Two-Syllable Baby Names
18657 baby names with two syllables — boys and girls, each with meaning and audio pronunciation.
Baby names that have two syllables, most-popular first — useful when you want the rhythm to fit a longer or shorter surname.
Girl Names
Drayah#13937 in the U.S.A modern American coinage, layering the bright 'Dray-' sound with the airy -ah ending common inElvy#13937 in the U.S.Most likely a survival or revival of the Old English elf-names — Aelfgifu ('elf gift'), AelfwigJaynee#13938 in the U.S.A pet form of Jane — a feminine of John, from the Hebrew Yochanan, 'God is gracious'Elzie#13940 in the U.S.A variant spelling of Elsie, originally a Scottish pet form of Elspeth — itself a Scots form ofJeeva#13942 in the U.S.From the Sanskrit jiva, 'life; living; the living soul; that which breathes'Eriss#13949 in the U.S.A short modern name echoing Iris (the flower and rainbow) and the Greek Eris (goddess of discorChante#13952 in the U.S.From the French chante, 'sung; (she) sings' (from chanter, 'to sing'). A lyrical, musical name Elee#13952 in the U.S.A short spelling of Ellie, itself a pet form of Eleanor or Ella, 'light; bright.' As spelled itEnas#13953 in the U.S.From Arabic inas, 'friendliness; sociability; the putting of others at ease'. It belongs to a fEsley#13960 in the U.S.A modern coinage on the -sley pattern of Ainsley, Presley and Kinsley, all of which come from EJeymi#13962 in the U.S.A phonetic Hispanic spelling of Jamie/Jaimie — a pet form of James (Jacob), from Hebrew Ya'aqovEtzli#13963 in the U.S.Presented in modern name lists as Nahuatl, commonly glossed 'blood' (from eztli). That gloss isJezelle#13963 in the U.S.A modern name, joining a Jez- element with a -elle ending (echoing Giselle, 'a pledge/hostage',Jihan#13965 in the U.S.From the Persian Jihan (Jahan), 'world; universe,' carried into Arabic and Turkish use. A grandEvin#13968 in the U.S.Read in two ways: as an anglicized Irish name (Eibhin, from eibhean, 'swift; pleasant'), and asEza#13969 in the U.S.A short modern name with no single settled source. It may be read as a feminine trim of Ezra (HEzmie#13971 in the U.S.A modern spelling of Esme, from Old French esme, 'esteemed; beloved' (past participle of esmer,Faeryn#13973 in the U.S.A modern coinage built on the archaic spelling faery, 'fairy' — from Old French faerie, the reaFaithful#13974 in the U.S.The English word faithful, 'loyal; steadfast; true to a promise', from Latin fides, 'faith; truJona#13975 in the U.S.A feminine form of Jonah, from the Hebrew Yonah, 'dove'; also read as a short form of Johanna (Farha#13976 in the U.S.From Arabic farha, 'joy; gladness' — a noun from the root f-r-h, which carries the sense of rejJonae#13976 in the U.S.A modern name, variously echoing Janae and Jonai (Jo-/Ja- + -nae coinages); no single fixed rooEvlynn#13978 in the U.S.A modern respelling of Evelyn, which comes from the English surname Evelyn, itself from the NorFayla#13980 in the U.S.Modern coinage: most naturally read as Fay ('fairy'; from Old French fae) plus the popular -la Fenet#13985 in the U.S.An Ethiopian girls' name, usually glossed as 'spring' or 'source, wellspring' in Oromo and AmhaAnzleigh#13986 in the U.S.A modern -leigh respelling of Ansley, an English surname-turned-name; by that route it touches Ferrah#13986 in the U.S.A respelling of Arabic Farah, 'joy, happiness, delight', also known in the West through the speFeven#13987 in the U.S.A Tigrinya name from Eritrea and northern Ethiopia, usually glossed 'pearls'. It is a common anFeyra#13989 in the U.S.A modern coinage. For most U.S. families it echoes Feyre, the heroine of Sarah J. Maas's 'A CouFilza#13991 in the U.S.An Urdu-language girls' name used in Pakistan