Noa

“Movement” in the feminine Hebrew name; “rest” in the separate Noah-derived masculine form.

In its feminine Hebrew tradition, Noa is associated with “movement”. It belongs to one of Zelophehad’s five daughters in the Bible: in Numbers 27, the sisters ask to inherit their father’s property and their request is granted. This gives Noa a story centred on women speaking together for their place in the family. The same Latin spelling can also be masculine. In Croatian and Hawaiian, and as a French variant, Noa is a form of Noah, whose Hebrew root is associated with “rest”. These are two separate name histories, so the feminine Noa is more than Noah with a letter removed. Spanish /ˈno.a/ and French /nɔ.a/ both let the two vowels be heard separately. The spare spelling and open ending can feel light and direct, appealing if you prefer a name with little ornament and a clearly shaped rhythm.

Etymology: Feminine Noa comes from Hebrew נוֹעָה. Masculine Noa can be a form of Noah, from a different Hebrew name, נֹחַ.