Two Syllable Names for Girls
- Eilis
Origin:
Irish variation of ElizabethMeaning:
"pledged to God"Description:
Familiar in the US thanks to the lovely movie Brooklyn, based on the Colm Toibin novel of the same name. Popular in medieval times, it is still used in Ireland (properly spelt with a fada: Eilís) could make an alternative to the super-popular Isla. Eilish and Eibhlis are alternate forms.
- Dulcie
Origin:
Latin, diminutive of DulcibellaMeaning:
"sweet"Description:
A sweet-meaning and sounding name dating back to the Roman Empire, and later found in the antebellum South, Dulcie has in the modern era been heard most often in Australia.
- Mona
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"noble good"Description:
Mona had more than a moment in the sun, peaking in 1950 at Number 230 but falling off the Top 1000 completely in the late 1980s. Its similarity to the word "moaner" undercuts the appeal of its simplicity. In one recent year, fewer than 100 baby girls received the name, and we don't see it reviving any time soon.
- Hester
Origin:
Medieval variation of Esther, PersianMeaning:
"star"Description:
The disgraced heroine of The Scarlet Letter's name, after long neglect, just might have a chance at revival, following in the wake of sister-name Esther. We've characterized her elsewhere as an eccentric aristocrat, much more accepted in the U.K. than she has been here.
- Ziggy
Origin:
German, diminutive of names beginning Sig/ZigMeaning:
"victory"Description:
Fitting in with Scottie, Stevie, Frankie, and Birdie, Ziggy is a nickname-y choice that feels energetic, cutesy, and cool. Borrowing star quality from Ziggy Stardust and Ziggy Marley, Ziggy is predominantly used on boys, however, since the death of David Bowie in 2016, it has been quietly gathering attention as a girls name, with 43 babies given the name in a recent year.
- Jolie
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"pretty"Description:
Jolie is as pretty as its literal meaning; nowadays it is also seen as a girls’ name, via Angelina for whom Jolie was originally her middle name.
- Mirren
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"Description:
Mirren is a lively and attractive Scottish name, popular in its native country but best known outside Scotland as the surname of the English actor Dame Helen Mirren. It is thought to be a Scottish derivative of the name Marion, from Mary.
- Iolanthe
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"violet flower"Description:
Iolanthe is known primarily through the 1882 Gilbert & Sullivan operetta of that name, in which the title character is a fairy. Iolanthe is a softer version of Yolanda, and is the kind of multi-syllabic classical name once considered too weighty for a modern baby girl, but now within the realm of possibility--this one as a dramatic twist on Violet. The biggest drawback is its variety of legitimate pronunciations in English.
- Siena
Origin:
Italian place-nameDescription:
Siena is a soft and delicate Tuscan town name given a big fashion boost by lovely young actress/gossip column staple Sienna Miller. A real up-and-comer.
- Itzel
Origin:
MayanMeaning:
"rainbow lady"Description:
This name, stemming from the Mayan mythological figure of the Rainbow Lady, is a surprising pop hit, primarily among Hispanic parents.
- Maris
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"of the sea"Description:
Maris is an unusual and appealing name that has never appeared in the U.S. Top 1000, overshadowed by its twentieth century elaboration, Marisa/Marissa. It derives from the phrase "Stella Maris," star of the sea, one of the many epithets of the Virgin Mary, and became familiar via the unseen (but unliked) character of sitcom Frasier's ex-sister-in-law.
- Elyse
Origin:
Variation of Elise or ElysiaMeaning:
"pledged to God"Description:
Elyse hasn't been heard much since the 80s, but it's beginning to be reconsidered as a possibIlity again, now that it's not so much seen as a Mom name, as it was in the TV show "Family Ties." A spelling variation of Elise, it's another variation of Elizabeth. Many parents today would opt for Eliza.
- Mariah
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"the Lord is my teacher; or drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"Description:
Thanks to Mariah Carey, everyone now knows this name – and is aware that Mariah's pronounced with a long i – just as Maria was in the Jane Austen era. And though Mariah now sounds modern, it was heard as far back as 1550 in Great Britain.
- Levi
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"joined, attached"Description:
Levi was given to about 10,000 baby boys in the US last year, along with 67 baby girls.
- Evanthe
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"fair flower"Description:
Evanthe is a pretty Greek name not often heard outside its native culture. With its stylish Ev-begining, Evanthe could make an interesting choice if you're looking for a generic flower name.
- Brooklyn
Origin:
Place-name from DutchMeaning:
"marshland"Description:
Extreme makeover: Brooklyn has gone from jokey Borough Boy name in the 1990s to a leading girls' name starting with B. The status of New York's Brooklyn as hipster heaven is ironic as few bona fide Brooklyn hipsters would choose this name.
- Casey
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"brave in battle"Description:
One of the original unisex Irish surname names, energetic Casey bounced onto the scene in the 1960s, then peaked in the 1980s for both boys and girls. Today Casey is having a resurgence for both girls and boys and re-entered the charts on the girls' side, likely due to the character Kayce Dutton (pronounced like Casey) on the hit show Yellowstone.
- Melia
Origin:
Greek mythology name, diminutive of Amelia, or HawaiianMeaning:
"ash tree; honey; work; plumeria"Description:
This is a rich, melodic shortening of the popular girls' name Amelia that can stand on its own. There are several figures in Greek myth named Melia, most notably a daughter of Oceanus. The Meliae are nymphs associated with trees.
- Addie
Origin:
Diminutive of Adelaide or AdelineDescription:
Old-fashioned nickname with sweet turn-of-the-last-century charm that's become a favorite among the popular girl names starting with A of today. In fact, with all spellings of Adeline/Adalynn taken together firmly in the Top 10, and Adelaide and Addison also high in the charts, Addie is one of the most frequently-heard short forms around. But no matter how popular (or pandemic) it gets, Addie is undeniably one of the cutest names for baby girls. Little girls might like the fact that it's the name, though spelled Addy, of an American Girl series doll.
- Dorcas
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"doe, gazelle"Description:
Classic name used by the Romans, the Puritans, and the Bard, but pretty much taboo today due to the objectionable connotations of both its front and back ends.