Baby names two names in one word

Updated: November 26, 2022

​If you live in the south, double names, also known as double-barrelled names, are nothing new, and you’re probably used to hearing names like John Taylor or Mary Margaret. But if you live in another part of the country or world, this may be a new concept for you.

A double name, or double-barreled first name, is often seen in Southern naming traditions and is when you choose two names for your little, often joined by a hyphen. It is an excellent option for those seeking unique baby names.

A double name should not be confused with a first and middle name; people with a double name often still have a middle name.

More: 1000 Popular Names for Girls 

Using a double name is also a way to pay homage to two relatives at once, especially if you have difficulty deciding which moniker to use. Double names are popular for boys and girls and may use classic and modern names.

The History of Double Names

I’m not sure anyone knows precisely how double-barrelled (first) names got started, but double surnames (hyphenated last names) have a slightly different meaning depending on your country of origin. In some cultures, People once used it to signal social class, while in other cultures, it’s simply the norm or an indicator of marriage or alliance names, mainly when used as a surname.

If you choose to give your child a double-barrelled first name, a hyphen is a good practice but not a requirement. The hyphen indicates which name goes in which place instead of a first and middle name. However, in the history of double-barrelled first names, hyphens are not always used in everyday practice.

Guidelines and Rules for Choosing Double-Barrelled Baby Names

Remember that picking a name your child will be called for the rest of their life is no small task. It’s nice to pick a name that gives your children options as their identity grows and develops with them. Be mindful that aside from the two individual names, it can be shortened or made into a nickname. For example, you may want to give little Jenny the chance to be Jen, Jenna, or Jenny Sue.

Another thing to keep in mind is how the two names «interact» with one another. For example, can James Thomas be shortened to JT, and is James Thomas easy to say/pronounce?

Maternity Concierge, HeHe (Haley-Else) Stewart says, “I always suggest that you pick two or three top names and practice using them. Practice roll call just like in elementary school, practice using the name in a scolding sentence of “Get these shoes out of the hallway!!!!», and practice introducing your baby to people. This will give you a good sense of names that «feel good.» Most parents enjoy this activity and find it super helpful in making a decision.”

If you are intrigued by the idea of the double name, we have compiled a list of 100 names to provide you with some name inspiration. This list includes baby boy names, girl names, and popular double names. Unlike our traditional name lists that provide you with the name meaning, this list will highlight nicknames for each double name.

Top Double-Barrelled Names for Girls

Double-Barrelled names for girls are currently pretty trendy. It’s a great way to spice up short one-syllable names for little girls. You can have your little girl stand out with the perfect full name, whether you choose to hyphenate or not.

Suppose you’re having trouble deciding between two names or want to acknowledge two important family members. In that case, you can easily create unique baby girl names by creating your own double-barrel option. Here are some of the current top double-barrelled names for girls if you’re looking for inspiration.

1. Ada-Lucy: Can go by Lu, Lucy
2. Amelia-Rose: Can go by Emili, Lia, Rosie
3. Amy-Leigh: Can go by Amy, Lea, Leigh
4. Anna-Blair: Can go by Annie, Anne, AB, Bee
5. Anna-Maria: Can go by Ann, Marie
6. Autumn-Rose: A lovely name inspired by nature, can go by Rosie.
7. Ava-Grace: Two popular one-syllable names can go by either name or be paired together.
8. Beth-Anne: Can go by Beth, Annie, Ann
9. Bettie-Bee: This adorable girl’s name could be shortened to Bee-bee
10. Birdie-Belle: This name rolls off the tongue, and the alliteration works in its favor. Can go by BB, Birdie, Birdie-B
11. Carol-Kay: If you love hard alliteration, this German name is perfect for your baby girl. You could shorten it to CK or Ki-Ki.
12. Celia-Anne: Anne pairs well with many names, and Celia is no exception. Can go by Cee-Cee, Annie
13. Cora-Lee: When paired together, this sounds more like a pretty two-syllable name rather than two one-syllable names.
14. Casey-Lee: Pairing two one-syllable names together help to create a full name, can easily go by either name or paired together.
15. Daisy-Jade: Can go by DJ, Daisy, or Jade.
16. Demi-Jo: Demi is a unique Greek name meaning half. Can go by DJ.
17. Elizabeth-Ann: These two traditional English names go beautifully together. Can go by Beth, Liz, Lizzie, Annie, or Beth-Anne.
18. Ella-Rose: Ella is an elegant Spanish name and goes excellent with a one-syllable name like Rose. Can go by Ellie or Rosie.
19. Ellie-Mae: Can go by Elle, Ellie, or May
20. Emma-Reese: This name combo just rolls off the tongue. Can go by Emmie, Reesie, Em
21. Fern-Dell: This name has a mythical feel like a magical place where fairies would live.
22. Georgia-Anne: Georgia is a popular name in the south that can be paired with several one-syllable names. Can go by Georgie, Anne, or Annie.
23. Gracie-Mae: Can go by Grace or May
24. Harper-Lynn: Harper is a name that you can use for boys and girls, but it has a nice feminine touch when paired with Lynn.
25. Heaven-Leigh: Pronounced like Heavenly, this is a nice play on names
26. Isla-Rose: Pairing two one-syllable names together makes a pretty full name.
27. Ivy-Lee: This name has an elegant feel to it. Can go by Ivy.
28. Kellie-Anne: Can go by Kelly or Anne; both popular Irish names.
29. Kirra-Belle: A unique spelling for Kirra can go by KB or Belle
30. Laura-Beth: Can go by Laurie, LB
31. Laura-Dean: Dean pairs well with just about any name. Could go by Laurie, Lady, LD
32. Lily-Ann: Two names that just flow nicely together; this sounds best when paired together as a two-syllable name
33. Lily-Sue: Can go by Lily or Susie
34. Lizzy-Kate: Two more casual names that provide a less formal feeling than Elizabeth or Katherine.
35. Lola-May: Can go by either name or pair together as a two-syllable name
36. Mary-Jane: Can go by MJ, Mary-J, Janey
37. Mary-Lou: These two names sound like they are always meant to be paired together for a cute little girl.
38. Mary-Margaret: Can go by Maggie, Marge, Meg. A fantastic double name for a girl of Scottish or Irish heritage.
39. Molly-Kate: Can go by Kay, Katie, MK
40. Molly-Mae: This double name is simply adorable. Can go by M, Mol, Emmie
41. Olive-Ann: Pairing two one-syllable names together makes a lovely fuller name.
42. Olivia-Leigh: Oliva is an old-fashioned Latin name meaning olive tree that pairs nicely with a one-syllable name like Leigh. Can go by Ollie or Olive.
43. Opal-Anne: Opal is an old-fashioned name that comes to life with a second name added. Can go by Opie, Annie
44. Peggy-Sue: Can go by Peg, Susie
45. Riley-Rose: The alliteration of this double name makes it roll off the tongue. Can go by Rosie.
46. Rose-Lily: Paying homage to two beautiful flowers, Rose-Lily is a lovely name for a little girl.
47. Sarah-Alexandra: Can go by Alex, Lex, Alexa
48. Sarah-Jane: Can go by SJ, Sarah, Janey
49. Sienna-Rose: Adding Rose to Sienna balances this out to a lovely four-syllable name that flows off the tongue.
50. Sophia-Grace: Can go by Sophie, Gracie. A traditional Greek name, Sophia, sounds even more regal when combined with Grace, another royal-inspired name.

