15,000+ Two-Syllable Girl Names
- Ryder
Origin:
English SurnameMeaning:
"post messenger or cavalryman"Description:
Some parents are choosing this popular boys name for their daughters (in the US there were well over 100 female Ryders born last year). Is it the connection to Winona that makes this feel somewhat more feminine than some other boys’ names?
- Mayar
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"moonglow"Description:
Mayar is one of those names that has a host of different meanings across cultures. It's the name of a tribe and several places near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. It's a mountain in Scotland. It's a variant spelling of Hebrew Mayer. It's an Arabic name apparently meaning "moonglow." It's a Spanish verb meaning "to meow."
- Brinley
Origin:
English, combination of Brynn + Lee "burnt clearing; hill + meadow"Meaning:
"burnt clearing; hill + meadow"Description:
Brinley was a surprise entrant to the US Top 1000 in 2009, however, in 2023, it doesn't feel surprising at all. In fact, alternative spellings Brynleigh and Brynlee also rank in the Top 1000, with Brynley not too far behind.
- Lettice
Origin:
English variation of LetitiaMeaning:
"joy, gladness"Description:
Lettice is still occasionally heard in upper-class British families, but we fear it would cause too much salad-green teasing to be considered in the U.S. Calling your little Lettice Lettie could help make the name more user-friendly, or go all the way to the original Letitia.
- Dawson
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"son of David"Description:
It may have a masculine sound and meaning, but Dawson is becoming increasingly popular for baby girls, too. Blame it on Dylan and Logan and the wider trend of surname names for both genders. Over 70 baby girls were given the name in 2020.
- Elliott
Origin:
Variation of ElliotMeaning:
"Jehovah is God"Description:
While Elliott and Elliot are well-established for boys, parents are now considering both these boy names for girls, too.
- Aila
Origin:
Finnish variation of Helga or Scottish GaelicMeaning:
"from the strong place"Description:
Now that Isla Fisher has pushed her once-obscure name into the Top 150, some parents are looking for similar-sounding Scottish names for girls that are further off the beaten path. This one is especially promising, with its cross-cultural appeal. Ayla, a common name in Turkey, is also worth considering.
- Suvi
Origin:
FinnishMeaning:
"summer"Description:
To the non-Scandinavian ear, a cute and unusual nickname name, used by Finnish supermodel Suvi Koponen.
- Undine
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"little wave"Description:
Mythological water spirit with the more common spelling of Ondine, heroine of an Edith Wharton novel.
- Zenith
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"the time at which something is most powerful or successful; the point in the celestial sphere directly above an observer"Description:
A tip-top word name—literally, Zenith means the top or apex. Zen makes a cute nickname.
- Toni
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"from Antium"Description:
In the 1940s, Toni began to surpass its progenitor, Antonia, but it peaked in 1960 and has since dropped back below the US Top 1000.
- Letty
Origin:
English, diminutive of Letitia or similarMeaning:
"joy, gladness"Description:
Letty is a sweet vintage gem, playful and cosy and more unexpected than Lottie, the popular pet form of popular Charlotte. Originally used as a nickname for Letitia or Lettice, it could also work for Scarlett, Juliet, Violet, Leighton, Arlette, Loretta, Colette, or Liberty.
- Joey
Origin:
Diminutive of Joanna or JosephineDescription:
Fun, friendly and fresher than Jo or Josie as a nickname for Joanna or Josephine.
- Louie
Origin:
Variation of Louis, German and FrenchMeaning:
"renowned warrior"Description:
If Lulu and Lula and Lou all work for girls, why not Louie? We're predicting a rise for baby girls in the wake of all the Lou names trending.
- Aika
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"flower"Description:
Depending on which characters you use, this Japanese name can have many meanings. The first part can mean "love, affection" or "indigo", while kanji for the second element include those meaning flower, perfume, include, sing, and praise. Whichever you choose, this is a distinctive Japanese name that travels easily into other languages.
- Arlet
Origin:
Spanish and Catalan variant of French ArletteDescription:
Arlet's is in the Top 100 in Spain, and this love is carrying over into the states as well, with Arlet being among the fastest-rising names of 2022. Related name Arleth is also red-hot, and was one of the fastest rising of the previous year in 2021, likely due to Telenovela star Arleth Teran. Arlet is also a character in the hit show "Infidels."
- Koko
Origin:
Japanese, Native AmericanMeaning:
"stork; night"Description:
A funkier version of Coco that may be more appealing if you have Japanese or Native American heritage. Koko comes from the Blackfoot tribe, native to what is now Montana and Alberta, Canada.
- Izzy
Origin:
Diminutive of Isabel and IsabellaDescription:
The longer Isabella stays in the Top 10—and it's been there for more than a decade—the more we hear the nickname Izzy (especially if we watch Grey's Anatomy). it's just a matter of time before it stands on its own, as it has as a first name for the daughter of Eddie Murphy and Paige Butcher.
- Nami
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"ocean wave"Description:
An aquatic Japanese choice that would work well cross-culturally. American parents are starting to pick up on this short and sweet international choice, with over 100 baby girls receiving this name per year.
/br> Fans of One Piece may recognize this name as the Straw Hat Pirates' navigator. In the US, NAMI is the acronym for the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
- Letha
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"forgetfulness"Description:
Letha is taken from Lethe, the mythological River of Oblivion. Letha now sounds as if it's missing a first syllable.