"New parents have a lot to think about. How can I prepare for labor and delivery? What nursery theme do I like best? And not the least of which—how do I pick the perfect baby name for my newborn? From deciding where to draw inspiration from to actually nailing down a name that feels “right,” picking a baby name feels monumental. Throw in having either a really long or really short last name, and you’ve got yourself a potential conundrum.
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The good news is there may be a way to make the task feel a little more attainable. In fact, there may actually be some best practices behind baby name selection, especially when it comes to finding first and last names that go together. Here we’re diving into just that: How to pair first and last names, especially when they’re either extra long or short. Read on for a breakdown of narrowing down your selections, as well as a few options for both instances.
How to Pair First and Last Names
First and foremost, it’s important to point out that the perfect baby name is the one that you as the parent love. Maybe it’s a family name, something that holds meaning in your relationship, or simply a name you heard and enjoy. Whatever the case, outside opinions don’t really matter. That being said, there are a few tips for picking a first and last name that go well together.
To select a baby name that flows really well, consider repeating sounds. For example, a name like Connor Cordell has the repeating “co-” sounds that fit pleasingly together. On the flip side, a general rule of thumb is to not have a baby’s first name end with the same first letter of their last name. Otherwise, it’s easy for the name to run together. Having a different letter will allow the name to flow better. You can also take into consideration some literary devices for a pleasant baby name rhythm: alliteration (the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words), assonance (two or more words repeating the same vowel), and consonance (two or more words repeating the same consonant). Think Mateo Martínez, Amelia Anders, or Jack Jennings.
On top of that, another best practice is to pair long first names with short last names and vice versa. Plus, considering syllable count is a good idea. If your last name has four syllables, pairing it with a three-syllable first name (plus a middle name thrown in between) can quickly become quite the mouthful. Check out some of our favorite options for first and last name pairings below.
Baby Names for a Long Last Name
With the art and science of baby name pairing in mind, long last names will typically go well with shorter first names. When considering baby’s first and middle names and how well they will sound with your last, try to have a variation in the number of syllables throughout the full name. So, if you have a last name like Wilkinson, Blankenship, or Rodriguez, consider pairing it with something like one of these snappy first names:
Short Girl Names
- Aria: Italian | “Air”
- Ava: Latin | “Bird”
- Brielle: Hebrew, French | “Heroine of God”
- Ellie: Greek | “Light”
- Emma: German | “Whole, universal”
- Faith: British | “Trust, devotion”
- Greer: Scottish | “Alert, watchful”
- Isla: Spanish | “Island”
- Ivy: English | “Vine”
- Lana: Slavic | “Shining”
- Leia: Hebrew | “Weary, tired”
- Lily: Latin | “Lily flower”
- Maya: Sanskrit | “Illusion”
- Mila: Spanish | “Miracles”
- Nova: Latin | “New”
- Wafa: Arabic | “Loyalty, faithfulness”
- Wren: British | “Small songbird”
Short Boy Names
- Ali: Arabic | “Noble”
- Beau: French | “Beautiful, handsome”
- Carlos: Spanish | “Free man”
- Cole: Greek | “Victory of the people”
- Eli: Hebrew | “Height”
- Ezra: Hebrew | “Helper”
- Finn: Irish | “Fair, blessed”
- Ian: Scottish | “God is gracious”
- Jack: British | “God is gracious”
- Luke: Greek | “From Luciana”
- Luis: Spanish | “Famous warrior”
- Nico: Italian | “Victory of the people”
- Noah: Hebrew | “Peaceful”
- Rhett: Latin | “Advisor”
- Theo: Greek | “God’s gift”
- Wade: British | “To go”
Baby Names for a Short Last Name
On the flip side, you may be able to get away with a significantly longer first name paired with a shorter last name. Surnames such as Knight, Lee, or Webb are short and sweet and may sound a little too brief when paired with a short first name or one with fewer syllables. Aim to have a first name with multiple syllables. If that feels like a lot, the good news is many longer names have great nickname potential.
Long Girl Names
- Alianna: American | “Noble, gracious”
- Carolina: Latin | “Free man”
- Catalina: Greek | “Pure”
- Elizabeth: Hebrew | “God’s promise”
- Esmeralda: Spanish | “Emerald”
- Fatima: Arabic | “Daughter of the prophet”
- Filomena: Portuguese | “Beloved”
- Gwendolyn: Welsh | “Fair bow”
- Isabella: Italian | “Pledged”
- Josephine: Hebrew | “Jehovah increases”
- Juliette: Latin | “Youthful”
- Magdalena: Greek | “Woman from Magdala”
- Magnolia: French | “Magnolia flower”
- Octavia: Latin | “Eighth”
- Samantha: Hebrew | “God has heard”
- Valentina: Latin | “Strong, healthy”
Long Boy Names
- Akeno: Japanese | “Bright shining field”
- Amari: Sanskrit | “Eternal”
- Benjamin: Hebrew | “Son of the right hand”
- Broderick: Welsh | “Dream”
- Christopher: Greek | “Bearing Christ”
- Dakota: Native American | “Friend”
- Donovan: Irish | “Dark”
- Emerson: German | “Brave, powerful”
- Ezekiel: Hebrew | “Strength of God”
- Gabriel: Hebrew | “Man of God”
- Harrison: British | “Son of Harry”
- Maverick: American | “Independent man who avoids conformity”
- Montgomery: British | “Gumarich’s mountain”
- Nathaniel: Hebrew | “God has given”
- Santiago: Spanish | “Saint James”
- Sebastian: Greek | “Venerable”
- Theodore: Greek | “God’s gift”
Brett Nicole Hayden, Assistant Editor
As the Assistant Editor, Brett works with the editors of The Everymom on the content creation process by updating stories, sourcing images and graphics, and pitching and contributing her own articles. Her favorite topics to write about are culture, relationships, and living. She’s also The Everymom’s resident baby names and family movies expert!