Top Double-Barrelled Names for Boys

Double-barrelled names are less common for boys but still make unique name choices. This naming tradition is often recognized as a southern tradition, paying homage to family members.

In addition, many male double-barrelled names take inspiration from the Bible. So, as you start your naming journey, here is a list of the top double-barreled boy names to get you started.

1. Aaron-Jay: Can go by AJ, Jay
2. Andrew-James: This is a very formal sounding name and would go well with a last name that also sounds like a first name, such as Matthews or Charles. Can go by AJ, Drew, Jay, Jim, or Jimmy.
3. Alfie-Jay: Alfie is an old English name that drives from Alfred and has some pomp. However, it is an adorable name for a little boy when paired like this. Can go by AJ.
4. Beau-Alexander: Can go by B, Alex, Xander
5. Benjamin-Grey: Pairing a more prominent first name with a smaller second name helps create balance.
6. Billy-Jo: This name makes you think of Souther Living; Billy-Jo is a great name for an outdoorsy little boy.
7. Cody-Lee: Cody means helper; paired with Lee, this has a nice cadence for a little boy.
8. Corey-James: Can go by CJ, Corey, Jay, Jimmy
9. Ethan-Lee: This is a simple but perfect name for a little boy.
10. George-Frances: These two names paired together have a very regal feel. Can go by George, Georgie, or Frank.
11. Glendon-Dean: This name combo is a mouth full but can go by Glen, Glennie, or GD
12. Issac-Andrew: Combining a traditional Hebrew name with a solid Greek name makes perfect sense. They could go by Isiah, Andy, or Drew.
13. James-Dean: Can go by Jimmy, JD, Dean, or Jimmy Dean. Although, people may shy away from that last one because of the famous sausage brand!
14. James-Richard: Why not combine the name of two English kings? Can go by JR, Jimmy, Jim
15. Jaiden-Lee: Lee is often used as a second name because of its simplicity, which can go by JL.
16. Jayden-Lee: Can go by Jay, JL
17. Jean-Philippe: A lovely French name, most likely to be shortened to JP.
18. Jesse-James: Can go by JJ, Jim, Jessie
19. Jesse-Lee: Can go by JL, Jess, Jessie
20. John-Paul: This has biblical undertones; a little boy named John-Paul can go easily by JP or Paulie.
21. John-Peter: Another name with biblical undertones, nicknames can include Johnny, JP, and Pete.
22. John-Preston: John goes well with just about any name! Can go by JP
23. Jonathan-James: These two English names pair well together. Can go by JJ, Jay
24. Joshua-Lee: Can go by Josh, JL
25. Joshua-Raymond: Can go by JR, Josh, Ray
26. Logan-James: Can go by LJ, Jim, Jimmy
27. Michael-John: Many double-barrel names beginning with John are inspired by religious figures; John Michael can be Johnny, Mike, MJ
28. Michael-Kai: Can go by Kai, MK, Mike
29. Oliver-James: Can go by OJ, Ollie, Jim
30. Ray-Jay: If you’re not afraid of rhyming, these two short names pair well. Can go by RJ
31. Reggie-Lee: Can go by Reg or RL.
32. Thomas-Lee: Can go by Tom, Tommy
33. Tucker-Davis: Can go by Tuck, Dave
34. Tyler-James: Can go by Ty, Jay, TJ
35. William-Lee: Can go by Will, Willie, Liam

Top Unisex Double-Barrelled Names

These days, a current trend is to utilize unisex names or gender-neutral names that everyone will love. A family name can easily be paired together with a second name to make the perfect combination for any little one. If you’re not sure what the gender will be or want to keep it unisex, here is a list to get you started.

