15,000+ Two-Syllable Boy Names
- Cephas
Origin:
AramaicMeaning:
"rock"Description:
The apostle Simon was called Cephas by Jesus because he was to be the rock upon which the Christian church was to be built. In most versions of the New Testament, Cephas is translated into Petros in Greek, Peter in English.
- Baylor
Origin:
English occupational surnameMeaning:
"one who delivers goods"Description:
Baylor's 2014 ascension to the US Top 1000 for boys is probably thanks to its fashionable two-syllable, r-ending, occupational surname feel. Think of it as Taylor with a twist.
- Ossian
Origin:
Old IrishMeaning:
"little deer"Description:
Ossian, or Osian, from the Old Irish name Oisin, was the son of Finn in Irish legend that was transformed into a Scottish hero in the Ossianic poems of James Macpherson in the eighteenth century--which also popularlized Oscar, Fingal, Selma and Malvina.
- Raziel
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"secret of God"Description:
In Jewish mysticism, Raziel is an angel known as the Keeper of Secrets. The Book of Raziel contends that he stood by God and wrote down everything that was said. The name Raziel, along with many other names ending in -aziel, is rising in popularity among baby boys.
- Ishaan
Origin:
HindiMeaning:
"the sun"Description:
Ishaan is the guardian of the Northeast in the Hindu religion.
- Woodrow
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"row of houses by a wood"Description:
Aside from President Wilson (born Thomas), most Woodrows, including Herman, Guthrie, and Harrelson, have chosen to be known as Woody, which says it all.
- Jaron
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"to sing out"Description:
Not a biblical name, but one with authentic Hebrew roots that's used in Israel; would fit in with the current trend for two-syllable J names. Jaaron, Jairon, Jaran, Jaren, Jarin, Jarone, Jarran, Jarren, Jarrin, Jarron, Jaryn, Jayron, Jayronn, Je Ronn, J'ron.
- Ovie
Origin:
NigerianMeaning:
"king"Description:
Ovie entered the British Top 1000 in 2020, following the appearance of contestant Ovie Soko on Love Island in 2019.
- Hubert
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"bright, shining intellect"Description:
A name that sounds so old-fashioned some parents out there might conceivably find it quirky enough for a comeback, along with other one-time fuddie-duddies like Oscar and Homer.
- Daisuke
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"great help"Description:
A relatively popular Japanese name with cool nickname potential and a vibrant sound.
- Alois
Origin:
Variation of Aloysius, LatinMeaning:
"renowned warrior"Description:
Alois and Aloysius are variation of Louis. Alois ranked in the US Top 1000 until the 1930s, and still ranks in the Top 1000 in Germany. Last year in the US, only seven baby boys were named Alois.
- Noble
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"aristocratic"Description:
With parents beginning to show an interest in virtue names for boys, this Puritan favorite just might be revived, for what could be more admirable than nobility in terms of having strength of character, dignity, and high moral ideals?
- Austen
Origin:
Literary surname and shortened form of Augustine, LatinMeaning:
"great, magnificent"Description:
Parents who love the great English novelist Jane Austen may choose this spelling of the popular name Austin to honor the author of Emma and Pride and Prejudice.
- Armand
Origin:
French variation of Herman, GermanMeaning:
"soldier"Description:
Since the first production of Camille this has been considered one of the world's most romantic names, though it's one of those French names for boys rarely heard in this country.
- Selwyn
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"manor friend"Description:
An old aristocratic English name which also belongs to Cambridge college, named for George Augustus Selwyn, the first Bishop of New Zealand, subsequently Bishop of Lichfield.
- Jadon
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"God has heard"Description:
The authentic Biblical form of a name that has become even more popular alongside Jaden, Jayden, Jaidan et al. Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, whose children are named creatively after their parents as Willow and Jaden, helped launch the trend. This spelling peaked at Number 372 in 2003, though it has dropped drastically in usage over the last decade.
- Espen
Origin:
ScandinavianMeaning:
"god bear"Description:
Strong and unusual Scandinavian name, but with two possible pitfalls: people might mis-hear it as Aspen, or associate it with sports network ESPN. Variants include Esper and Esben.
- Ranger
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"forest guardian"Description:
The list of occupational boys' names continues to expand, and this is one of the latest to ride onto the range. With a hint of cowboy and Western, a sprinkle of preppy surname, an outdoorsy, nature-connected vibe, and a soft-but-strong sound, Ranger has a lot going for it. More than doubling in use over the last decade, it was given to around 120 boys in 2023.
- Nixon
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"son of Nicholas"Description:
A fresher spin on Jaxon, with built-in cool nickname Nix, and a great way to honor an ancestral Nick. But the association with disgraced former president Richard Nixon remains strong, which might explain why this otherwise bang-on-trend surname name has remained under the radar, peaking at #482 in 2017.
- Zoltan
Origin:
HungarianMeaning:
"sultan"Description:
Though a common name in Hungary, with the spelling Zoltán, the relatively rare Z sound is striking to English speakers. Penn Gillette used the Zolten spelling for his son; it was also the name of Dracula's dog, and was also a robotic character in Dude, Where's My Car?.