Two Syllable Names for Girls

The name Lórien appears several times in Tolkien’s novels. It’s both a place name and a character name, and although the character of Lórien (Master of Visions and Dreams, also called Irmo) is male, there’s no reason why this name couldn’t work on a girl as well. Case in point: Tori Amos named her daughter, born in 2000, Natashya Lórien.

Popular in Israel for girls and boys born on Shavout, a harvest festival. In Babylonian mythology, Dagan was the god of the earth and grain.

Destined to remain a one-person name -- in this country anyway.

Adding an extra 'R' to Kiera makes it rhyme with the fashionable Sierra. Kierra is a more distinctive choice than Kiera, Keira, or Kyra, all similarly pronounced, but there may be some pronunciation confusion.

Kenya, a name borrowed from the East African nation and theoretically unisex, is now used mostly for girls. While it's had its ups and downs since entering the US Top 1000 in 1968, it currently ranks lower than spelling variant Kenia.

A less-popular alternative to Juliette, perhaps – although it feels rather more dated.

Originated as a nickname for Anastazija, but now is more popular as an independent name.

Zaynab, from the Arabic word for beauty and the name of a flowering tree, was the name of a granddaughter, daughter and two wives of the Prophet Muhammed. Related names include the simplified forms Zaina and Zayna and the Swahili-inflected Zainabu, along with possibly Zenobia, a name related to the Greek mythological god Zeus. Zaynab is one of the most popular Muslim girls' names around the world.

Poised for popularity, Brennan is an Irish last name soft enough to borrow from the boys.

The Finnish translation of Daria. In Finland, Taru is commonly used as a nickname for Tarja.

Passion for the Spanish painter Goya may transcend the difficulty of this name -- just don't say it in a Jewish community.

A slow and sultry southern choice that's definitely cool for babies of either gender. While the word feels French and has its roots in 18th century French Louisiana, it derives from the Choctaw word bayuk, which means "small stream."

A heroine in a Victorian novel written with a quill pen, has an unusual, offbeat charm.

Also spelled the phonetic Mella, this Irish name is as sweet as its meaning — well, one of them.

Hollyn combines the Christmas- and nature-inspired feel of Holly, with the preppy, unisex style of Collins, all stung together with the globetrotter flair of Holland and the trendy -lyn ending of Gracelyn, Raelyn, and co. The name first appeared in the US stats back in the 70s,but remained obscure until the 2010s when it began trending upwards.

Roberta and Robert may be so far out they're...still out, but Robbie might make one of the trendy new boyish nicknames for girls. Actress Margot Robbie gave it a surname spin.

See ZELLA.

Indian film producer Ekta Kapoor is one notable bearer of this name. Just beware that some in the West may at first mis-hear this as Hector - not a reason to not use this meaningful name.