Two Syllable Names for Boys

Unseen in the USA since 1901, Boston rocketed back into the Top 1000 in 2004 and, like other place-names such as Brooklyn, London and Paris, is now a reliable presence on the list.

Boston

Keegan is one of a clan of spirited Irish surnames starting with K and ending with 'n'--this one with the cheery double 'e' in the middle-- that are appealing to an increasing number of parents. It derives from Mac Aodhagáin, meaning "son (or descendant) of Aodhagán," a diminutive of the Irish name Aodh--pronounced Aye.
 The related name Egan is another recommended possibility.

Keegan

The Kylian spelling of this popular Irish name was introduced to the lexicon by French soccer star Kylian Mbappé. A Top 500 name in France since the 1990s, Kylian entered the US Top 1000 back in 2019 and has since joined the rankings in England and Wales and Puerto Rico. 

Cillian is the native Irish form and Killian the most popular international spelling. The three spellings -- Kylian, Killian, and Cillian -- are all pronounced the same: KILL-ee-an.

Kylian

Hassan is a handsome and familiar Arabic choice, which has appeared in the US Top 1000 every year since 1971. The name can be viewed as a spelling variation of Hasan meaning "beautiful, handsome" or it can be seen as a separate Arabic name, meaning "improver"
 
If viewed as a variation of Hasan, it is a significant choice for Shia Muslims who connect it to the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. As a separate name, it connects to a poet who was a companion of the Prophet Muhammad.
 In one Nigerian tribe, it's used for the first born of a pair of male twins, while the name may be considered a Scottish surname ("descendant of Osáin") or a Jewish surname ("cantor" from Hazzan).

Hassan

A diminutive of Daniel that's been immortalized in odes ranging from 'Danny Boy' to 'Danny's Song.'

Danny

This variation of Jason and Jayce was the fastest-rising name of 2013 for boys -- leaping 845 spots in a single year to break into the <a href="https://nameberry.com/popular-names">Top 1000</a> for the first time ever. Its trendy sound, y spelling, and connection to rapper Jayceon "The Game" Taylor can be credited for this spike.

Jayceon

Kenzo is a common Japanese name with several creative bearers: the single-named fashion designer, prizewinning architect Kenzo Takada, and painter Kenzo Okada, which makes it internationally recognizable.

 Kenzo was chosen for their son by Kimora Lee Simmons and Djimon Hounsou, inspired by the designer.

 Kenzo can have other meanings, all positive, depending on the Japanese characters used.

Kenzo

Reminiscent of Puritan and Pilgrim name choices, Sincere is a relatively modern virtue name that has been in the US Top 1000 since the 2000s.
 
Derived from the Latin word sincerus meaning "pure and clean", Sincere is associated with being honest, acting from the heart, and feeling deeply - qualities many parents hope their children grow up to possess.
 
The name was given to nearly 500 boys in 2023, placing it within the Top 600, and while the name does feel bold, it also fits in besides Chosen, Loyal, and Boone.

Sincere

Raul and French brother Raoul are much more appealing than flat-footed daddy Ralph. Puerto Rican actor Raul Julia, who starred in the Addams Family movies, brought fame to the name before his death in 1994.

Raul

Leonard is the name of several saints, including one who is the patron saint of childhood, and another medieval saint who's the patron of prisoners--known for freeing prisoners he deemed worthy of God.  Popular from 1900 to 1930, Leonard is perhaps more notable for those who dropped the name when they entered show biz than those who kept it: former Leonards include Roy Rogers and Tony Randall. Two musical Leonards did keep their names though--composer-conductor Leonard Bernstein and poet-singer Leonard Cohen.  Leonard Woolf was the husband and publisher of great English novellist Virginia Woolf. These days, modern parents tend to prefer Leo or the romantic Italian Leonardo, especially since Leonard does not get pronounced with the trendy "Leo" sound.

Leonard

A strong, if slightly dated sounding choice, Ronald made the US Top 10 in the late 1930s through into the mid-1940s, before it became heavily associated with President Reagan, as well as with the McDonald franchise mascot. More recently, it has appeared in the Harry Potter series, borne by Ronald "Ron" Weasley, while others may immediately think of its rhyme, Donald. All of these factors may work against Ronald making a big resurgence, but popular nickname Ronnie might make others reconsider. 
 
The Scottish form of Ragnvaldr, a name brought to England and Scotland by the Vikings, it means "ruler's counselor", giving it a hint of wisdom and strength. It currently appears in the US Top 600 and the UK Top 800, it was given to just shy of 500 American boys in a recent year. Short form Ronnie made the England and Wales Top 50, while the longer form is preferred in the US.

