Are you looking for a boy name that has some weight behind it? If so, formal four-syllable names might be something to consider.
Currently, the most popular four-syllable names for baby boys born in the United States are Alexander (ranked 11th in 2007), Jeremiah (67th), Alejandro (103rd), Emmanuel (154th), Leonardo (164th) and Santiago (200th).
Other (slightly less) popular names are:
Damarion, Deangelo, Demarion, Demetrius, Emanuel, Emiliano,
Ezekiel, Ezequiel, Florentino, Hezekiah, Immanuel, Jamarion,
Jeramiah, Maximilian, Miguelangel, Montgomery, Nehemiah, Octavio,
Omarion, Rigoberto, Salvatore, Valentino, Zachariah, Zechariah
Four-syllable names that are very rarely used nowadays for baby boys include Aloysius, Antonino, Apollinaire, Aravinda, Babatunde, Bartholomew, Devaraja, Eliezer, Gedaliah, Gemariah, Methuselah, Odysseus, Xochipilli, Zacharias and Zebadiah.
So, what are the pros and cons of four-syllable boy names?
On the pro side, long names tend to sound much more significant and/or serious than short names. They balance out short surnames (like Hart, Kim and Lane) quite well. Finally, they give people the option of using a formal name for professional purposes and an informal nickname for everyday life.
On the con side, long names can be a bit of a burden. They can be hard for a child to learn to say and spell. There's the possibility that someone who is known solely by a nickname (for instance, Alex or Xan instead of Alexander) might grow to dislike his long and somewhat unfamiliar "real" name. And, lastly, the "-a" and "-ah" endings of some Biblical and Indian name names might come across as feminine-sounding to some people.
If you want something formal, though, and you don't mind bestowing a slightly complicated name, a four-syllable name could be a great option.