1. Aeryn-Jo: A unique spelling of Aaron or Erin works great for either gender. Can go by AJ
2. Aiden-Leigh: Both names work for boys and girls, and they pair well together. Can go by Addie, Leigh, or Lee.
3. Bailey-Ray: Great for either boy or girl, can go by Bay
4. Billie-Jo: Can go by Bill, Billy, Jo
5. Haley-Joel: Can go by Joe or Jo
6. Charlie-Wren: Can go by Char, Charlie, CW
7. Jamie-Lee: Can go by JL, Jamie or Lee
8. Jessie-Blair: Can go by Jess or JB
9. Jo-Cooper: Can go by JC, Coop, Cooper
10. Kendall-Dallas: Pairing two double-syllable names can be a mouthful but creates a beautiful full name for either a girl or a boy.
11. Marley-Blake: Can go by MB
12. Marley-Jay: Can go by MJ, Jay
13. Quincey-Lee: Another two-syllable name paired with one syllable provides a nice flow.
14. Riley-James: Can go by RJ
15. Skyler-Reese: Two unique names paired together, can go by SK or Sky

For more baby name inspiration check out these popular baby name lists:

• Top 1000 Most Popular Baby Girl Names in the U.S.
• Top 1000 Most Popular Baby Boy Names in the U.S.
• The 100 Coolest Baby Names in the World

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Finding a suitable name for your baby is no easy task. It would be best if you choose a name that has the balance of uniqueness and relevance. Double-barreled names have become popular over the last few years for parents. Popular in the United States and gaining acceptance everywhere else, let us find out more about these names.

What Are Double-Barrelled Names?

In simple words, joining two names with a hyphen becomes a double-barreled name. It is commonly known as a hyphenated name as well. These names are a trend in America, and traditionally these names are British, German, and Hispanic.

Should Your Baby’s Double Name Be Hyphenated or Not?

The opinions may differ regarding these hyphenated first names, and the choice is entirely personal. However, if you do intend to go for a double-barrelled name for your little one, you will definitely find our list useful.

Advantages of Having a Double-Barrelled Name

Some of the advantages of double-barrelled names include the following:

1. Double-barrelled names give you exclusivity. Whether you are honouring your family or paying homage to your family, the name stays exclusive.
2. Double-hyphenated names help women keep their identity intact even after marriage. By hyphenating thier last names, they keep both their pre-marriage name and after-marriage surname.
3. This also helps people stay connected to their achievements even after marriage since many women have degrees under their maiden names.

Beautiful Double Barrelled Baby Girl Names With Meanings

Here is a list of cute double girl names for you to choose:

1. Amelia-Rose

Amelia is an English name that means ‘work,’ while Rose is a Latin name that refers to a lower. It is a lovely choice of a double-barreled name for your little princess.

2. Amy-Louise

This combination name has Latin and Germanic roots and stands for ‘fighter’ and ‘warrior.’

3. Ava-Grace

It is derivative from the Latin word ‘Avis,’ which means ‘a bird,’ whereas Grace means ‘kindness or favor.’

4. Aurora-Claire

Both the names have a Latin origin, wherein Aurora means ‘dawn,’ and Claire means ‘bright.’ This double-barreled name sparks optimism and joy.

5. Betty-Jane

Betty-Jane is a peppy English name. While Betty is Elizabeth’s short form, ‘ God is my Oath, ‘ Jane stands for ‘God is Gracious.’

6. Casey-Lee

Here is another catchy double-barreled name for your daughter. Casey means ‘vigilant’, and Lee refers to ‘dweller by the wood.’

7. Darcie-Rae

Darcie-Rae gives us very aristocratic vibes of the Victorian era, thanks to Darcie or Darcy. The name Darcie stands for ‘dark-haired one’, and Rae means ‘counsel protection.’

8. Demi-Leigh

Demi is a French name that comes from Demetria, meaning small. Leigh is a classic English name meaning ‘delicate.’ Your daughter will love this name as she grows up.

9. Elle-Mae

Elle is a French form meaning ‘feminine,’ and Mae means ‘pearl.’ Together these two make an excellent hyphenated name for a girl.

10. Ella-Rose

Ella-Rose is a cute and bright name for girls. This French-origin name means ‘little cinders’ and ‘bright one.’

11. Emily-Maebh

Emily is a popular German baby name that means ‘industrious,’ and Maebh refers to ‘she who intoxicates.’ This name will draw admiration from all over.

12. Emily-Maeve

Emily-Maeve has German and Irish roots, respectively. While Emily means ‘hardworking’, Maeve stands for ‘intoxicating.’

13. Layla-Rose

Together with Rose, this name gets very attractive. Layla is an Arabic word referring to ‘intoxicating beauty.’

14. Lily-Rose

If you are fond of everything floral, then Lily-Rose will be a cute choice. Both Rose and Lily represent flowers in nature.

15. Mariah-Zoe

Mariah is a Greek name meaning ‘beloved,’ Zoe is Greek too referring to ‘life.’ Together these two make a contemporary name for your baby girl.

16. Mary-Jane

Mary-Jane is the most commonly used double-barrelled name. The name has a long history with Hebrew, Greek, and Latin roots and means ‘kind’ and ‘gracious.’

17. Mary-Kate

This name could make highlights with its smart pair. While Mary has a sober mood, Kate brightens the day with its vibrant energy. The name means ‘purity’ and ‘love.’

18. Mary-Lou

Another classically popular double-hyphenated name is Mary-Lou. This Latin origin name means ‘star of the sea.’

19. Millie-Faye

The name has English and German origins. Millie means ‘industrious’ or ‘hardworking’, and Faye means ‘fairy.’

