15,000+ Two-Syllable Boy Names
- Dallin
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"from the valley"Description:
An All-American, surname style Dale relative that finds place amongst similar names like Cullin and Hamelin as well as the more common Allen and Dylan. It is borne by Youtuber Dallin Lambert, of Della Vlogs.
- Merit
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"being good or worthy; deserving of recognition"Description:
Merritt is an English surname but spelled Merit it becomes a word name. Both variations are on the rise.
- Riker
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"rich; powerful"Description:
Riker gets relatively little use as a variation of Ryker, likely because of the connection to Riker's Island, the New York City prison. It was named after NYC magistrate Richard Riker, whose ancestor Abraham Rycken first purchased the island.
- Jersey
Origin:
English place nameMeaning:
"Geirr's island"Description:
The New Jersey cities of Camden and Trenton are in, but the name of the state has not caught on to anywhere near the same extent, possibly due to its association with knitted pullovers and reality TV. Nevertheless, Jersey peaked as a masculine name in 2022, when it was given to around 60 boys.
- Johann
Origin:
Variation of JohanDescription:
The traditional German spelling of this name, used by Goethe, Bach and many other luminaries.
- Vader
Origin:
DutchMeaning:
"father"Description:
Darth Vader, as in the Star Wars villain, is said to mean "dark father"
- Ulric
Origin:
English variation of Ulrich and Wulfric, GermanMeaning:
"rich and noble heritage; wolf power"Description:
Also related to the word for wolf, this name has a first syllable that's not appealing to the American ear. Better ic-ending choices: Dominic, Frederic, Eric.
- Ervin
Origin:
Scottish variation of Irving; Hungarian variation of ErwinDescription:
An old-school great-grandpa name, like Irving and Ernest, that may just be ready for revival. It's also a well-known name in Hungary and elsewhere in central and eastern Europe. As a surname, it's associated with jazz sax player Booker Ervin.
- Gustav
Origin:
TeutonicMeaning:
"staff of the Goths"Description:
Gray-bearded name heard primarily in Sweden and Germany.
- Evžen
Origin:
Czech, from GreekMeaning:
"wellborn, noble"Description:
This Czech form of Eugene sounds fresher than the English variant, with its on-trend Ev- beginning and cool -zhen ending sound.
- Zunair
Origin:
UrduMeaning:
"moonlight"Description:
A strong and striking Urdu name found especially in Pakistan, with a wonderfully evocative meaning.
- Adley
Origin:
Variation of Adlai or HadleyDescription:
Adley is one of those rare unisex names that probably developed via different paths on the girls' and boys' sides, with the male Adley a phonetic spelling of the Hebrew Adlai, while the girls' version, which briefly made the Top 1000 in 2012, is an abbreviation of the trendy Hadley, an English place name and surname.
- Deian
Description:
Deian is a masculine name with Welsh origins, pronounced approximately as 'DAY-an.' In Welsh tradition, it's believed to be a form of Dafydd (the Welsh equivalent of David), though some sources connect it to ancient Celtic elements meaning 'divine' or 'bright.' The name carries significant cultural importance in Wales, where it maintains steady usage as a traditional Welsh name that honors the country's linguistic heritage. Deian has a melodic, flowing quality that's characteristic of many Welsh names. Outside of Wales and Welsh communities, Deian remains relatively uncommon, giving it a distinctive quality while still being reasonably straightforward to pronounce. The name projects qualities of brightness, clarity, and perhaps a connection to Welsh cultural traditions. Its uncommon status makes it appealing to parents seeking a name with Celtic roots and a distinctive sound.
- Esca
Origin:
GaelicMeaning:
"water"Description:
The name Esca appears in Rosemary Sutcliff's 1954 historical adventure novel The Eagle of the Ninth, which is set in 2nd century Roman Britain. Esca is the name of a freed slave who accompanies his ex-master Marcus Flavius Aquila on various adventures. He was portrayed in the 2011 film adamptation The Eagle by English actor Jamie Bell.
- Márk
Origin:
Hungarian variation of Mark, LatinMeaning:
"warlike"
- Caerwyn
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"white fortress"Description:
Traditional though not overly popular Welsh option, which may have something of a fantasy vibe elsewhere in the world.
- Alek
Origin:
Polish, Armenian, Serbian, and Russian form of Alex, Greek, GreenlandicMeaning:
"defending men; harpoon line"Description:
A variation of Alex used in a number of languages, Alek has the cool, solid feel of Erik and Axel. It can also be a name of Greenlandic origin, meaning "harpoon line".
- Waylen
Origin:
English, variation of WaylonMeaning:
"land beside the road"Description:
Country singer Waylon Jennings bestowed a kind of outlaw image on his name, and parents have been loving the suave cowboy name Waylon in recent years — enough to crack to Top 100 in 2021. Alternative spelling Waylen is beginning to climb as well, entering the Top 1000 for the first time in 2022.
- Tudor
Origin:
Welsh and Romanian variation of Theodore, Teodor, or TheodoricMeaning:
"gift from God; ruler of the people"Description:
Known as a British royal family line as well as a style of architecture, this name feels both solemn and formidable, but with an intriguing "dark-academia" feel to it too. Currently in the Top 1000 in England and Wales, it is also used in Romania and Moldova.
- Carwyn
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"blessed love"Description:
A famous bearer is Carwyn Jones, leader of the Welsh Labour Party and First Minister of Wales since 2009. Feminine version is Carwen.