Need help keeping two-syllable "ian" in the family!

[name_m]Hi[/name_m], guys! My husband and I need help coming up with baby names that coincide with our son’s name, [name_m]Ian[/name_m].

My name is [name_u]Rian[/name_u] (pronounced “[name_u]Ryan[/name_u]”) and my husband’s name is [name_m]Brian[/name_m]. We named our son [name_m]Ian[/name_m] as both of our names ended in the letters “ian”. We recently found out [name_m]Ian[/name_m] is going to be a big brother, and are beginning to consider names for [name_u]Baby[/name_u] #2. We don’t yet know if [name_u]Baby[/name_u] will be a he or she, but want to get a couple ideas together for both. We would really like to stay in the two-syllable range, as all of our names have two syllables, as well.

The only two-syllable name I have been able to come up with for a girl so far is Brienne (pronounced “[name_f]Bree[/name_f]-in”) but the husband isn’t quite sold on it, because it doesn’t end in “ian” although the names will sound more similar.

Suggestions?? Thanks all!

does it have to be 2 syllables? That is very limiting for girl names. In fact the only one I can think of is [name_u]Rhian[/name_u] which is wayyy too close to your name (and too rhymey with [name_m]Ian[/name_m]).

Without the 2 syllable factor, there’s [name_f]Lillian[/name_f], [name_u]Vivian[/name_u]/[name_f]Vivienne[/name_f], [name_f]Adrienne[/name_f], [name_f]Bianca[/name_f], [name_f]Georgiana[/name_f], [name_f]Eliana[/name_f], [name_f]Iliana[/name_f], [name_f]Luciana[/name_f], [name_f]Lucienne[/name_f], [name_f]Juliana[/name_f], [name_f]Oriana[/name_f]…

For boys, there’s [name_m]Kian[/name_m]/[name_m]Cian[/name_m], but again, I think more syllables might be better so it’s not SO rhymey… [name_m]Julian[/name_m], [name_m]Sebastian[/name_m], [name_m]Damian[/name_m], [name_u]Dorian[/name_u], [name_m]Caspian[/name_m]… [name_m]Lucian[/name_m] and [name_m]Cassian[/name_m] can be pronounced 2 syllables or 3.

That’s all I got. Sorry for stretching the rules. Good luck!

No idea if any of these are your taste or not, but here goes!

Boy:
Adrian
Christian
Damian
Osian (pronounced Oh-Shane, but it has irish roots just like Rian, Brian, and Ian)
Sebastian

Girl:
Adrienne (has the sound but not the exact -ian ending)
Darian
Jillian
Lillian
Vivian

Adrian and Damian are my favorites if you have a boy and Vivian if you have a girl.

Typically, you’re going to find that feminine versions of names ending in “ian” or “an” will be following by an “a,” “enne,” or “y.” However, a unisex name could work for you…

2 syllables ending in –ian: [name_m]Bastian[/name_m], [name_m]Christian[/name_m]

What if you were to go with 2-syllable names ending in –an (eliminating the I from the equation)? See some ideas below (but still mostly boys and possibly unisex options)…

[name_u]Aidan[/name_u], [name_m]Allan[/name_m], [name_f]Ann[/name_f]
[name_m]Brendan[/name_m], [name_m]Brogan[/name_m], [name_u]Brennan[/name_u]
[name_m]Callan[/name_m]
[name_m]Declan[/name_m], [name_m]Duncan[/name_m], [name_u]Dylan[/name_u]
[name_m]Eagan[/name_m], [name_m]Ethan[/name_m], [name_u]Evan[/name_u]
[name_m]Harlan[/name_m], [name_m]Herman[/name_m]
Iman, [name_m]Ivan[/name_m]
Joann, [name_m]Johan[/name_m], [name_u]Jordan[/name_u]
[name_u]Keagan[/name_u], [name_u]Keenan[/name_u], [name_u]Kieran[/name_u], [name_m]Kellan[/name_m]
[name_u]Logan[/name_u], [name_m]Lucan[/name_m]
[name_f]Megan[/name_f], [name_u]Morgan[/name_u]
[name_m]Nathan[/name_m], [name_m]Nolan[/name_m], [name_m]Norman[/name_m]
[name_u]Reagan[/name_u], [name_m]Rogan[/name_m], [name_m]Ronan[/name_m], [name_u]Rowan[/name_u]
[name_m]Sherman[/name_m], [name_m]Stefan[/name_m], [name_f]Susan[/name_f]
[name_m]Talan[/name_m], [name_u]Teagan[/name_u], [name_u]Tristan[/name_u]
[name_m]Waylan[/name_m]

A few more two-syllable ideas… What about [name_f]Nia[/name_f] (anagram of [name_m]Ian[/name_m])? [name_f]Anais[/name_f] contains “nai,” which is [name_m]Ian[/name_m] spelled backwards. [name_f]Lianne[/name_f] has “[name_m]Ian[/name_m]” in the middle, but doesn’t have the same “-in/-en/-un” sounds you’re looking for.

