Two Syllable Names for Girls

  1. Éabha
    • Origin:

      Irish form of Eve
    • Meaning:

      "life"
    • Description:

      Irish spelling of Eva or Ava, also spelt Eabha in Ireland.
  2. Douglas
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "black water"
    • Description:

      Now a mostly-male name, in its earliest incarnation Douglas was used equally for girls and boys and could certainly make a comeback as one of the new boy names for girls".
  3. Therese
    • Origin:

      German variation of Theresa
    • Meaning:

      "to reap, gather"
    • Description:

      Most religious form of this name, fading from use now.
  4. Solstice
    • Origin:

      English from Latin
    • Meaning:

      "when the sun stands still"
    • Description:

      Solstice graduated from word to official first name when author Lionel Shriver used it for a character in her novel Big Brother. But of course, there were people named Solstice before: 16 baby girls were given the name in the US in 2021 (and it is occasionally used for boys too).
  5. Luana
    • Origin:

      Combination of Louise and Anna or Hawaiian
    • Meaning:

      "content, at ease"
    • Description:

      In the slipstream of Luna, this everywhere-and-nowhere international name, with its attractive liquid sound, is popular in several European countries along with Hawaii.
  6. Calais
    • Origin:

      French place-name
    • Description:

      Undiscovered name of picturesque northern French port.
  7. Evan
    • Origin:

      Welsh variation of John
    • Meaning:

      "God is gracious"
    • Description:

      Evan is a boys' favorite that has been given the feminine touch by talented actress Evan Rachel Wood. If you want to move beyond Eva and Evelyn and like unisex names, this may be a good bet for you (though like Evan Rachel Wood, you may want a feminine name in the middle name position to clarify matters). Evanna is also another alternative.
  8. Susie
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Susan, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "lily"
    • Description:

      In the 1950s and 60s, Susie was the name every little girl wanted for her very own.
  9. Misty
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "mist"
    • Description:

      The Play Misty for Me jokes will get old really fast.
  10. Fiora
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "flower"
    • Description:

      Fiora is a lost name that's now been found, a sleeker version of the antique Fiorella. There's an Italian river called the Fiora as well as a character in the video game League of Legends: Fiora is known in that game as "The Grand Duelist".
  11. Nico
    • Origin:

      Italian, diminutive of Nicola
    • Meaning:

      "people of victory"
    • Description:

      A much more dynamic nickname than Nicky for any of the Nic-names. Nico was chosen by Thandiwe Newton for her daughter.
  12. Tegan
    • Origin:

      Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "fair"
    • Description:

      Tailored Tegan comes from a Welsh saint's name. Teagan is just a little bit different, from an Irish surname. The ea spelling is much more popular.
  13. Irma
    • Origin:

      German, diminutive of several names, meaning "universal, complete"
    • Meaning:

      "universal, complete"
    • Description:

      A Top 200 choice in the US from the late 1880s to the early 1930s, Irma has nevertheless fallen out of favor with modern parents, and doesn't look set for the sort of comeback that some of her vintage sisters have enjoyed in recent years. The devastating hurricane which hit the Caribbean Islands and the south-east coast of the US in 2017 has no doubt dealt its chances of revival a further blow.
  14. Cheryl
    • Origin:

      Modern invented name, variation of Cherie, French
    • Meaning:

      "darling"
    • Description:

      As frozen in the pre-Beatles era as short white gloves.
  15. Andi
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Andrea, Greek
    • Meaning:

      "strong and manly"
    • Description:

      Boyish nickname name that first heard in the Ricki/Terri era but finding new favor among parents who love names like Billie and Frankie, Scottie and Stevie. It was among the fastest-rising names in the US on the 2023 names chart.
  16. Ginny
    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Virginia, American place-name and Latin
    • Meaning:

      "virginal"
    • Description:

      Ginny was more common before Jenny and its myriad variants came along.
  17. Tanith
    • Origin:

      Phoenician
    • Meaning:

      "serpent lady"
    • Description:

      Name of the Phoenician deity who was the patron of Carthage, goddess of the moon, and a fertility figure. Variations include Tanit, Tanis, and Tanitha. The name is frequently misinterpreted to be an Irish name meaning "estate." Despite this august heritage, the original form of the name is a bit lispy for use in modern English-speaking lands.
  18. Journey
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "passage from one place to another"
    • Description:

      One of the new word names, appealing to parents attracted to the idea of a spiritual -- or even an actual -- voyage. The Journee spelling is also being used. Unisex alert: Jenna Jameson used Journey for one of her twin boys, as did the Black Eyed Peas rock musician known as Taboo.
  19. Nella
    • Nyala
      • Origin:

        African, Ethiopian
      • Meaning:

        "mountain goat"
      • Description:

        Nyala is a secret nature name with a fashionable animal meaning. Nyala might be an appropriate name for a baby girl born under the sign of Capricorn, which is symbolized by the goat, or in the Chinese Year of the Goat -- though the last one was 2015 and we won't have another until 2027. Although the nee beginning is most frequently cited as the correct pronunciation, the name can -- and often will -- be pronounced with the first syllable rhyming with my and sigh.