Two Syllable Names for Girls

  1. Leta
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "glad, joyful"
    • Description:

      Leta has hipster cred as the daughter of cool mommy blogger Dooce. Related to the Greek mythological Leda, a great beauty who mothered another great beauty, Helen of Troy, Leta is a name that's as unique as it is historic: Only 14 baby girls were named Leta in the US last year, and 18 were named Leda. Pronunciation is lee-tah.
  2. Killian
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "war strife or church"
    • Description:

      Yes, another Irish surname, turned boys' name, turned unisex name. But we think this one has a bit more going for it than Logan or Mason, given its similarity in sound to very traditional feminine names Gillian and Lillian.
  3. Lillia
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "lilies"
    • Description:

      More than Lily yet less than Lillian, Lillia is a fresh and undeniably pretty member of the stylish genus of double (or in this case triple) l names. You can also spell it Lilia.
  4. Landon
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "long hill"
    • Description:

      A Top 100 boy name in the US, Landon feels more unisex than other popular boys' names starting to be used for girls.
  5. Nikki
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Nicole or Indian, Punjabi, Sikh
    • Meaning:

      "people of victory; little one"
    • Description:

      Nikki was the it-girl name of the 1970s and '80s as both a short form of Top 10 favorite Nicole and as a given name itself.
  6. Eirene
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "peace"
    • Description:

      Eirene, modernized to Irene, was the Greek goddess of peace. Eirene or Irene was also the name of an early empress and several saints.
  7. Tavi
    • Origin:

      Feminine short form of David or short form of Octavia
    • Description:

      Tavi has been catapulted into the spotlight by teenage fashion blogger Tavi Gevinson. This cute name, previously not on anyone's scope, could be a way to honor an ancestral David or a short form of the luscious Octavia or could stand as a perfectly stylish name all on its own.
  8. Elea
    • Chaya
      • Origin:

        Feminization of Chayyim, Hebrew,"life"
      • Meaning:

        "life"
      • Description:

        A life-affirming choice — just beware pronunciation issues among the goyim in your neighborhood.
    • Minka
      • Origin:

        Polish diminutive of Mina, short form of Wilhelmina, German
      • Meaning:

        "resolute protection"
      • Description:

        In the contemporary US, Minka attracted notice via actress Minka Kelly, who played the gorgeous Lyla on Friday Night Lights.
    • Lacy
      • Origin:

        English
      • Meaning:

        "from Lassy"
      • Description:

        One of the most feminine of surname names, calling to mind dresses and doilies.
    • Landry
      • Origin:

        French and English
      • Meaning:

        "ruler"
      • Description:

        Landry is one rising surname name, often after legendary Dallas Cowboys football coach Tom Landry, that is given to boys and girls. But the y ending does give it a feminine sound (as opposed to the more boyish and more popular Landon). Land is a Landry nickname that might work for boys or girls.
    • Emer
      • Origin:

        Irish
      • Meaning:

        "swift"
      • Description:

        Popular name in Ireland -- it's pronounced ee-mer -- from the legendary wife of Cuchulainn who was supposed to possess the six gifts of womanhood: beauty, voice, speech, wisdom, chastity, and of course, needlework. Is found in the poetry of Yeats.
    • Jonah
      • Tenley
        • Origin:

          English
        • Meaning:

          "burnt clearing"
        • Description:

          This name is currently best known on The Bachelorette's Tenley Molzahn. In the 1950s, it was attached to the Olympic figure skating champion Tenley Albright, and Jessica Biel played a Tenley in the movie Summer Catch.
      • Sachli
        • Origin:

          Turkish
        • Meaning:

          "long-haired"
        • Description:

          Sachli, pronounced "sahch-lee", is a Turkish girl name that feels extra cool today with both the trendy "lee" sound, and the "-i" ending that has been red-hot for girl names recently. Sachli Gholamalizad is an Iranian actress who wears this name.
      • Marsha
        • Origin:

          Variation of Marcia, diminutive of Marcella
        • Meaning:

          "warlike"
        • Description:

          Marcia is the most common version of this group of names in the U. S., now found more often among moms and grandmas than babies. Marsha was a Top 100 name in the 1950s, when Marcy was its common go-by name.
      • Topaz
        • Origin:

          Greek gem name
        • Description:

          As a name, Topaz is sophisticated and sultry; as a golden gem, it's said to have healing and energizing properties and also to bring good luck-- and being the birthstone for November it's one of the perfect names for November babies, with that final 'z' giving it some extra sizzle.
      • 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.
      • Kaliyah
        • Origin:

          Modern invented name
        • Description:

          This name's trendy trademarks - the "K" start and the "-yah" suffix - explain how it made its way up the Top 1000. Just beware the similarities between this name and creamy liqueur "Kahlua".