Two Letter Girl Names

This tiny but punchy name has multiple origins. It stands strong alone, but could be short for numerous names including Bonnie and Bodhi. In Mandarin Chinese, Bo means "wave".

The name Jo still evokes the spunky image of the character in Louisa May Alcott's Little Women. Its literary status makes Jo one of the OG boyish nicknames for girls, ala Frankie, Billie, and Stevie. If you like that form, you can lengthen it to Joey.

Io may be one of the slightest names in the book, but there aren't many two-letter names with as much substance as this Greek mythological example. Io, a name used for the largest moon of Jupiter, was in classic myth raped by Zeus and escaped from him by changing herself into a cow.

This punchy little name, reminiscent of Latin Io, has a whimsical and beautiful fable behind it. According to legend, the Cornish saint Ia was an Irish princess who sailed across the sea to Cornwall on a leaf. She was martyred and buried at the spot where the church of St Ives (called Porth Ia - "St Ia’s cove" - in Cornish) now stands. EE-ah is the Cornish pronunciation, but EYE-ah is also accepted.

Vy is a beautiful feminine name of Vietnamese origin, meaning 'grand' or 'excellent.' This short but meaningful name embodies elegance and simplicity while carrying significant cultural depth. In Vietnam, Vy is often given to girls with hopes they will live up to its meaning of greatness and distinction. Though relatively uncommon in Western countries, the name has gained some international recognition for its brevity and melodic quality. Vy is easy to pronounce across different languages and cultures, making it a practical yet distinctive choice for parents seeking a name with Asian roots and universal appeal. Its simplicity belies its strong meaning, representing aspiration and excellence.

Although the sound is pretty, "my" is too common of an English word for My to be usable as a baby name in Anglophone countries.

It may only be two letters long, but Su has substance and meaning. It can be a fresh spelling for the classic Sue, a Turkish name meaning "water", and a unisex Chinese name meaning "simple" or "respectable".

Ki was introduced internationally by Korean archer and gold medalist Ki Bo-Bae. Among girl names, Ki is simple yet truly unique: There were baby girls named Kia, Aki, and Kiki born in the US last year, but none named Ki. Ki is also the name of the Sumerian earth goddess.

Lo is a Top 100 name in Sweden, but the Lou spelling is more user-friendly for an English-speaking child.

Mo is a punchy, unisex nickname with endless versatility, from Maureen to Morgan to the British favorite Imogen. Its simplicity and charm make it a modern pick for parents embracing minimalist names - and part of a rising trend of boyish nicknames for girls.

There are a lot of little girls called Em today, but not that many named Em, just Em. As a first name, it's a bit reductive, especially with all the children named Emma, Emily, Emilia, Emeline, and onward. But we can see it working as a creative middle name, perhaps a clever way to honor Grandpa Mike?

Vi is a common short form for Violet and Viola, not commonly used as a full name. But if you're trying to bridge a long first name and a long last, the minimalist Vi might be exactly what you need in the middle.

Lu is an adorable mini-name that could be short for Luna, Lucinda, Luisa, or any other name beginning with the letters Lu. Or it can just stand on its own in first or middle place.

Ro is a casual short form that doesn't usually appear on the birth certificate on its own. But it makes a friendly nickname for any girls' name starting with Ro-.

A two-initial nickname occasionally used on birth certificates. This is especially popular for girls, thanks to Spiderman's sweetheart Mary Jane "MJ" Watson.

Yo is an uncommon feminine name with multiple cultural origins. In Japanese, it can be a shortened form of names containing the 'yo' sound, representing positive qualities like 'sun' or 'good generation.' As a Chinese name, it may relate to characters meaning 'beautiful' or 'precious.' In Western contexts, Yo sometimes appears as a diminutive for names like Yolanda or Yvonne. The name's brevity gives it a modern, minimalist appeal, though its extreme shortness may occasionally cause confusion as it resembles a casual greeting in English. Yo remains rare as a formal given name in most countries, making it a distinctive choice that carries a bold, contemporary feel despite its ancient linguistic roots.

Relatively popular in Spain until the middle of the 20th century, this sweet and lively Spanish virtue name is also a Marian name, short for María de Fe. In Galician, it is sometimes also short for Fernanda, meaning "brave voyager".

Ye is a name with a lovely meaning, which is probably just a bit short for usage outside the Chinese community. Paired with Mei, however, it could work. Ye-Mei would mean beautiful leaf, a lovely name for an autumnal daughter.

Si is an intriguing feminine name with diverse cultural origins. In Chinese, Si (pronounced 'see') can represent various characters meaning 'silk,' 'thinking,' or 'four,' depending on the tone and written character. As a Western name, Si might function as a minimalist, modern nickname for longer names like Sienna, Silvia, or Simone. This ultra-short name reflects the contemporary trend toward brief, impactful names that work across languages. In some cultures, Si can mean 'yes,' suggesting an affirmative, positive nature. While uncommon as a standalone name, Si's simplicity gives it a distinctive quality in an era of lengthier names, offering a blank canvas for the bearer's personality while being easy to pronounce across cultural boundaries.