20. Naomi-Lila

Naomi is of Hebrew origin, meaning ‘pleasant,’ and Lila is Arabic that refers to ‘night.’ Together it becomes a name full of style and sweetness for your little girl.

21. Olivia-Rose

Olivia is a popular name in Europe and the US as well. It has a Latin origin referring to ‘an Olive tree.’ Adding rose to it makes it all more appealing.

22. Peggy-Sue

Peggy-Sue is an upbeat double-barrelled name of English origin. The name means ‘pearl’ and ‘lily.’

23. Rose-Lily

A less popular variant of the Lily-Rose, this name could be chosen if you’re looking for something different but classic floral. Both names represent flowers in nature.

24. Rosie-Leigh

A perfect amalgamation of French and English, this pleasant name means ‘meadow’ and ‘rose.’

25. Sarah-Jane

Together these two Hebrew origin names make a great choice of hyphenated girl names.  Sarah means ‘princess’ and Jane refers to ‘God is merciful.’

26. Samantha-Quinn

Here is another right choice for cute double names for baby girls. Combining these two names gives a meaning ‘wise listener.’ The name is a mix of tradition and trend.

27. Scarlett-Rose

Scarlett-Rose is a well-loved name of English origin. While Scarlett is a shade of red, Rose is a flower. Together, they mean ‘dark red rose.’

28. Sienna-Rose

If you are after a magical name, then nothing could be better than Sienna-Rose. The name stands for ‘old soul.’

29. Vivian-Cora

Vivian means ‘full of life,’, and Cora refers to ‘filled heart.’ Combining these two names gets us a beautiful meaning ‘heart full of life.’ It is a name that is traditional and yet unique.

30. Amaya-Misty

Amaya comes from Japanese, meaning ‘night rain.’ Together these two names refer to ‘night full of mist and rain.’ It is a nice choice of name for a baby girl who grows up into an independent personality.

Unique Double Barrelled Baby Boy Names With Meanings

1. Aaron-Alexander

Aaron is of Hebrew origin, which means ‘enlightened.’ Alexander is a famous Greek name that refers to ‘defender of man.’

2. Anthony-Caden

Here is a word that is a mix of modernity and tradition. Anthony means ‘priceless,’ and Caden means ‘friend or companion.’ It can be a perfect choice for double boy names.

3. Alfie-Jack

Alfie-Jack is a cool-sounding boy’s name of Old English origin. The name stands for ‘elf’, God is gracious’, and ‘counsel.’

4. Alfie-James

Alfie is an English baby name that means ‘sage or wise.’ James comes from Hebrew and is a derivative of Jacob. It means ‘one who follows.’

5. Alfie-Jay

Another popular name with the first name Alfie, the name comes from Old English and Latin origins. It means ‘elf’ and ‘to rejoice.’

6. Benjamin-Grey

For a rich and elegant look, try Benjamin-Grey. While Benjamin means ‘son of my right hand’ in Hebrew, Grey is a monochrome shade.

7. Billy-Joe

Billy is an English name that means ‘resolute protector.’ Joe is a short form of ‘Joseph.’ It refers to ‘God will increase.’

8. Carlo-Jay

Carlo comes from the German name ‘Karl,’ while Jay refers to a ‘bird.’ Together the name means ‘free bird.’ Let your baby boy grow into an independent soul with this name.

9. Cody-Lee

Cody-Lee has Gaelic and English roots. Cody means ‘wealthy’ in Gaelic, and Lee means ‘meadow’ in English.

10. Corey-James

This is a popular choice among Irish folks. While Corey means ‘dweller in a hollow’, James stands for ‘to plant the heel’.

11. David-Ryan

David is a classical name with a Hebrew origin, and it means ‘beloved.’ Ryan is another similar Irish name, referring to the ‘little king.’ The two names merge to give a unique sounding name with subtle meaning.

12. Dylan-Grant

Dylan is of Welsh origin, which means ‘god of the sea.’ Grant is a Latin word that means ‘immense.’ The two names together mean ‘great sea.’

13. Felix-Jonah

Felix means ‘lucky or happy,’ whereas Jonah means ‘dove.’ The sound of the name is melodious, and your baby boy will love its fancy feel.

14. Freddie-George

It is a pet form of the German name Fredrick meaning ‘peace,’ whereas George is a Greek name that means ‘tiller of the soil.’ It is one of the popular southern double names for boys.

15. Harvey-James

Another one fromthe Irish and Hebrew pair, Harvey-James does not seem to disappoint us. Harvey stands for ‘pool’, while James means ‘he who plants the heel.’

16. Jack-Dean

A pair of classic English names, Jack and Dean, the name stands for ‘God is Gracious.’

17. Jason-Connor

Jason comes from Greek, referring to a healer, and Connor is a Scottish name meaning wise. The name gives you a modern feel.

18. John-Micheal

John-Micheal is a strong double-barrelled name for boys. It stands for ‘God has shown favour’ and ‘gift from God.’

19. John-Paul

Harbouring biblical names, John-Paul is a great choice for families who are religious. The name means ‘God has shown favour’ and ‘humble.’

20. Kal-El

Kal comes from the Latin word that is a diminutive of ‘Calvin.’ El is a generic word that we often use for referring to God. It is a short and unique sounding double-barreled name for your baby boy.

21. Leighton-James

This uncommon double-barrelled name has English and Hebrew roots. While Leighton means ‘herb garden’, James means ‘to plant the heel’ in Hebrew.

22. Logan-James

With some X-Men vibes, Logan-James share Scottish and Hebrew roots. Lohan means ‘small hollow’, and James means ‘to plant the heel.’