and India, most often glossed 'flower' or 'gardenFindley#13992 in the U.S.From the Scottish surname and given name Finlay/Findlay, from Gaelic Fionnlagh: fionn 'fair, whFirdaus#13993 in the U.S.Firdaus is Arabic and Persian Firdaws, 'paradise, garden'. In Islamic tradition al-Firdaws is tFlory#13994 in the U.S.A short form of Flora or Florence, from Latin flos, floris — 'flower'. Flory also appears indepJya#13994 in the U.S.A modern coinage, read as a respelling of Jia (Chinese, 'beautiful; good; home') or Gia (a shorFlower#13995 in the U.S.The English word flower used straight as a given name, from Latin flos, floris by way of Old FrKaden#13997 in the U.S.A modern name, variously linked to the Arabic Qadin ('a companion') and a rhyming coinage (AideFrankee#13998 in the U.S.A modern respelling of Frankie, the pet form of Frances or Francis (and of Frank), ultimately fFranky#13999 in the U.S.A -y spelling of Frankie, pet form of Frances or Frank, from the Germanic tribal name Frank, laFreyah#14001 in the U.S.A respelling of Freya, from Old Norse Freyja — 'lady, noblewoman'. In Norse myth Freyja is the Geffen#14006 in the U.S.From Hebrew gefen, 'vine, grapevine' — a modern Israeli nature name used for girls (and occasioGhala#14012 in the U.S.Ghala is an Arabic girls' name commonly linked to the root gh-l-w, which carries the sense 'to Glika#14016 in the U.S.A Yiddish girls' name from glik, 'luck, good fortune' (cousin to German Glueck). Used in AshkenDellah#14018 in the U.S.A modern h-spelling that reads as a trim of Delilah or a respelling of Della, itself a short foGraylyn#14018 in the U.S.A modern American coinage joining Gray — the color word and the English surname (a nickname forKallee#14018 in the U.S.A spelling of Callie/Kali, a short form of names like Caroline or of the Greek Kalliste ('most Dami#14019 in the U.S.A short name read two ways: a modern coinage, and a Yoruba short form of names like Damilola ('Graclyn#14020 in the U.S.A modern coinage joining Grace ('grace; favour; blessing') with the ending Lynn ('lake; pool'),Grissel#14021 in the U.S.A short form of Griselda — Germanic gris 'gray' plus hild 'battle'. Grissel (also Grizel, GrissKalyse#14021 in the U.S.A modern coinage, read as a spin on Elise, Kalisa, or Alyse. No single fixed meaning; routes unHada#14027 in the U.S.The Spanish word hada, 'fairy', from Latin fata (the Fates) — the same root that gives French fHaddon#14029 in the U.S.From the English place name and surname Haddon, from Old English haeth ('heath, heather') plus Hadi#14030 in the U.S.From Arabic hadi, 'guide, one who guides rightly'. Al-Hadi is one of the names of God in Islam,Hagan#14031 in the U.S.From the Irish surname O hAodhagain, a diminutive of Aodh ('fire'), often glossed 'little Aodh'Kamrie#14031 in the U.S.A modern -ie spelling of Kamry/Camry, near Camryn/Cameron (from the Gaelic cam sron, 'crooked nHailen#14032 in the U.S.A modern American coinage, sitting between Hailey (English surname, 'hay clearing') and Helen (Hanaan#14035 in the U.S.From Arabic hanan, 'mercy, tenderness, affectionate compassion'. The doubled -aa- spelling markHany#14037 in the U.S.From Arabic hani, 'happy, content, free of trouble' — the root of the greeting hana'an, 'may itHanya#14038 in the U.S.Two live routes. In Arabic-influenced naming Hanya is read from hani/haniya, 'happy, content, bHaram#14039 in the U.S.In Arabic, haram carries two linked senses: 'forbidden, unlawful' in Islamic law (the opposite Dorsa#14040 in the U.S.From the Persian Dorsa, often glossed 'a spool of silk' — a soft, well-loved name in Iran. NoteHarloe#14040 in the U.S.A respelling of Harlow, an English place name and surname from Old English here ('army') plus