Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Noa for a girl

63 replies

kayli10 · 24/09/2026 21:34

Would love to hear some opinions! I absolutely love Noa for a girl. We’re Jewish, and Noa is a known Hebrew girl name but I’m worried that in general, people will assume she’s a boy when they see her name written or hear her name.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
BrucesBarAndGrill · 24/09/2026 21:35

Love it!

nocoolnamesleft · 24/09/2026 21:36

Never having encountered a Noa, I'm afraid that if hearing it I would assume Noah, and a boy.

Seaside3 · 24/09/2026 21:37

I know 2 girl Noa's, it's lovely and generally said more as a No-a rather than no-er for boys so sounds more feminine.

PinkCatCushion · 24/09/2026 21:37

I think Noah for a boy has been at the top of popular UK baby names for so many years that it’s very much ingrained as a boy’s name.
Personally, I’m not keen on using it as a girl’s name in the Uk because of its massive popularity as a boys name. It’s like using Michael as a girls name (I’m currently watching The Waltons!)

PinkCatCushion · 24/09/2026 21:38

nocoolnamesleft · 24/09/2026 21:36

Never having encountered a Noa, I'm afraid that if hearing it I would assume Noah, and a boy.

Definitely

wreckingmybread · 24/09/2026 21:38

I’ve never heard it for a girl’s name before but I think it’s beautiful. If I was to hear it spoken aloud without context I’d think boy (but who cares? Plenty of girls named Alex and Charlie), written down I’d automatically think girl.

Islandlover · 24/09/2026 21:38

I had a Muslim friend called Noha with the spelling I didn’t think anything of it.

EmiliaRuusuvuori · 24/09/2026 21:38

I think it's really pretty.

cutarug · 24/09/2026 21:39

I think it's quite well known as a girls name these days. It's a lovely name.

LilyForrest · 24/09/2026 21:39

I think it's a lovely name & wouldn't necessary jump to the conclusion it was a boy.

Denim4ever · 24/09/2026 21:40

DC has a very close friend with this name and I like it

mynameiscalypso · 24/09/2026 21:43

I know several women called Noa, it’s a lovely name. I think it’s quite well established that Noa = girl and Noah = male.

Amyb87 · 24/09/2026 21:44

Noa was at the top of my baby girl name list for a while. We went with a different name in the end, but I still love it.

StasisMom · 24/09/2026 21:45

I love it. I don’t know any but I always think a boy’s name for a girl is pretty cool. It looks very pretty written.

Moreholidaysthanjudithchalmers · 24/09/2026 21:50

I really like it and I usually like more traditional names. I think it’s well known enough that Noa is feminine name. And with your heritage it fits. There’s a young adult film on Netflix my fault where main female character is Noah (with h)

seahorsessky · 24/09/2026 22:01

They probably will, but they'll soon realise. Alex (obviously the full version shows gender, but most boys and girls only go by Alex), Riley, Wren etc can have this problem, ok you might argue they are less likely to be considered primarily male, but in your case the spelling might help, as all the Noah boys I know are spelled the biblical way.

AmnesiacsDream · 24/09/2026 22:28

It will be a life time of having to spell her name for people, which might get tedious. But I like the way it sounds.

People who hear it will probably assume a boy but will realise when they see her. People who see it, I think, will be unsure. But, again, will know when they see her.

HelloWorld57 · 24/09/2026 22:29

I love it!

Mandarinaduck · 24/09/2026 22:30

When I met a little Noa I was surprised at first (only having heard Noah) and then quickly got used to it - a very pretty name.

HugoThatway · 24/09/2026 22:35

AmnesiacsDream · 24/09/2026 22:28

It will be a life time of having to spell her name for people, which might get tedious. But I like the way it sounds.

People who hear it will probably assume a boy but will realise when they see her. People who see it, I think, will be unsure. But, again, will know when they see her.

This

RaininSummer · 24/09/2026 22:51

Unusual and pretty.

Theyreeatingthedogs · 24/09/2026 22:58

I don't know a Noa and hope to never know a Noa!!!
Rachel is a superb Jewish name!

PrettyLittleRose · 24/09/2026 23:02

It's a Noa from me.

Sorry. Blush

I am not a fan, as the girl will have a lifetime of people spelling it incorrectly, and also asking why she has a boys name.

ThickWoodandTrees · 24/09/2026 23:03

I think it's beautiful. Hearing it, I would think boy. Seeing it, girl. Who cares? Once they see the person it's attached to, they'll know. It's lovely.

HugoThatway · 25/09/2026 00:44

PrettyLittleRose · 24/09/2026 23:02

It's a Noa from me.

Sorry. Blush

I am not a fan, as the girl will have a lifetime of people spelling it incorrectly, and also asking why she has a boys name.

I only hear no