23. Marley-Jay

Marley-Jay originated from English culture and means ‘pleasant seaside meadow’ and ‘to rejoice.’

24. Ralphie-Joe

From Old English roots, Ralphie-Joe means ‘wolf counsel’ and ‘God will increase.’

25. Ray-Ari

Ray is a French word means ‘kingly’, and Ari comes from Hebrew, referring to ‘lion.’ It is a regal double-barreled name for your baby boy that combines the trend and tradition.

26. Reggie-Lee

We are head over heels for the name Reggie-Lee. While Reggie means ‘ruler’s advisor’ in Latin, Lee stands for ‘meadow’ in English.

27. Reggie-Ray

Reggie means ‘king,’ and Ray means ‘a wise protector.’ Combining these two names, we arrive at a beautiful meaning that will suit your baby boy the most.

28. Tommy-Joe

A cute combination, Tommy-Joe means ‘pure innocence’ and ‘God will increase.’

29. Tommy-Lee

It is derived from the name ‘Thomas’ and means ‘twins.’ Lee comes from ‘Leah’ referring to ‘dweller by the woods.’

30. Teddy-Thomas

Teddy is an old English name that refers to a ‘wealthy guardian.’ Thomas is a Biblical name that means ‘twins.’ The name sounds appealing.

How To Make Double Barrelled Names Look Amazing

Yes, there are ways that can help you make your double-barrelled names look and feel awesome:

1. Mix up the Surname to Make a New One

This may sound quite challenging, but it is super fun. This can result in legal name changes for both spouses.

2. Give Your Child a Middle Name Which is Your First Name

You can make your maiden name your little one’s middle name or nickname. If you don’t want to use your name, you have endless options, from sassy to aristocratic names for your child’s middle name.

If you thought it was difficult to choose a double-barreled name for your baby boy or girl, we have made it all easy for you. Trendy, appealing, and meaningful, there is one for your baby too.

Also Read:

Unique Unisex Baby Names With Meanings
Sweet and Short Names for Baby Boy
Amazing Short Baby Girl Names

Twin names present double the naming challenge but can also be double the fun. Naming twins is a rare opportunity to choose two related baby names at the same time that are compatible but also distinct.

With twins, it can be more tempting to use rhyme, sound play, and same initial names, but in our opinion, overly-cutesy pairings like Chloe and Zoey, Faith and Charity, or Oliver and Olivia should be relegated to a time capsule.

Twin names should be well-matched, but not similar to the point of confusion. Some celebrity examples that work: Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s Rumi and Sir, George and Amal Clooney’s Ella and Alexander, Jonathan Tucker’s India and Hayes, Zoe Saldana’s Bowie and Cy, and Jensen Ackles’ Zeppelin and Arrow.

Although each set of celebrity twin names is very different in style and feel, they all embody the qualities that matter most in naming twins. Each name in the set is distinct from the other yet they make a harmonious pair — exactly what most parents would wish for the twins themselves. If you’re expecting twin babies, here are our top considerations when naming twins:

Twin Names Matched by Style

The best twin baby names — and sibling names generally — are compatible in style. Most of the celebrity examples work really well, from Nancy Grace’s traditional Lucy and John to Will Champion’s quirky Juno and Rex. The pairing of John and Juno would not be so sweet: too close in sound, yet too far apart in style.

What kind of styles might you consider for twin names that will work well together? Two vintage names such as Violet and Arthur would pair nicely, as would two sleek contemporary names like Sloane and Greer.

Pro tip: names that share an origin are often similar in style, like Maeve and Finn. Both names are rooted in ancient myth yet have a sleek one-syllable sound and are popular in the modern world.

Here are some twin names that work because of their similar style:

Elizabeth and Edward — classic

Cosima and Romy — international

Luna and Lincoln — stylish

Pandora and Jupiter — mythical

Pixie and Posey — bohemian

Maya and Dylan — poetic

Silas and Felix — biblical

Shea and Greer — modern

Zen and Bodhi — spiritual

Daisy and Hawk — nature

Twin Names Matched by Letter and Sound

Twin baby names that share the same first initial can work, but it is important that the names are clearly distinct from each other. Always keep style compatibility in mind (Garrett and Gianna would not be ideal, as they are too disparate in tone), but search for names that differ in other ways, such as syllable count or ending sounds. Mariah Carey’s Moroccan and Monroe are a prime example.The opposite is also true — if you’d rather match the names on a middle or ending sound, it’s best to use names with different first initials. Aria and Ezra is a better fit than Ezra and Ella.

Consider subtle sound pairings, matched maybe not by the first initial or final syllable but by less obvious rhythms or sounds.

Ione and Lionel

Briar and Birch

Phoebe and Persephone

Sylvia and Oliver

Rafferty and Griffin

Alice and Isabel

Beatrice and Tristan

Daphne and Delphine

Frances and Finneas

Gabriel and Raphael

Gender Compatibility

Gender compatibility may be more important for twins than it is for siblings. Two unisex names can work, like Dylan Lauren’s son Cooper Blue and his twin sister Kingsley Rainbow. But a mismatch can be jarring.

As with style, you want to find some alignment with gender identity in twin names. So if your baby boy is given a classically male name like, say, John, you may not want his twin — sister or brother — to have a gender-neutral name like Jordan.

Nathaniel and Jonathan

Adelaide and Amelia

Cecilia and Cassius

Eleanor and Ethan

Flora and Hope

Jasper and Josiah

Remi and River

Elliot and Hollis

Jackson and Hudson

Sophie and Lucy

Twin Names with Matching Meanings

One of our favorite ways to link twin baby names is by meaning. A unified meaning is a subtle way to enhance the connection between twin names, but just like with letter matching, the key is to choose names that are distinctive. Ari and Leo, which both mean “lion,” or Mira and Kai, which have watery meanings, are sets that work well. Madonna has well-named twins called Esther and Stella, both of which mean “star.”

