Two Syllable Names for Girls

Heard more in Israel than the U. S.

A little like Elliot (or Elliette), Electra, and Etta, Ellette is a zippy but rarely used compound name.

A unisex Nahuatl name with a strong and stylish sound, but a meaning that some might find off-putting.

Word name possibility carrying the scent of licorice-like anise.

Evocative of the beautiful South Pacific islands; we've also heard Samoan used as a name.

Spelled with or without the final "h," Achsah, pronounced AK-suh, was the daughter of Caleb in the Old Testament. We can't imagine anyone finding it greatly appealing.

Imoen is the name of a character from the video game series Baldur's Gate, although in real life it's apt to be mistaken as a typo for Imogen.

Broadway star Tovah Feldshuh put this unusual Hebrew name on the map -- even though her birth name is Terri Sue.

This spelling of the name entered the US Top 1000 in 2001, rising until it found its apex at Number 487 in 2009. It has since been trending in the opposite direction. As with all her sister spellings—Jaelyn, Jaelynn, Jaylin, Jalyn—we urge you to consider a name that has more substance and doesn't sound like the word "jail."

Turkish variant of Lale

Magi, as in the Three Wise Men who visited the baby Jesus, is a new word name appropriate for Christmas babies. It might also be a way to spell Maggie, but you can see the problems that's going to cause.

Briona is another of the increasingly popular Bri picks, a cross between Briana and Briony.

Selphie Tilmitt is a character in the popular video game Final Fantasy VIII. An orphan like the other main characters, she's described as upbeat, friendly, and energetic....though she wields a mean nunchuk. Given the name's resemblance to the photo term "selfie," this one is off the table, even for enthusiastic gamers.

Mason with a French accent. Some parents may pick this spelling as an attempt to feminize or distinguish from trendy Mason.