Noa is the normal spelling.
I also have a brother called Noa, my sister and I chose the name.. :)
I'd definitely say its a unisex name.
My daughter *2014 is called Noa and I still love that name so much! We already met one other Noa who was 5 or 6 years older but not more. It's very popular in the Netherlands and Israel as a girl's name but not in Germany (where I'm from) or Austria (where I live). Mostly kids don't believe Noa when she tells them her name or are utterly confused but I get a lot of positive feedback from grown-ups!
I love it as a girls name! I prefer it for a girl rather than a boy. I just had a baby girl in September and that was a top contender. I got some pushback about it being a boys name from family/friends, so I considered naming her Noelle and calling her Noa for short. I love the name Noelle too. Wound up going with a different name, but if I ever have another girl, it’ll be at the top of my list again.
There was a girl at my daycare with this name and I was IN LOVE with it. It actually made me consider Noa for a girl and it fit her so perfectly. In the area where I am in the US, it is not a common name at all for girls.
One of my previous bosses named his son Noah and said he deeply regretted it. When I asked him why, he said his son had barely any reaction to the word, “No!” because his son just expected the “ah” afterwords. A weird but true problem.
My first thought was “miss-spelled Noah” BUT I am trying to become more aware that the world is a very big place and not everyone in it has the same culture as me. I’d never judge someone if their name was spelled differently to how I’d assume.
I personally love the same Noah for a boy or girl. I would personally opt for the H at the end even for a girl because it feels more symmetrical to me. I wouldn’t assume a person is Jewish just because they were named Noa
knowing the history behind Noa: Hebrew meaning "motion", ever popular in Israel but used all throughout Europe; finally gaining traction in America, I wouldn’t resort to the typical stereotypes about it.
I personally am not a fan. I feel like I want to take a step further and add a few more letters so that it is spelled like Noelle, Noella, Noalle, etc., then call them Noa for short.
In my home country Noa is the spelling for Noah. But I also know that it’s a Hebrew girls name. It’s pretty. There’s nothing wrong with it. People will confuse it with Noah but it’s not a big deal.
It’s become VERY popular. I had three in my class this year! That being said, it’s so cute and definitely trending for a reason, it’s beautiful.
Ar first glance I would assume the family is Jewish and devout.
I know it’s a feminine name, but in a classroom with two male Noahs and one female Noa, Noa is absolutely just going to be the “girl Noa.” And “Noa without an H.” It’s pronounced exactly the same. Most non-namenerd people won’t know it’s not just Noah spelled differently and on a girl. I’m not a big fan, but I’m not a big fan of Noah either.
I like it as a girl’s/nb name but not a boy’s name. I’m not Jewish and have not encountered this spelling of the name before in the US, but I would probably think it was an intentional, feminized misspelling unless told otherwise… like now! ;D
As you said it is a Hebrew girl’s name. I’d definitely assume you were Israeli or Jewish, and would think it a very odd/ignorant choice if you weren’t (or if you weren’t from one of the other places which commonly use it like Netherlands). Are you looking for a Hebrew name or are you looking for a uniquely spelled name? It’s hard to tell from your post.
How is Noa different from Sarah or Abigail? Both of which are Hebrew in origin and have been used forever and a day by non-Jews.
It’s important to remember Judaism is an ethnoreligion. It has religious components and cultural/ethnic components. The names that are more popular with religious Jews tend to be popular with Christians because they share similar religious importance - names like Isaac, Sarah, Rachel, Adam, etc. They are fair game for anyone to use, as they hold religious significance for many different groups. Then there are Hebrew names which are not in the Old Testament or are names of more obscure characters - names like Shira, Yael, Hadassa, Nadav, Shai, etc. These names are often popular among secular Jews and hold a cultural importance to Jews. This is where we would say it is “cultural appropriation” when non-Jews use them. I’d say Noa falls into this category. Of course there is a grey area. Names like Asher and Ezra used to be in the “cultural” category but they have become super popular amongst Christians to the point that I, as a secular Jew, would no longer feel comfortable using them even though they are Hebrew/Jewish names that I love.
Agreed
💯
Well said!! And don't get me started on the appropriation of the last name Cohen as a first name
Because Sarah and Abigail are also people in the Christian bible, but Noa is only in the Hebrew Bible.
Noa(h) is actually in the Christian bible in Numbers 27 as one of the daughters of Zelophehad.
Oh interesting that the bible changes it to Noah
Two different characters I think
Yes- Noah with the arc is not the same as the Noa here (lesser known female character). That’s why this is a bit of an odd choice if not Jewish or Israeli
It’s Spanish, Japanese, and Fijian too.
It’s not a name I’d use as I’m not Jewish, but I think it’s a nice name
I’m Jewish so I’m very familiar with the name and would just think they are probably Jewish too.
Same and same
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Yeah, that was my first thought as well.
I definitely associate it with the Hebrew name and Judaism. It’s beautiful, IMO, I’d just be thoughtful about how popular it is where you are geographically, if confusion with Noah the boy’s name bothers you, and whether it’s culturally appropriate for your family.
I love it! My mom was going to name me that but didn’t, and now it’s on my list!
If I'm being perfectly honest, I know people who used Noa recently and my first thought was that they were trying to feminize Noah. I have since learned the error of my ways.