Some twin names matched by meaning: 

Ada and Oberon — noble

Arthur and Orson — bear

Asher and Felix — happy

Benedict and Winifred — blessed

Cyrus and Surya — sun

Edwin and Ruth — friend

Frederica and Milo — peaceful

Esme and Imogen — beloved

Laszlo and Orlando — famous

Pallas and Ramona — wise

Names with Contrasting Meanings

Another way to go when choosing names for twins is to choose names with contrasting meanings, such as sun and moon, dark and light, birds and bees. Some specific ideas:

Brady and Teagan — big and small

Calixta and Hugo — beautiful and intelligent

Clementine and Felicity — calm and happy

Cole and Bianca — black and white

Deryn and Deborah — birds and bees

Edmund and Everett — rich and brave

Gaia and Marina — earth and sea

Omena and Alani — apple and orange

Rex and Juno — king and queen

Tarana and Shirina — day and night

Popular Names for Twins

The most popular twin names tend toward matching sets. Pairs that share sounds, such as Ava and Emma and Elijah and Isaiah are perennially popular, as are those that begin with the same letter, like Sofia and Sebastian. Other on-trend twinsets are connected in more subtle ways.

Luna and Nova are celestial names, and Luca and Mateo both have Italian origins. Mila and Liam are a rare set of compatible anagram names, making them all the more appealing for twins.

Here, the most popular names for twins:

Top Twin Girl Names

Amelia and Evelyn

Ava and Emma

Avery and Harper

Camila and Sofia

Charlotte and Sophia

Ella and Isla

Isabella and Victoria

Luna and Nova

Olivia and Evelyn

Top Twin Boy Names

Benjamin and Theodore

Elijah and Isaiah

Henry and William

James and Jackson

Julian and Sebastian

Leo and Max

Levi and Wyatt

Liam and Aiden

Luca and Mateo

Noah and Jacob

Top Girl-Boy Twin Names

Abigail and Alexander

Amelia and Theodore

Ava and Jackson

Charlotte and Henry

Emma and Jack

Harper and Logan

Isabella and Isaiah

Mila and Liam

Olivia and Oliver

Sofia and Sebastian

Unique Twin Names

Our top recommendations for unique twin names include those that are linked but distinct. Sheridan and Tierney are both Irish surnames for girls, and Gus and Ike are single-syllable retro nicknames. Zelda and Boaz is one of our favorite girl-boy twin sets, as both feature the attention-grabbing Z sound.

There are endless possibilities of unique twin name combinations. Featured below are a handful of ideas to get you started. And check out our page of even more unique twin names.

Unique Twin Girl Names

Amelie and Anais

Astrid and Greta

Athena and Penelope

Briar and Lark

Clementine and Tallulah

Clover and Della

Maple and Poppy

Elodie and Sylvie

Lucinda and Marcella

Sheridan and Tierney

Unique Twin Boy Names

Alaric and Magnus

Anders and Soren

Auden and Rhodes

Beckett and Jensen

Bowie and Kenzo

Callum and Dashiell

Ford and Wells

Oz and Ike

Linus and Roscoe

Onyx and Zephyr

Unique Names for Boy and Girl Twins

Aurora and Roman

Bellamy and Evander

Cleo and Otis

Lula and Ziggy

Faye and Lyle

Marlowe and Crosby

Palmer and Dempsey

Romilly and Lucian

Saoirse and Fintan

Zelda and Boaz

Unisex Twin Names

Some parents want to find unisex names for twins, no matter what their gender. Some appealing gender-neutral twin names that can work for both boys and girls include:

Popular Unisex Twin Pairs

Remy and Rory

Avery and Emery

Finley and Quincy

Riley and Brody

Lennon and Logan

Max and Sam

Parker and Sawyer

Eden and Haven

Bellamy and Laramie

Ellis and Royal

Unique Unisex Twin Names

Domino and Indigo

Galilee and Creed

Ocean and Dune

Ellington and Keagan

Ripley and Raleigh

Pim and Lyle

Farrell and Guthrie

Merit and Drummer

Hero and Honor

Laramie and Romilly

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The first step for parents is to make a suitable name for their little ones after birth. The process of selecting the name of the child is extraordinary and memorable. It is a confusing and challenging task when your close friends and family have a lot of suggestions. Here, the baby name combiner saves you.

Parents prefer to combine their names for their babies that represent both mother and father. They expect that their infants will get the qualities and behaviours of both. They choose new, unique, and memorable names, especially for girls; that’s why they prefer name combiner for baby girls.

It is effortless to create a new and unique name with a name combiner for baby names in this era. It happens with the combination of two names to make one, especially that one of a loved one, which is a great way to give the name more meaning and a story behind it. Besides, it helps them to create more publicity and attention to their baby. 

The name of the baby is preferably unique and significant by the parent. To make this happen, parents create names by keeping in mind their culture and tradition. They find out different ways to make sure that the name they have created is unique and suitable for their child.

Moreover, they do this by saying the name out loud, focusing on how the name sounds when hearing it, or figuring out a nickname. Most parents pay great attention when naming their baby because they feel the child’s name will affect their personality and that the proper name makes a good person later on.

Related: Name Combiner For Couples

When Did The Baby Name Combiner Trend Start?

