Two Syllable Boy Names

Haskell has two separate forms of origin, the first being from the Ancient Norse given name Ásketill. The Normans converted Ásketill to Aschetil, then the English transformed Aschetil into Haskell, which was originally only used as a surname. Haskell is also considered a variant of Haskel, a Yiddish given name derived from Ezekiel.

This Farsi name, reminiscent of Bodhi, is popular among the North African and Persian diaspora in France, where it ranks in the top 400. The name derives from Mahdi, who in Islam is the prophesied redeemer who will rule before the Day of Judgment and will rid the world of evil.

Hallow is a word meaning sacred or holy. As the root word for Halloween (orginally All Hallows' Eve), this name might be an evocative choice for a baby born on or near October 31st. It could work well for either a boy or a girl and offers the nicknames Hal and Halley.

Common in France, but could be confused with the feminine Maxine here.

In the garden of herb names, Rosemary and Basil are perennials and Sage is a new upshoot, but Fennel is a real rarity. The aniseed-tasting plant, used to add flavor to dishes around the world, gets its name from the Latin word feniculum, meaning "little hay".

A Welsh saint’s name, possibly deriving from the Old Welsh word for "red".

A name that shows up on the Social Security roles of a hundred years ago. Let's hope it was a never-to-be-repeated mistake.

A familiar and usable last name turned first. Or you could look at it as a homophone of the verb howl, which gives it a wilder feel.

Lively Italian name borne by composer Ennio Morricone, best known for his film music. If you're interested in Italian names for boys, this makes a choice that's off the beaten track.

Another culture's slant on Mark, sometimes associated with former president of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos and his shoe-collecting wife, Imelda.

Popular Japanese name exemplified by the distinguished conductor Seiji Ozawa.

A variant of Caelan, from a Gaelic name meaning "slender".

Dark horse Irish surname.

Takes Monroe out of the Dead Presidents category and gives it new life.

A Quranic name especially popular in South Asia, it is also used across Europe, from Bosnia to France, from Spain to England. It appears in the Quran as the name of Maryam's (the Virgin Mary) father, and as the father of Moses, making it a counterpart to Hebrew Joachim or a variant of Hebrew Amran. The meaning of Imran isn't listed in the Quran, however, from its Hebrew roots, it could mean "exalted nation", or it could come from the Arabic word eimran meaning "prosperity".

For the parent who might also have Buck and Ryder on his list.

Eiro is to Eirik as Eero is to Eric.

Unusual surname occasionally used as a first.