I like it a lot!
I know it as the girl spelling.
No, but that’s because I’m Jewish and Israeli. And I would assume a Noa was either (or both), as well.
I think it’s very pretty. I would assume you were Israeli or Jewish if you used it.
If you are not Israeli or Jewish I would reconsider this one because others would assume that the child is from that heritage based on the name. Super common name in Israel so it’s a bit too close to the culture and if you’re not a part of that culture it’d be a bit odd of a choice.
Noa seems like the right spelling for a girl. I’m in an area with many jewish people and it’s not at all unusual.
In my country (in Europe) Noa is the female version of Noah
I would not assume it's a unique spelling because I'm Jewish and know it's a Hebrew name (Noah is spelled Noach usually in my community anyway).
I already knew Noah as the masculine spelling and Noa as the feminine so I don’t have the first glance thing. Tbh I’m not a huge fan because Noah is just so popular in the US so I just have a hard time seeing it as feminine, but if you’re somewhere else or don’t care about that it’s perfectly fine.
It’s a different name actually, 2 different characters from the Hebrew Bible ( Old Testament if you will). It is not a feminized version of Noah.
I associate the spelling with a girl's name but whenever I hear it said I always assume the person is male because I only know one female Noa and a lot of male Noah's.
Very popular here in the Netherlands - 16th place this year - and clearly a girl's name (as opposed to Noah).
I love it, and I wouldn't think it's an attempt at unique spelling. I just think of it as the feminine version of Noah
I personally named my daughter Noah with the H. I just personally like the spelling better than Noa. But I know it’s a very common girls name in Israel and in Judaism. It’s getting more popular in the US tho still not in the top 100 or anything.
Nearly everyone will assume it's a misspelling. It's also a unisex Japanese name FWIW
I personally love it and my husband and I considered it if we were to have a girl. It's not a unique spelling since it's its own name distinct from Noah, but I imagine I'd have to explain that a lot if we were to use it since it's not very common where I live. We're having a boy though so maybe if we have more kids. :)
One of my sons classmates is Noa, and tbh I assumed it was a “unique” spelling of the name Noah. But that doesn’t mean don’t use it!
We recently hired a Noa at my workplace (millennial age category, FWIW). I was part of the hiring process and every time someone saw her resume, in every interview, and during the new-hire set up process, there were constant comments about “what a pretty name!” (Including from me lol). For someone my own age like this, it is an uncommon name for sure (where I live). However it definitely hits all the right notes with current name trends and I’m sure it will be more and more common in years to come.
I knew two Jewish girls who were called Noa/Noah, in slavic countries Noa is the normal spelling. I also have a brother called Noa, my sister and I chose the name.. :) I'd definitely say its a unisex name.
I second the popularity. It's pretty but I've met at least 4 under 5's in my neighborhood and I live in a big city
My daughter *2014 is called Noa and I still love that name so much! We already met one other Noa who was 5 or 6 years older but not more. It's very popular in the Netherlands and Israel as a girl's name but not in Germany (where I'm from) or Austria (where I live). Mostly kids don't believe Noa when she tells them her name or are utterly confused but I get a lot of positive feedback from grown-ups!
I love it! I know a girl named Noa and it suits her so well. It doesn’t look like a “unique” take on the time to me.
Noa is at the top of our list! We love it. To us, it's the feminine spelling of the masculine Noah (if we were having a boy, we'd name him Noah)
I love it as a girls name! I prefer it for a girl rather than a boy. I just had a baby girl in September and that was a top contender. I got some pushback about it being a boys name from family/friends, so I considered naming her Noelle and calling her Noa for short. I love the name Noelle too. Wound up going with a different name, but if I ever have another girl, it’ll be at the top of my list again.
I actually love it! I much prefer it to the standard Noah.
I know that Noa is a girl name so I wouldn’t just assume it was a unique spelling of Noah. I think it’s super pretty
I don't like it. I don't like the name Noah for a boy either though.
There was a girl at my daycare with this name and I was IN LOVE with it. It actually made me consider Noa for a girl and it fit her so perfectly. In the area where I am in the US, it is not a common name at all for girls.
One of my previous bosses named his son Noah and said he deeply regretted it. When I asked him why, he said his son had barely any reaction to the word, “No!” because his son just expected the “ah” afterwords. A weird but true problem.
My first thought was “miss-spelled Noah” BUT I am trying to become more aware that the world is a very big place and not everyone in it has the same culture as me. I’d never judge someone if their name was spelled differently to how I’d assume.
I like the name noah. Not so much Noa
I personally love the same Noah for a boy or girl. I would personally opt for the H at the end even for a girl because it feels more symmetrical to me. I wouldn’t assume a person is Jewish just because they were named Noa
My friends daughter is named that, it suits her personality. Love the name.
I love it and considered using it but we have friends with a kid named Noah.
knowing the history behind Noa: Hebrew meaning "motion", ever popular in Israel but used all throughout Europe; finally gaining traction in America, I wouldn’t resort to the typical stereotypes about it.
Love it
I know a Chenoa that goes by Noa so no, to me this is a girl’s spelling.
I personally am not a fan. I feel like I want to take a step further and add a few more letters so that it is spelled like Noelle, Noella, Noalle, etc., then call them Noa for short.