75 Cool Two Syllable Last Names

Last names with two syllables hit a sweet spot between being simple and standing out. They roll off the tongue, stick in your mind, and often have a catchy sound that makes them great for made-up people fake names, or even naming babies.

From old favorites to new and cool choices, these names pack just enough punch—quick to say, but powerful enough to make a mark.

This article shines a light on some of the top two-syllable surnames and what they mean.

Two Syllable Last Names

Bennett – English origin; from the Latin Benedictus, meaning “blessed.”

Carter – English origin; occupational name for someone who transported goods by cart.

Dawson – English origin; means “son of David.”

Evans – Welsh origin; means “son of Evan,” a form of John, meaning “God is gracious.”

Foster – English origin; either “forest keeper” or “foster parent.”

Garner – English/French origin; occupational name for someone who stored grain (garner = granary).

Griffin – Welsh origin; derived from Gruffudd, meaning “strong lord” or “prince.”

Harris – English origin; means “son of Harry,” a form of Henry, meaning “home ruler.”

Hunter – English/Scottish origin; occupational name for someone who hunted game.

Jackson – English origin; literally means “son of Jack.”

Jensen – Scandinavian origin; means “son of Jens,” the Danish form of John.

Jordan – Hebrew origin; refers to “one who descends,” from the Jordan River.

Keller – German origin; occupational name meaning “cellar master” or “winemaker.”

Lawson – English/Scottish origin; means “son of Lawrence.”

Logan – Scottish origin; from a place name meaning “little hollow.”

Mason – English origin; occupational surname for a stone worker.

Murphy – Irish origin; from Ó Murchadha, meaning “descendant of sea warrior.”

Nelson – English origin; means “son of Neil,” from Gaelic Niall meaning “champion.”

Nolan – Irish origin; from Ó Nualláin, meaning “descendant of a noble or famous one.”

Parker – English origin; occupational name for a gamekeeper in a park.

Porter – English origin; occupational name for a doorkeeper or gatekeeper.

Presley – English origin; means “priest’s meadow” from Old English.

Quincy – French origin; from a place name meaning “estate of the fifth son.”

Radley – English origin; means “red meadow” or “clearing in the reeds.”

Ramsey – Scottish and English origin; means “wild garlic island” or “island of rams.”

Reagan – Irish origin; from Ó Riagáin, meaning “descendant of the little king.”

Riley – Irish origin; from Ó Raghallaigh, meaning “valiant.”

Rowan – Irish origin; can mean “red-haired” or derived from the rowan tree.

Sawyer – English origin; occupational name for someone who sawed wood.

Shepard – English origin; occupational name for a shepherd.

Taylor – English origin; occupational surname for a tailor (clothing maker).

Tanner – English origin; occupational name for someone who tanned animal hides.

Truman – English origin; means “faithful man” or “trustworthy man.”

Walker – English origin; occupational name for someone who walked on cloth to full it.

Warren – English/French origin; means “animal enclosure” or “keeper of game park.”

Abbott – English origin; from “abbot,” meaning “father” or “priest,” often a nickname.

Asher – Hebrew origin; means “happy” or “blessed.”

Benson – English origin; means “son of Ben,” where Ben means “blessed.”

Bishop – English origin; occupational name for someone working for or as a bishop.

Brady – Irish origin; from Ó Brádaigh, meaning “spirited” or “broad-chested.”

Briggs – English origin; refers to someone who lived near a bridge.

Bryant – English/Welsh origin; means “strong” or “noble.”

Byron – English origin; means “from the barns” or “cattle shed.”

Carver – English origin; occupational surname for a sculptor or woodworker.

Chester – English origin; means “fortress” or “walled town,” from Latin castrum.

Cohen – Hebrew origin; priestly name meaning “priest.”

Collins – Irish/Scottish origin; means “descendant of Coileán,” meaning “young warrior.”

Conrad – German origin; means “brave counsel.”

Cooper – English origin; occupational name for a barrel maker.

Curtis – English and French origin; means “courteous” or “polite.”

Dalton – English origin; means “valley town.”

Decker – German origin; occupational name for a roofer or deck builder.

Dixon – English origin; means “son of Dick,” with Dick being a nickname for Richard.

Donald – Scottish origin; from Domhnall, meaning “world ruler.”

Dudley – English origin; means “Dudda’s meadow” (from a personal name).

Eaton – English origin; means “river town” or “settlement by the water.”

Ellis – Welsh origin; means “benevolent” or “kind.”

Emory – German origin; means “industrious ruler.”

Finley – Scottish origin; means “fair-haired hero.”

Foster – English origin; may mean “forest guardian” or “nourisher.”

Fuller – English origin; occupational name for someone who cleaned and thickened woolen cloth.

Garner – English/French origin; means “storehouse keeper” or “grain keeper.”

Gentry – English origin; refers to someone of noble birth or high social rank.

Gibson – English origin; means “son of Gib,” a short form of Gilbert.

Gordon – Scottish origin; originally from a place name meaning “spacious fort.”

Graves – English origin; may mean “steward” or someone who lived near a grove.

Grayson – English origin; means “son of the steward” or “gray-haired one’s son.”

Hadley – English origin; means “heather field.”

Hardin – English origin; from Harding, meaning “brave” or “strong.”

Harper – English origin; occupational name for someone who played the harp.

Hobart – English origin; from German Hubert, meaning “bright heart” or “bright mind.”

Hollis – English origin; means “dweller at the holly trees.”

Irwin – Scottish origin; means “green water” or “fresh water.”

Jarvis – English origin; from Gervase, meaning “spear servant.”

Justice – English origin; occupational name for a judge or legal official.

Closing Remarks

Two syllable last names are simple and are short, like one syllable last names. I hope you enjoyed reading this article.