Two Syllable Boy Names

Kunta Kinte is the hero of the Roots series of books and TV series, which stem from a novel by Alex Haley. The character -- a Gambian man captured and sold into slavery in America -- is a model of strength in the face of terrible cruelty, and an icon of modern American fiction. Though some may find him too iconic to use his name for a child, others will be drawn to the name's strength and cultural ties. The origins of the name Kunta and the character who bears it are shrouded in controversy. Haley claimed to have based him on a historical account, but others have said that he is mostly invented.

Might translate, thanks to Darren connection.

Frosty nickname.

The surname Hatton has three primary origins — English, French, and Irish/Scottish Gaelic. The English variation is a combination of compounds meaning "heather" and "settlement," while the French is derived from Germanic given names beginning with Hadu-, meaning "battle."

Salt was a coveted asset in Medieval times, which gave this surname prestige.

These letters begin the 20th chapter of the Quran (surah Ta Ha). A noted bearer is Egyptian writer Taha Hussein, one of the most influential 20th-century Egyptian intellectuals, who was nominated for a Nobel prize in literature fourteen times.

The French word for "love" translates nicely into a baby name for a child of either sex.

Mottel, also spelled Motl or Motel, was once a common Yiddish name in Ashkenazi Jewish communities. It's never been recorded on the US charts, but the feminine variation, Mattel, is beginning to rise in religious families.

The sharp and unusual name of an archangel associated with mercy in Jewish and Christian tradition, sometimes cited as the angel who stops Abraham from sacrificing Isaac. Its crisp sound makes it an interesting alternative to the likes of Ezekiel and Azriel.

This short and punchy name from the anime-inspired television series "Avatar: The Last Airbender" is one of the coolest character names out there. Derived from the Chinese 火 (huǒ) meaning "fire, flame" or 敖 (áo) meaning "proud, arrogant" combined with 災 (zāi) meaning "disaster, catastrophe" or 載 (zài) meaning "to carry". In the television show, the Firelord Ozai is the main antagonist, at once point believed to be the most powerful firebender in the world.

Waspy-sounding choice, well known in literature for Boswell's Life of Johnson.

This Hebrew form of Ethan is commonly heard in Israel. Other forms are Eitan and Eytan

A distinctive English surname name that also carries the slightly ominous sense of the verb batten, as in "batten down the hatches." Batten was also a medieval first name related to Bartholomew.

The names may sound the same, but they have different origins and meanings. Take your pick.