Two Syllable Names Reign Supreme

Two syllable names are a huge, rich group of baby names. Two syllables is the most common name length in the USA, and encompass every style you can imagine, from vintage classics to unique modern names, cute nicknames to cool cowboys and girls.
You might be specifically looking for a two syllable name to fit a sibling pattern, or because you like the way it sounds with your last name. Or maybe you’re just interested to see what’s out there… or how I can possibly cover the whole topic of bisyllabic baby names in one post.
Spoiler: I can’t! But here are the edited highlights, including the most popular two syllable baby names, and cool examples from styles that parents are loving right now.
Facts and figures
Two is the most popular number of syllables on birth certificates, accounting for almost half the girl names and over half the boy names in the US Top 100:
1 syllable: 3 names
2 syllables: 49 names
3 syllables: 36 names
4 syllables: 12 names
1 syllable: 6 names
2 syllables: 64 names
3 syllables: 24 names
4 syllables: 6 names
I should add that this is a bit subjective. It depends on your accent and pronunciation, because vowels are slippery things. If you think that Wyatt has one syllable, or Violet has three, I’m not going to fight over it!
The prize for the shortest two-syllable name goes to Io and Ia, followed by three letter names like Ari and Zoe. The longest belong to languages that go heavy on the letters, like Georgette and Aoibheann. Can you think of any longer?
Popular two syllable names
Top Names in the USA
Here are the most popular two-syllable names in the US in 2018. Although it’s not quite up-to-date (the 2019 data has been postponed), the names near the top of the list tend not to move dramatically from year to year. So it’s still a good tool for guessing what’s popular with American parents currently. Ranks are in brackets.
Girls
Emma (1)
Ava (3)
Charlotte (6)
Mia (7)
Harper (9)
Mila (14)
Ella (15)
Scarlett (20)
Luna (23)
Chloe (25)
Boys
Liam (1)
Noah (2)
Lucas (8)
Mason (9)
Logan (10)
Ethan (12)
Jacob (13)
Michael (14)
Henry (16)
Jackson (17)
Top names on Nameberry
These are the top two-syllable names on the Nameberry chart for 2020: the ones people like you are looking at right now. Ranks are in brackets.
Girls
Luna (1)
Isla (5)
Ava (7)
Cora (13)
Maya (16)
Hazel (17)
Ivy (18)
Alice (19)
Iris (20)
Violet (26)
Boys
Milo (1)
Asher (2)
Silas (4)
Levi (5)
Jasper (7)
Arlo (9)
Leo (10)
Henry (11)
Liam (15)
Ezra (16)
Celebrity names
As far from classic as you can get, notable two syllable starbaby names of recent years include:
Alma (Zoe Kazan & Paul Dano)
Asahd and Aalam (DJ Khaled)
Birdie and Cricket (Busy Philipps)
Capri (Kobe Bryant)
Ennis (Kirsten Dunst)
Kulture (Cardi B)
Leafer (Kat Von D)
Marvel (Pete Wentz)
Memphis and Navy (Jason Aldean)
Onyx (Iggy Azalea; Alanis Morissette*)
Raddix (Cameron Diaz)
Rumi (Beyoncé and Jay Z)
Stormi (Kylie Jenner)
Vida (Michael Bublé)
*Alanis wins gold for two syllable naming: her children are Ever Imre, Onyx Solace and Winter Mercy, surname Treadway.
Stress-second names
In many varieties of English, words have a “beat” of stronger stressed syllables. Most two syllable names put the stress on the first syllable (AD-am, BELL-a). But there’s a special group of names — often recently borrowed from other languages — where it’s on the second syllable. Some parents like this rhythm for a middle name, especially for girls. But there’s no reason why they can’t shine in first position too.
Anouk
Brielle
Colette
Elise
Emil
Gael
Jamal
Jesus
Lamar
Lebron
Lucille
Makai
Marcel
Mathilde
Odette
Revere
Romain
Siobhan
Solenne
Tyree
Two syllable surname names
British/Irish surnames are an ever-evolving trend, and a vast number of them have two syllables — including most Baby-Names”>occupational names. Inspiration is all around, from your family tree to people n TV, but here’s a small taster.
Baker
Carson
Davis
Drummond
Huxley
Lennox
Marlowe
Reilly
Sawyer
Weston
Unusual two syllable names
Looking for a name that your kid won’t share with anyone else? Here’s some two-syllable inspiration from the very bottom of the charts, given to only five children in 2018.
Albus
Alpha (for girls)
Brewster
Dashton
Lulie
Manon
Orlaith
Stokeley
Thaxton
Zola (for boys)
What are your favorite two syllable names? Let us know in the comments!
About the Author
Clare Green
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