Here are some more 2-syllable options that could work for girls, but they just end in the same in/en/un sound, not necessarily the same letters as [name_m]Ian[/name_m]. Perhaps it would be a compromise if all the letters of “ian” were in there, but not necessarily in the right order or at the end of the name?

[name_f]Afton[/name_f], [name_f]Aislin[/name_f], [name_f]Arwen[/name_f], [name_f]Ashlyn[/name_f], [name_u]Aspen[/name_u], [name_m]Austin[/name_m]
[name_u]Britton[/name_u], [name_f]Bronwen[/name_f], [name_u]Brooklyn[/name_u]
[name_u]Cailin[/name_u], [name_f]Caitlin[/name_f], [name_u]Camden[/name_u], [name_f]Caren[/name_f]/[name_f]Karen[/name_f], [name_u]Carlin[/name_u], [name_u]Carmen[/name_u], [name_f]Catlyn[/name_f], [name_f]Corrinne[/name_f]
[name_u]Eden[/name_u], [name_f]Elin[/name_f], [name_f]Ellen[/name_f], [name_f]Erin[/name_f]
[name_u]Fallon[/name_u], Ferrin
[name_f]Gretchen[/name_f]
[name_u]Haven[/name_u], [name_u]Hayden[/name_u], [name_f]Helen[/name_f]
[name_f]Jaclyn[/name_f], [name_f]Jasmine[/name_f], [name_u]Jayden[/name_u], [name_u]Jensen[/name_u], [name_f]Joslyn[/name_f]
[name_f]Kiersten[/name_f], [name_f]Kristen[/name_f]
[name_u]Laken[/name_u], [name_f]Lauren[/name_f], [name_u]Leighton[/name_u], [name_u]Linden[/name_u], [name_u]London[/name_u], Lumen
[name_f]Maren[/name_f], [name_f]Merryn[/name_f]
[name_u]Payton[/name_u]
[name_u]Raven[/name_u], [name_u]Robin[/name_u], [name_f]Roslyn[/name_f]
[name_u]Shannon[/name_u], [name_f]Sharon[/name_f], Sorren, [name_m]Stellan[/name_m]
[name_f]Tamryn[/name_f], [name_f]Tamsin[/name_f], [name_f]Taren[/name_f]
[name_f]Yasmin[/name_f]

Obviously you do not have a problem with your kids names being similar, [name_m]Brian[/name_m] and [name_u]Rian[/name_u] are very similar to start with.
If you are set on the two syllable and [name_m]IAN[/name_m] ending I would suggest adjusting the spelling of some names but pronouncing them the same.
Ocian (ocean)
[name_u]Lian[/name_u] ([name_f]Leanna[/name_f])
[name_m]Brian[/name_m] ([name_f]Breanne[/name_f])
Shaylian (Shaylene)
Melian (Maelyn)

For a girl, I don’t think [name_f]Dian[/name_f] has been mentioned yet. It’s an interesting take on [name_f]Diane[/name_f] (in a good way :slight_smile: ) and I like how simple it is.

For a boy, I like [name_m]Gian[/name_m], though it stylistically differs from [name_m]Ian[/name_m]. This is my dad’s name, but he goes by [name_m]John[/name_m] (rather than “gee-yahn”), which could work in this case too if you don’t mind the monosyllabic pronunciation.

[name_f]Hope[/name_f] this helps a bit :slight_smile:

There’s [name_f]Liane[/name_f], which feels close, plus [name_u]Vivian[/name_u], which I adore, and [name_f]Lillian[/name_f]. [name_u]Marian[/name_u] is lovely, although my own favourite spelling is [name_u]Marion[/name_u]. A male name I personally love is [name_m]Caspian[/name_m].

[name_u]Lian[/name_u]
[name_f]Lianne[/name_f]
[name_f]Gianna[/name_f]
[name_f]Gianne[/name_f]
[name_f]Eliana[/name_f]
[name_u]Vivian[/name_u]
[name_f]Lillian[/name_f]
[name_f]Liana[/name_f]
[name_f]Bianca[/name_f]

[name_m]Julian[/name_m]
[name_m]Fabian[/name_m]
[name_m]Elian[/name_m]
[name_m]Bastian[/name_m]
[name_m]Kian[/name_m]
[name_m]Killian[/name_m]
[name_m]Lucian[/name_m]