The trend has always been in people’s minds to make unique names for babies. Celebrities, singers, artists have made it famous. They are creative and show their creativity to their fans through this process. Another reason is that stars want to catch the attention by selecting unique, diverse, and combined names.

Our website makes it easier to use name combiner for baby names. It can also come up with cute baby names and nicknames. It is a great way that allows generating an interesting name without wasting time and effort.

How To Use Baby Name Combiner?

The baby name combiner creates new possible names with two names. In this process, you can combine two names to make one for a baby. You can also make a name with the number of letters, numerology, religion, choice of letters in the start, middle, and end.

Make The Baby Name With The Parents’ Name

It is a new trend to make a name by combining the name of both father and mother. The last name of the mother is also used as the first name of the baby boy. Parents may also use either a first name or a middle name.

Combine the name of father and mother and try to mix the name from both. You will also use the mother and father’s nickname as the baby’s middle name, which will be neutral for both genders.

Baby Name Scramble:

This tool creates a name for the baby based on the parents’ names by combining them. It provides a complete list of all names of both boys and girls created from the given data.

Tips And Tricks For Baby Names:

There are specific tips and tricks to give the best names to your baby. These are as follows:

• A meaningful name can help in boosting the personality of the child.
• Choosing a light and short name for the baby is a vital element of the child’s identity.
• Don’t go for glamorous names, even if they sound weird.
• Check the proper pronunciation and sound of the name before choosing it for the child.

Name Pronunciation:

As the name is a proper noun, the names’ pronunciation varies according to different areas, accents, cultures, and languages. Baby name combiner helps to figure out the correct pronunciation and origin. Combine names for babies give all the names online with the correct spelling and pronunciation making it very user-friendly.

When you pronounce a name or a word according to the accent of the place or language, it’s different from the area you belong to. Every name is pronounced differently in every language and accent. So there is no particular rule to follow when it comes to deciding the pronunciation as it varies according to the language and place. 

Conclusion:

Combine names for babies to make their names unique among all. They will surely admire your efforts when they grow up. So use the tool and don’t forget to give your feedback.

Also Read: Relationship Name Combiner

Double baby names, such as Mary Kate, Anna Grace, or John Patrick, have a deep-rooted tradition in the United States — especially in the South. Using two names as a first name is a great way to honor your favorite family members or to give your child a unique, yet traditional baby name.

It’s also a relatively popular option across the pond in the UK — though there, they often place a hyphen in the middle to join the two names (think Ivy-Rose or Tommy-Lee). If you want to do it the British way, there are definitely some names that are trending hard as part of a double name. Rose and Mae are the top names in the second spot for girls (like Mia-Rose, Isla-Rose, Ella-Rose, or Ava-Mae, Gracie-Mae, and Lily-Mae). For boys, James is the very highly favored second-spot name, with picks like Tommy-James, Arlo-James, and Archie-James (after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s son, of course!).

Tips for choosing double baby names

The options for a double baby name are endless. Some parents will choose two names with the same starting letter, such as Margaret May or Billy Brooks.

You can choose both names that have the same number of syllables, such as Jon Paul or Susie JoAnn. However, it typically sounds better to have the following two equations:

• Short syllable-short syllable (such as Jon Marc)
• Long syllable-short syllable (such as Riley Jean)

That being said, there are no set “rules” when it comes to choosing a double baby name, so you can decide what sounds good to you!

Related story

Beautiful, Angelic Baby Names That Mean ‘Miracle’

When you’re choosing the names, you can also decide to use the names as two separate names (Mary Kate), as a hyphenated name (John-Paul), or a single name (Marianne).

Double baby names for girls

You have so many baby name combinations to consider. However, there are a few select names that seem to be a natural (and favorite) starting point for a double name. The names Bettie, Anna, Ann, Mary, Billie, Carol, Sadie, Georgia, and Emma are all great names to start with. You’ll also want to add a shorter second name to complete your double name. One trend for the second name is to use a virtue name, such as Faith, Grace, or Love.

One interesting point to note: Southern tradition also allows the second part of a double name to be a more masculine name, such as Mary Greg or Emma Dale.

There are also celebrities with double first names, such as Mary-Kate Olsen, Lily-Rose Depp, and Georgia May Jagger, to name a few.

Following are some examples of popular double baby names for girls:

• Anna Grace
• Anna Lane
• Ann Claire
• Bettie Bee
• Betty Grace
• Betty Bell
• Bella Grace
• Bella Jean
• Billie Beth
• Carol Kaye
• Carol Sue
• Celia Rose
• Sadie Mae
• Sadie Bee
• Sarah Michelle
• Sarah Jane
• Ella Jane
• Emma Lou
• Emma Grace
• Emma Kate
• Grace Ann
• Georgia Lee
• Georgia Love
• Laura Beth
• Mary Claire
• Mary Elizabeth
• Mary Grace
• Mary Jewel
• Mary Laird
• Mary Margaret
• Mary Jo
• Mary Frances
• Nora Kate
• Harper Faith
• Twyla Fay
• Tressa Gail

Double baby names for boys

Baby names like Jack, John, Jesse, Bobby, and David make great starter names for double names for boys. Unlike with double girl names, the trend here is to start with a shorter first name and pair it with a longer second name, such as John Andrew or Beau Alexander.

Check out our picks for double baby names for boys:

• Avery James
• Jack David
• Jack Carl
• James Wyatt
• Jesse Joe
• Jesse Mac
• Jimmie Dale
• Joe Allen
• John Andrew
• John Hayes
• John Moss
• John Preston
• John David
• John Michael
• John Henry
• Bobby Jack
• Charles Alan
• Charlie Clyde
• David Ryan
• David Dash
• Don Allan
• Don Michael
• Eddie Wayne
• Everett Alan
• Hudson Lee
• Terry Mack
• Tyler James
• Ford Allen
• Ford Sawyer
• Frank Finn
• Tucker James
• Wells Alden
• Will Brock
• William Russell
• Zack Alan

A version of this story was originally published in 2011.

