Two Syllable Names for Girls

Attractive but slight Asian alternative, with a 1970s nickname feel.

Most things Jul-related – from the month of July to popular modern names Julia and Julian – originate with Roman emperor Julius Caesar, and the month name July is no exception. Fifteen girls and seven boys were named July in 2013, putting this month name into the class of gender neutral names.

An unusual and straightforward name with an attractive Scandinavian accent; a royal name in Norway.

With both the Dillon and Dylan spellings, usage of this gender-neutral names runs about ten to one boys to girls. But Dylan is used about 20 times as often as Dillon for both genders. Which might be a vote in favor of Dillon, though for better or worse, this spellings distances the name from singer Bob and poet Thomas.

An unusual flower name deriving from the Latin word for lily (lilium), this variant has always been popular in Scotland.

Tora is the female version of Tor or Thor, the name of the Norse god of thunder. Actress Jeanne Tripplehorn chose it for her daughter.

An attractive North Carolina unisex place name, Raleigh's soft sound is particularly appropriate for a girl.

Niya is an alternative name for Lilith, a demon or goddess in mythology. Niya is still worshipped today in a cult located in parts of Eastern Europe.

A goddess of childbirth in Latvian mythology. She is known to be the patroness of all feminine duties as well as economic activity, like money and markets.

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.

An Indian name used to describe some of the tenets of Buddhism, such as the Four Noble Truths (catvary arya satyani) or The Noble Eightfold Path (arya marga). It can also simply be a spelling variation of Aria, making it a cultural crossover name with both style and substance.

Nele originated as a German nickname for Cornelia, but it superseded its mother name and has been a Top 30 name in Germany since 2000.

Upper-crusty nickname occasionally used in Britain, particularly in 1930s novels featuring significant garden party scenes, but eclipsed here by Carrie et al.

This unusual and appealing form of Laura is popular in sections of Wales.

The rarer long form of Priscilla, which comes from the Roman name Priscus, meaning "ancient".

Striking and accessible choice.

Sylvester Stallone used Sistine, the name of the Vatican chapel, the site of Michelangelo's magnificent frescoed ceiling, for one of his daughters -- an imaginative choice.

With the rise of both Russian names and those that start with the letter V, this sharp Eastern European choice may become more familiar in the English-speaking world.

In centuries gone past, no one would have considered this occupational surname for their daughter; tanners were associated with terrible smells and stained skin as a result of the processes used to treat hides to make leather. But now, we see increasing numbers of parents in the US choosing this for their girls. Given the popularity of other two-syllable T names like Taylor and Tyler, Tanner has some appeal for those looking for a non-frilly name for their girls. For what it is worth, we prefer the Greek name Tana, which has an infinitely more pleasant meaning.