Ronald

A Japanese name with real firepower, Kasai was one of the fastest rising names of 2025. Given to just 15 boys in back in 2015, a more recent count saw it given to 437, reflecting an interest in international gems and the quest to find alternatives to the likes of Kai.
 
A romanization of the Japanese word for fire, particularly one spreading over a wide area, Kasai is also a surname and a unisex option in Japan. While a small number of girls have been given the name in the States, it currently leans masculine. Interestingly, it disproportionately popular in Delaware, where it is connected to local wunderkind, Kasai Guthrie, a young entrepreneur and rapper. 
 
Kasai was chosen by actress Skai Jackson in 2025 for her baby, which was the likely spark for its surge in popularity the same year. It made its debut in the Top 1000, given to four times as many boys to the year prior. 
 
The Japanese name coincides with the name of a river running though the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which may help it appeal to fans of Zaire and Zyaire too.

Kasai

A place name with plenty of history, Memphis is associated with the place in Ancient Egypt where many of the pyramids were built, and with the bluesy US city that was named after it. With its lovely meaning and cool, musical vibe, it is currently in the US Top 500 names for boys. 
 
Deriving from the Greek form of the Egyptian name Men-nefer, Memphis has been notably borne by rapper Memphis Bleek and by Dutch footballer, known mononymously as Memphis (who likely inspired its brief appearance in The Netherlands Top 1000 in 2015). In the US, it is a unisex name, however, it is used three times more often for boys, with 484 receiving the name in 2024.

Memphis

What with Paul Simon's classic lyric about Julio down by the schoolyard and several distinguished bearers, this livelier Spanish version of Julius is completely familiar to the non-Hispanic community and would make a great choice for a bicultural family. Popular in Brazil, it also ranks in the US Top 600 and given to more than 500 boys each year. NFL Atlanta Falcons star Julio Jones bears this name.
 
Deriving from the Roman family name, Julius, this Spanish variant has a possible meanings. These include "downy-bearded" from Greek and "youthful" Latin, though it could also be linked to Jupiter and Jovis, meaning "sky father".

Julio

Amias is a friendly and attractive sounding name, with a lovely meaning and knightly feel. Though it might sound like a Biblical name, similar as it is to Amos and Ozias, it is in fact a Latin name, ultimately from the elements amicus or amo meaning "friend" and "love" respectively. 
 
Originally spelled as Amyas and used as a surname, it may have derived as a form of Amis or Amice, Medieval French and English names meaning "friend". Alternative theories are that it could have been used for someone from the French city of Amiens ("city of the Ambiani, those all around"), as a derivative of Amadeus ("love of God"), or as a masculine form of Amée or Amy ("beloved").
 The Amyas version became known via the hero of the mega-popular 1855 Charles Kingsley novel, Westward Ho!, Captain Sir Amyas Leigh, but it is the Amias spelling that is currently in favor, ranking in the Top 700 in the US in a recent year.

Amias

Samir has a pleasing sound and lovely meaning. One of those distinctive names that can also fit right in—and you could always call him Sam.

Samir

Lochlan and Lachlan are running neck and neck and both rising into the Top 1000. Which spelling you use is purely a matter of taste.

Lochlan

Biblical names including the letter Z and those ending in -el are a big 2020s trend in the US, and Azael is one such name. It entered the Top 1000 in 2021 and in a recent count, was given to 380 boys in a single year.
 
First appearing in the Greek Old Testament, Azael is a variation of the Hebrew Hazael, meaning "God sees" or "one who sees God".

Azael

An evocative name brought from Hawaii to the mainland by Keanu Reeves, who was born in Beirut to a part-Hawaiian, part-Chinese father. It moved into the Top 1000 for the first time in over a decade in 2016. Keanu ranks among <a href="https://nameberry.com/popular-names/us/state/hawaii> hawaii's top 100 baby names</a>.

Keanu

A perfectly respectable Old Testament name ruined forever through its association with the odious Uriah Heep in David Copperfield. Some people also find this name just too close to the word urine. These negative connotations may be wearing off, however. (Perhaps because people don't read as much Dickens as they used to.)

Uriah

Two-syllable boy names are the most prevalent in the complete lexicon of male names in Anglophone cultures, with more than 15,000 choices on this complete list of every boys' name on Nameberry with two syllables.

, with the top two boy names Liam and Noah having two syllables each. Other common choices include Henry, Jackson, and Ethan.

 with two syllables include Orson, Roscoe, and Altan. Click here for a hand-curated list of the 

full list of over 15,000 two-syllable male names

, ordered by their current rank on Nameberry.

Two-Syllable Boy Names with meanings, origins, and popularity, including top two syllable names for boys and unique boy names with 2 syllables. (Page 23)

15,000+ Two-Syllable Boy Names