Looking for more baby name inspiration? Check out our favorite celebrity baby names:

Down here, we don’t kid around when it comes to double names. Not only do double names roll off the tongue in a signature Southern drawl as sweet and slow as pouring honey, but double dubbing is often about bridging family names with classic or meaningful ones, which is why we also know never to assume Anna Grace just goes by Anna, or that James Wyatt goes by James. That cardinal rule is permanently etched into the Southern code of etiquette, praise be.

Tips for Choosing a Double Name

Why settle on a single moniker when you can double the love with two? After all, it gives you something firm and weighty to yell out when your child is in deep trouble, especially when it’s yelled from across the house. Look to precedence and history: Southerners have come up with some truly noteworthy double name combos, while other double names have solidified themselves as simply classic, earning spots on plenty of Southern family trees. Meaning is important too. While these names may not have originally been combined because of their etymological meanings, we couldn’t help but look into what our favorite double names mean in their original roots. After all, you always dream of your child living up to their name, whether it’s a deeply rooted family name or a name that means «old friend» in Old English.

When it comes to Southern girls, you probably know at least a few with a double-dose moniker: Mary Grace, Sue Ellen, Anna Claire, the list goes on and on. You also can never go wrong with a strong double name for a little boy, especially if you’re looking for a way to honor both grandpas in one fell swoop. Double names remain popular in the South and thank goodness for that because they sure do sound better with our accents. The trend became popular at the end of the 18th century around the world, and we’re not ashamed to carry on the tradition in the South. Without further ado, here are a few of our favorite classic double names for Southern boys and girls.

Combination names are baby names that are made by combining two or more names.

Name blending is a popular way of naming babies where parts of the mother’s and father’s names are merged to create a name. But the names of other family members such as the grandparents can be the starting point as well.

Portmanteau names as they are also sometimes fashionably called, are hybrid names signifying the baby being a fusion of two people or families.

There are different ways that a couple can combine their names to create a new baby name. Most often a syllable or more from each parent name is taken and merged together. Sometimes, parents have a common syllable in their names. If that happens, you can choose a name starting with the common syllable.

Why are combination names given?

Parents love the idea that just as their baby was created by their genes coming together, their baby’s name is a created by joining their names. If the grandparents’ names are used, it’s a wonderful way of honouring them.

Names that start with a common syllable of the parent’s names have a poetic story too because the beginning of the name is from the parents, just like the child’s life. But the rest of the name is unique to the child, just as your baby who will grow into an adult and lead his or her own life.

3 easy steps to create a combination name

1. Find the names that you want to create a combination name from. In our example, we will use two names of say the mother and father – Priya and Aditya.

2. Break each name into syllables:

• Priya gives us Pri and Ya
• Aditya gives us Ad, It and Ya.

Notice that these two names have a common syllable – Ya.

3. Put one syllable from each name, as well as a few others unique to the new name if necessary, to create a name that you like. Or you can choose a name that begins with the common syllable. In this example, some nice combination names from Priya and Aditya include:

• Pritika, Aadya, Yashi or Yadavi, for a girl, and
• Prithvi, Pritam, Adyant, Yash or Yaduvir for a boy.

What if I can’t combine our syllables to make a baby name?

It might not always be easy to combine syllables of two different names. But there are no rights and wrongs when it comes to creating combination names. So you can get more creative and use letters from the parents’ names instead of syllables. They don’t even need to be in the same order.

So for example, if the parents’ names are Priya and Aditya, pool all the letters together to draw a name from there. In this example, we have the letters P, R, I, Y, A, D, T.

With different combinations of these letters, you get names like Riya, Diya, Tara or Radya for girls and Yara, Atri or Atit for boys.

Despite having completely different sounds from the original parent names, these new names have gotten their letters from the parent names. And this way of finding a name makes it easier.

I need help creating a combination name

If you’re feeling uninspired and can’t think of names that have the syllables or letters you want, use our baby name finder for help.

In the search options, select ‘Indian’ in the origin field so that the results show you names of Indian origin. In the ‘starts with’ or ‘ends with’ fields, or both, enter the syllables or letters you want to see in the name.

The tool will throw up all names that start or end with the syllables or letters you entered for boys and girls. You can then browse through these and save a short list of names you like.

What should I watch out for when creating a combination name?

If your names lend themselves easily to combination names, there are some common naming traps to keep in mind. Avoiding them can make your or your child’s life easier one day:

• Sharing initials with your child. So long as your child is a baby, this won’t matter much. But the day he or she starts receiving mail, it can get confusing knowing who it is for.
• Having too similar sounding names. Giving your child a name with the same number of syllables as yours and a few shared syllables means that people might often confuse your names. Try to choose a combination name that sounds different to both your and your husband’s name. This will also help your child feel like his or her name is really theirs.
• If you want more than one child, think about whether you’ll opt for a combination name for all of them. When your children are older, they’ll want to know how you chose their names and it’s worth thinking about what you tell them if you have a combination name for one child and not the other(s).
• If you choose to name more than one child with a combination name, make sure your children don’t have too similar sounding names. Not only will you always muddle the names up but acquaintances will confuse them often as well.

Read more about:

• 10 ways to be sure you’ve chosen the right name
• Your baby naming problems solved
• How to choose a name without family members feeling left out