15,000+ Two-Syllable Boy Names

Lester is one of the British surname names that were popular in the US in the early decades of the twentieth century: it was in the Top 100 through 1931, reaching a high of Number 52 in 1906. But dropping of the list in the late 1990s, along with Hester and Sylvester, we don't see much hope for a return visit.

Matthias is the ancient Biblical form of Matthew, widely used along with brother Mathias in the US for the past 20 years.

Asking for trouble. Rebel Wilson is female, but this name is truly gender neutral, though hardly neutral in any other way. Rebel is undoubtedly one of the edgiest boys' names starting with the letter R.

Variation of Derek.

Has an upscale aura, perhaps due to the luxury James Bond Aston Martin car.

French spelling of Leo, currently a bit hit with French-speaking parents.

Musical association with Igor Stravinsky, but also Dr. Frankenstein's right-hand man.

The undiscovered Biblical Jemuel -- he was a son of Simeon -- was used for just a handful of boys last year but could be prime for rediscovery now that Old Testament names like Noah and Ethan dominate the Top Ten. And it comes with user-friendly modern nickname Jem.

Sometimes used as a short-form of Catholic Pope name Anacletus, Cletus is an ancient name that has not-yet found the popularity of Theodore, Leo, Atticus and Max. It perhaps suffers from its association to the yokel character in The Simpsons , but we think it's time for a reconsideration, given how well it fits into several current trends. Nickname Clete is cute as a button!

Crimson is a rare unisex color name used more frequently among baby girls.

The sort of formal surname name more popular in another era; Dalton's a more modern relation.

Another name for the Hindu god-Vishnu.

Ever since Austin Powers enlightened Americans that "randy" meant "horny," it's been hard to take this name seriously, and Randy has declined in popularity since.

Yuji is among the most common male names in Japan, in part due to its positive meaning. Americans may recognize it from the anime series Jujustu Kaisen as the name of the humanistic and compassionate protagonist.

Lavi is a rare member of the trendy leonine group of names in the US, but in Israel it's among the Top 10 boy names. It makes a good alternative to Levi.

In India, Kovid is a rare but established name, coming from the Hindi for "wise, learned, scholar". Post-pandemic, it unfortunately calls to mind the coronavirus, but that didn't deter the seven sets of American parents who named their pandemic sons Kovid in 2020. Covid, the actual spelling of the disease, was unranked.

Aaric is a masculine name that represents a modern variation of the classic Eric or Erik. The double 'a' beginning gives the traditional name a contemporary twist while maintaining its Germanic roots, where it means 'eternal ruler' or 'ever powerful.' This spelling variation emerged in the late 20th century as parents sought unique ways to personalize traditional names. While less common than the original Eric, Aaric has gained modest popularity for its distinctive appearance while retaining familiar pronunciation. The name combines the strength associated with its traditional counterpart with a touch of individuality. Its uncommon spelling ensures it stands out on paper, yet its familiar sound makes it accessible and easy to pronounce.

The name Barney is hot among hip Londoners and it has been above the Top 500 in the UK since 2012. You can see why - it's got a friendly happy sound and a lovely meaning and is more easily worn than Barnabas. However, Barney is a more difficult sell in America, due to Barney the Dinosaur and Barney Gumble, the loveable lout from The Simpsons. In the positive column for Barney are jazz clarinetist Barney Bigard and guitarist Barney Kessel. For those who love the name but can't get past the dinosaur, may we suggest the related names Bernard or Barnaby?

Spelling variation of Philip. Exactly as many baby boys were named with the single 'l' spelling in 2017.

Kaleb is one of several boys' names starting with k that started life as a classic C name, Caleb. Kevin Federline named his boy Kaleb Michael Jackson.