Two Syllable Names for Girls

For parents who hope their child will one day carve their own path.

Malli is one of those simple-yet-unusual names that are intrinsically fascinating. In the US last year, only seven baby girls were named Malli.

Mako is a name used for both genders in Japan, most notably for the granddaughter of the emperor who chose to leave the Royal Family to marry a commoner. It's a simple name that translates easily to English-speaking cultures, though many will try to pronounce the first syllable with a long a. Mako also means "shark" in Maori, and is the name of two shark species.

A unique cousin to Talia.

Russell has gone away, but the more feminine Russet may move in to take his place.

A striking Nordic name with ancient roots, Svala (and its less common variant form Svale) derive from the Old Norse name for the swallow. This could be a great choice for nature lovers and fans of Edith Piaf (piaf being a term for a swallow).

A name that's appeared out of thin air, in the same vein as such mystical favorites as Destiny and Nevaeh.

Itta is a cute old-fashioned name that arose parallelly as a nickname for Yehudit, used among Ashkenazi Jews, and a variation of Ita, an Irish name.

Singer Perry is long gone, but the beautiful northern Italian lake, best known these days as one of the homes of George Clooney, conjures up a clear and tranquil image.

Actress Marsai Martin, who holds the title of youngest-ever studio film producer, has inspired a handful of parents to use her otherwise-unique name.

Sounding both tomboyish and feminine at the same time, this name is mostly associated with actresses Joely Richardson and Joely Fisher.

A Quranic name used for Muslim children of both sexes.

A sweet and punchy Japanese name with a celestial meaning.

Feminine form of Cian, a name from Irish legend.