250+ compound names for babies

Kacelyn is a modern invented name, given to around 15 girls every year. It combines the unisex Kacey with the popular suffix, -lyn, giving it the possible meanings "brave in battle, but soft and tender too"; "vigilant one by the lake", or "watchful and pretty", depending on which etymological roots you decide you want to blend.

A combination of hei "crown" and moana "ocean".

A smoosh name with plenty of both vintage and Southern charm. It combines the familiar Mae with up and coming Willa, and might remind people of jazz dancer Willa Mae Ricker.

Contemporary and cool East paired with popular Lyn, this compound name is slightly edgy and slightly trendy, but, is equally surprisingly literary thanks to Ellen Wood's 19th century sensation novel, East Lynne.

A combination of Lee and Ann, this spelling variation saw more interesting in the 60s and 70s.

Jamarion is found primarily in the African American community. It may be related to the name Jamar, in use since the 1970s.

Combination of sounds from Bella / Belinda and Melissa. The counterpart to Melinda, if you will.

Babies recorded as Novarae in the US data (there were 15 of them in 2022) may spell their names Nova Rae or Nova-Rae in real life – spaces and punctuation aren't recorded. Either way, it's a cool modern compound name with a futuristic feel.

Variant of Maribella

Created from two classics, Jamarcus - also written as JaMarcus - is a smoosh name with strong, tough meaning. The name peaked in the 2000s and has since fallen down the US charts, though it is still given to around 50 babies each year. Footballers JaMarcus Russell and JaMarcus Shepherd are notable bearers.

If one Italian name won't do.

You could either see this as a smoosh of Cara + Lena (or any name ending in -lena), or a variation on Carolina. Either way, it's a pretty, melodious name that first appeared on the US charts in 2008, and has been used sparingly ever since.

Ali̇xan is a cool and contemporary looking name, that entered the Azerbaijani Top 100 for the first time in 2023. It combines the Arabic Ali with the Turkic title, Khan, to give the name the powerful meaning of "supreme and exalted leader".

An Italian compound name, which in English would translate to John Marcus. Popular since at least the 90s, Gianmarco currently ranks in the Italian Top 200.

Combining parts of Jayla or Jayda with those of Asia and Alicia, Jalaysia is a modern invention blends on-trend sounds with familiar elements to make something new. Used since the late 1990s, Jalaysia is given to around 20 girls each year in the US.

Southern-style smoosh name. If you want to go this route, we suggest Lily-Mae or Lily Mae.

Lilimae Clements was a character on the 1980s soap opera Knots Landing

This biblical compound was found on a Romani man in England around 1900, but wouldn't be out of place on a boy today.

Pierpaolo is an Italian smoosh name, combining Piero, meaning "stone", and Paolo, meaning "small". This name saw a surge of popularity in Italy in the early 2000s.

Quaint, quirky, and slightly clunky, Shirleyann is a smoosh name with a 30s feel about it. An unexpected vintage choice, a potential honor name, or perhaps for diehard fans of Anne of Green Gables (though maybe Shirleyanne would be better).