Our language is a musical one. We learn about syllables in elementary school by clapping along with the teacher until the rhythms made sense. Giving your baby a name with the right mix of syllables may be your contribution to the overall family symphony.

As you compose a name based on syllables, there are rhythmic factors to take into consideration, but none are set in stone. Above all, you'll want to think about how your baby's name will sound as part of a full name. Look at the first and middle names individually, together, and then paired with your last name.


Utilizing one-syllable names
It has long been recommended that the number of syllables in the first name differ from that of the last name. If you have a long surname (Washington, Rockefeller, Pacino, O'Connell, Longoria are a few celeb-inspired examples), there are countless one-syllable names from which to choose.
* Blake for a boy, Belle for a girl
* Chase, Clare
* Earl, Eve
* Glenn, Grace
* Hugh, Hope
* Jack, Joy
* Sean, Shea

Even if your last name is short, you can still use these simple one-syllable names. Consider famous names like Clint Black, Joan Jett, and George Bush!

Perhaps you've settled on a one-syllable name but worry how it will sound with your short surname. Consider pairing it with a middle name that-when used together-will give you that multi-syllabic rhythm you desire (like Anna Nicole Smith).
* James Patrick Smith
* Paige Sierra Smith
* Rhys William Smith
* Rose Ann Smith
* Neil Patrick Smith

Utilizing two- and three-syllable names
Two- and three-syllable names may be the easiest names to find. They go well with just about any surname. Whether choosing a name for a boy or girl, first or middle, the sky's the limit. Just search baby name books and the web to find endless lists of gems like these:
* Austin, Ava, Abraham, Annabel
* Brendan, Bridget, Benjamin, Briana
* Colin, Coco, Christopher, Camilla
* Devon, Dora, Diego, Destiny
* Evan, Emma, Elijah, Eleanor
* Fletcher, Fabio, Florence, Fiona
* Gavin, Ginger, Gideon, Genevieve
* Roman, Rochelle, Remington, Rosemary
* Yardley, Yvonne, Zachary, Zahara

Utilizing four- and even five-syllable names
While longer first names go rhythmically well with short last names, they're equally suited for long surnames.

Four-syllable names-old-fashioned or trendy-have an elegant, romantic quality about them.
* Adrianna, Alexander, America, Angelina
* Bartholomew, Broderick
* Catriona, Christiana
* Demetrius, Dionisia, Dominica
* Ebenezer, Elizabeth, Emmanuel, Esmerelda
* Felicity, Frederica
* Gabriella, Giovanna, Henrietta
* Iliana, Isabella, Jeremiah, Katarina
* Leonardo, Liliana, Luciano
* Magdelana, Margarita, Mauricio, Montgomery
* Nehemia, Nickoletta, Nicodemus
* Obadiah, Octavia
* Penelope, Philadelphia, Philomena
* Thomasina, Valentina, Zachariah

Five-syllable names may be hard to find, but are worth the effort.
* Evangelina
* Alexandria
* Maximillian
* Michaelangelo