Two Syllable Names for Girls

This light, airy name has been given to a few dozen American girls since the early 2000s. It's a legitimate Italian word, but it's more likely to be inspired by the word "angel" backwards.

Popular in mid-century Norway, Turid was ultimately derived from the Old Norse name Þórfríðr, from Þórr, "Thor," and fríðr, "beautiful." Turi is a more contemporary spelling, connected to aviator Turi Widerøe.

Tongue twister of a name common in Ireland in both its Gaelic and its Anglicized forms. American or British parents looking for an Irish name that's still largely unknown in the outside world might consider this.

A variation of Hailey that nosedived more than 100 places in 2009.

This lovely Arabic name is gaining popularity in the US, used equally for boys and girls. Indeed, its sound (it rhymes with the feminine Tamar but ends with the fashionably masculine -ar sound, as in Oscar) and most logical nickname (Sam) make it a choice that's at once accessible and unsual for both boys and girls.

Zümra is derived from the Turkish word for "emerald," zümrüt. The Ü in Zümra is pronounced with a short U sound similar to the ou in words like "should" and "could."

Quincy may be unisex, but Quimby is decidedly feminine — at least according to the stats, it's never been used for boys. Perhaps it's because of Beverly Cleary's children's book heroine Ramona Quimby, or the queen-related meaning. In either case, Quimby is a quirky, unexpected choice for a daughter.

A Top 50 pick in its native Armenia, this pretty moon name would make for a sophisticated alternative to mega-popular Luna, or an unexpected route to Lucy (or Lusie).

Nenna is the name of the heroine of Penelope Fitzgerald's novel Offshore, but it's also sparingly used in Scandinavia as a variant of the name Nanna. Nanna is a diminutive of various names, including Anna, Johanna and Marianne, but it's also a name in its own right, possibly meaning "daring".

Eman is a spelling variation popular in some European countries of this gender-neutral Arabic name, made most famous by Mrs. David Bowie. In the US, there were about 60 baby girls named Eman last year to 18 boys. The gender balance is more even for Iman.

As with many popular names these days, Kendall has inspired several spelling variations, many of them popular in their own right. While Kyndall fell off the Top 1000 in 2015, supermodel and reality TV star Kendall Jenner is sure to keep this name in all its versions in the public eye for years to come.