Two Syllable Names for Girls

The range of occupational baby names is ever expanding, and Ranger is a recent addition to the list. It feels both natural—reminiscent of park rangers—and western and rugged, as in the Lone Ranger. If you're making a choice between Ranger and Danger, we suggest the less aggressive former. Plus, this one gives you the option of nicknames Rae, Rayne, and Rainey too, and ties to various sports teams and Dungeons and Dragons. Currently given to more than 100 boys in each recent year, it has yet to chart for girls, but this could change in the future.

If you are looking for an unusual way to honor an ancestral Mary or Miriam, Mirja might make a good choice. Zero baby girls were given this name in the US in 2014. The rising popularity of Anja has schooled English speakers that the j is pronounced like a y.

Zenzile derives from the word uzenzile, meaning "you bought this upon yourself." It was the given name of Miriam Makeba, a singer known as Mama Africa. Her mother gave Makeba the name after a difficult delivery because she had previously been warned that she was unlikely to survive the pregnancy.

As Cora rises to become one of the most admired and popular names for girls, more and more variations will arise. But given that the original Greek form is Kore, this one isn't as kree8if as it first may appear. Still, Cora's appeal is its history and simplicity, both negated by Korra.

Cute nickname name used by Woody Harrelson for his daughter, but does have possible association with Denny's.

Meeri is kind of like Siri with an M. This unusual name is certainly cute and intriguing but would forever be mistaken for Mary.

Samiah and her sisters are feminine variations on the male name Sami (which of course is also a female name, usually a short form for Samiah or Samantha). Spellings include Samia and Samiya.

Pipsa is a nickname for the Finnish names PIpkka and Pirjo, both of which are variations of Bridget. In Finland, Peppa Pig is called Pipsa Possu.

A pretty and fresh-sounding variation of the Christmasy classic Noelle. Several spelling variations were used for a handful of babies in recent years, including Noeli, Noellie, Noely, and Noelie.

Not quite Dora or Daria, this name is often dismissed in favor of its more familiar counterpart, but it has versatile appeal, given that it has a number of different origins. It can be considered a feminine form of Dorian, a variation of Dorothy, an elaboration of Dora, or a variation of the Hebrew name Dor, meaning "generation". A notable bearer is Doria Loyce Ragland, the mother of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.

This obscure Native-American name owes its very life to country singer Shania Twain, who dropped her original name, Eileen, for it.

A distinctive Polish short form of Krystyna, ultimately deriving from Christian, Krysia has a similar feel to Sasha, but with a bit of kick from the K sounds.

Janaina is a name used by Brazilians and Caribbean people to refer to a Yoruba goddess of pregnancy and motherhood but also the Virgin Mary.

Lovie is one of a vast number of ie-ending nickname names popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s, which means they should be back in style now.

Soft, sultry resonance.