Top 100 Syllable Counts

As I continued researching first names over the past few years, I noticed patterns in syllables. Some patterns are common, while others are rare. 

I counted the number of names featuring each syllable pattern among the girls' and boys' top 100. My results are recorded below:

FOUR-SYLLABLE NAMES

Within the girls' top 100, 13% of names have four syllables:

• 6% have emphasis on the third syllable
• Examples: Is-a-BEL-la, El-i-A-na, Val-en-TI-na, Lil-i-A-na, Gab-ri-EL-la, Ar-i-A-na
• 7% have emphasis on the second syllable
• Examples: O-LIV-i-a, A-MEL-i-a, Pe-NEL-o-pe, E-MI-li-a, Vic-TOR-i-a, Na-TA-li-a

Within the boys' top 100, just 5% of names have four syllables:

• 4% have emphasis on the third syllable
• Examples: Al-ex-AN-der, San-ti-A-go, Le-on-AR-do, Je-re-MI-ah
• 1% has emphasis on the second syllable
• Example: E-ZE-ki-el

THREE-SYLLABLE NAMES

Within the girls' top 100, 37% of names have three syllables:

• 13% emphasize the middle syllable
• Examples: So-PHI-a, Ca-MI-la, Gi-AN-na, Au-ROR-a, Na-O-mi, E-LE-na, De-LI-lah
• 24% emphasize the first syllable
• Examples: E-ve-lyn, VI-o-let, AR-i-a, MAD-i-son, LIL-li-an, GEN-e-sis, NAT-a-lie

Within the boys' top 100, 21% of names have three syllables:

• 7% emphasize the middle syllable
• Examples: E-LI-jah, Ma-TE-o, Se-BAST-ian, Jo-SI-ah, I-SAI-ah, Thi-A-go
• 14% emphasize the first syllable
• Examples: O-li-ver, THE-o-dore, WIL-li-am, BEN-ja-min, DAN-i-el, SAM-u-el, JU-li-an

TWO-SYLLABLE NAMES

Within the girls' top 100, 45% of names have two syllables:

•  All two-syllable names emphasize the first syllable:
• Examples: EM-ma, CHAR-lotte, MI-a, A-va, LU-na, HAR-per, SCAR-lett, HA-zel, NOR-a

Within the boys' top 100, 66% of names have two syllables:

• 64% emphasize the first syllable:
• Examples: LI-am, NO-ah, HEN-ry, EZ-ra, MIC-hael, O-wen, ASH-er, DAV-id, JACK-son
• 2% emphasize the second syllable:
• Examples: Jo-SE, A-MIR

ONE-SYLLABLE NAMES

Within the girls' top 100, 5% of names have one syllable:

•  Examples: GRACE, CLAIRE, MAEVE, JADE, QUINN

Within the boys' top 100, 8% of names have one syllable:

• Examples: JAMES, JACK, JOHN, LUKE, KAI, BROOKS, BEAU, GAEL

The results above suggest, even in the age of multi-syllable names, parents are still seeking basic two-syllable names for their simplicity. In a world that is constantly changing, simplicity will never go out of style. Rising examples include Millie, Daisy, and Georgia for girls and August, Myles, and Jasper for boys.

What do you think about the findings listed above?