A few weeks ago, The Stir posted a list of 20 pairs of baby names for girl-boy twins.
The problem with their list? Each matchy-matchy name-pair started with the same first letter.
Yes, most parents gravitate toward patterns when it comes to naming twins.
But should they?
If you’re in the “no” camp, here’s an alternative list. I’ve separated the pairings and given each of the 40 names a new, non-matchy partner — different first letter, different ending, different number of syllables.
| Original pairing | 1st new pairing | 2nd new pairing |
|---|---|---|
| Hazel & Hugo Emma & Evan Madison & Mason Taylor & Tyler Vivienne & Val Ava & Alexander Chloe & Caleb Sophia & Samuel Eva & Ethan Penelope & Pax Savannah & Sebastian Lily & Luke Dylan & Dean Naomi & Noah Imogen & Isaac Juliette & James Christina & Christian Grace & Gavin Avery & Aiden Claire & Clive | Hazel & Benjamin Emma & Charles Madison & Liam Taylor & Grant Vivienne & Phillip Ava & Carl Chloe & Gabriel Sophia & Owen Eva & Jack Penelope & Duncan Savannah & Zane Lily & Cash Dylan & Matthias Naomi & Joseph Imogen & Grey Juliette & Simon Christina & Thomas Grace & Dominic Avery & Beau Claire & Julian | Hugo & Adelaide Evan & Sabrina Mason & Aria Tyler & Addison Val & Edie Alexander & Daphne Caleb & Lydia Samuel & Hannah Ethan & Amelia Pax & Kira Sebastian & Gemma Luke & Maya Dean & Harper Noah & Abigail Isaac & Johanna James & Tabitha Christian & Veronica Gavin & Bree Aiden & Katrina Clive & Odette |
What are your favorite non-matchy baby names for girl-boy twins?
Source: 20 Pairs of Baby Names for Twins of the Opposite Sex
Image: Adapted from Kinley and Liam Photos (18) by love_K_photo under CC BY 2.0.
So so so much better, Nancy! Nice work! I hated that article for the ridiculous matchyness. These are so very nice now!
Thanks Kara!
Goodness those matchy twin names are an eyesore – and it’s not just the initial letter (which I could cope with on a small scale), but the actual sounds are replicated as well, such as Taylor and Tyler,Madison and Mason.
And some of the twin sets are so odd as well – Claire and CLIVE? Penelope and PAX? It almost seems as if they have matched them at random.
Hugo and Adelaide is sweet.
Agreed, great job.
I really like Imogen & Grey as a pair, much more than each name individually.
Hope this post helps some twins get better names!
Thank you, Anna and Rachel!
I agree, Rachel! Imogen and Grey seem compellingly compatible! It makes me wonder why no one’s used that combo before… some author has got to snatch that up and run with it. Perfection!
Love your choices, and I think they all work so well together. (Ava and Carl is the only one I want to tinker with – only because I don’t see Carl as appealing to someone who likes Ava.)
Thanks guys!
(Other ideas for Ava: Finn, Tobias, Ezekiel/Zeke)