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

　　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

　　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

　　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

　　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 sexes. Some appealing gender-neutral twin names that can work for both boys and girls include:

Popular Unisex Twin Names

　　Briar and Teagan

　　Drew and Frankie

　　Eden and Haven

　　Ellis and Sutton

　　Harlow and Lennon

　　Parker and Sawyer

　　Salem and Shiloh

　　Sage and Wren

　　Remy and Rory

Unique Unisex Twin Names

　　Cedar and Cove

　　Domino and Indigo

　　Ellington and Halston

　　Hero and Honor

　　Indiana and Laramie

　　Lowen and Rooney

　　Raleigh and Ripley

　　Summit and Zephyr

　　Vaughn and Winslow

About the Author

Sophie Kihm

　　Sophie Kihm has been writing for Nameberry since 2015. She has contributed stories on the top 2020s names, Gen Z names, and cottagecore baby names. Sophie is Nameberry’s resident Name Guru to the Stars, where she suggests names for celebrity babies. She also manages the Nameberry Instagram and Pinterest.

　　Sophie Kihm's articles on names have run on People, Today, The Huffington Post, and more. She has been quoted as a name expert by The Washington Post, People, The Huffington Post, and more. You can follow her personally on Instagram or Pinterest, or contact her at [email protected]. Sophie lives in Chicago.

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