hKarys#14044 in the U.S.A spelling of Carys — from the Welsh caru, 'to love', hence 'love; grace; beloved'Hawwa#14047 in the U.S.The Arabic and Islamic name of Eve — Hawwa, wife of Adam and mother of humankind, honored in thKassey#14047 in the U.S.A respelling of Casey (from Irish O Cathasaigh, 'vigilant; watchful') and of Cassie (short for Hayah#14048 in the U.S.From Arabic hayah, 'life', and closely tied to Hebrew chayah, 'life, living'. A second Arabic rHeizel#14048 in the U.S.A modern respelling of Hazel, from the Old English for 'the hazel tree; hazelnut' (and the softNalin#14048 in the U.S.maiden; young womanFayza#14049 in the U.S.A form of the Arabic Faiza, 'victorious; successful; winner' (from fawz, 'victory'). Bright andHaydyn#14049 in the U.S.A respelling of Hayden, an English surname and place name from Old English elements usually reaFeiga#14050 in the U.S.A Yiddish girls' name from feygl, 'bird,' most often as a diminutive form of Feygl. It is a traHaylei#14050 in the U.S.A respelling of Hayley, from an English place name and surname: Old English heg ('hay') plus leHaylyn#14051 in the U.S.A modern American coinage joining the Hay- of Hayley (Old English 'hay meadow') to the -lyn endHeartly#14053 in the U.S.A modern coinage built on the English word heart, and shaped like the surname Hartley — from OlKathya#14053 in the U.S.A spelling of Katya, the Russian short form of Yekaterina (Katherine), traditionally read as 'pHeeya#14054 in the U.S.A modern Indian girls' name, usually glossed 'gem, precious one' or 'beloved, of the heart' in Hema#14057 in the U.S.From Sanskrit hema, 'gold, golden'. A long-used Indian girls' name, also an epithet in SanskritAvin#14058 in the U.S.As spelled here Avin reads as a modern coinage echoing Ava/Avery; separately it is a Kurdish naHayaat#14058 in the U.S.From the Arabic Hayat (Hayaat), 'life' - one of the warmest and most beloved words in the languHendryx#14058 in the U.S.A respelling of the surname Hendrix/Hendricks — Dutch, 'son of Hendrik' (Henry), from Germanic Henzley#14060 in the U.S.A modern American coinage, a respelling of the English surname Hensley (a place name, generallyHumna#14060 in the U.S.From the Arabic/Urdu for 'happiness; good fortune; blessing.' A warm name of well-being.Kaytlyn#14061 in the U.S.A spelling of Caitlyn — an Irish form of Katherine, from the Greek katharos, 'pure; clean'Hesed#14064 in the U.S.From Hebrew chesed — one of the great theological words of the Hebrew Bible, usually rendered 'Hessa#14065 in the U.S.From Arabic hissa, 'share, portion, lot' — by extension 'destiny, one's appointed portion'. HesHeva#14066 in the U.S.Most naturally read as a form of Eve — Hebrew Chavah/Hava, generally understood as 'life, livinHeyam#14067 in the U.S.From Arabic hiyam/hayam, a word for passionate love — the kind that makes one wander, lovesick Genae#14068 in the U.S.A modern coinage in the -nae family (Janae, Renae), built for sound; sometimes read as a short Heydy#14068 in the U.S.A Latin American respelling of Heidi, itself a Swiss-German pet form of Adelheid (Adelaide) — f
Boy Names
Sufjan#13934 in the U.S.A spelling of the Arabic name Sufyan, whose root is debated and often glossed as 'swift-moving'Suhayl#13935 in the U.S.From Arabic Suhayl, the traditional name of Canopus — the second-brightest star in the night skSultaan#13936 in the U.S.From Arabic sultan, 'authority; power; ruler' — the title borne by Muslim sovereigns from the mTaevyn#13936 in the U.S.A modern coinage echoing Tevin/Taven, on the popular -vyn pattern; no single fixed source. RoutSyer#13938 in the U.S.Syer reads as a modern coinage on the Sy- pattern, and it is also an English occupational surnaWenston#13938 in the U.S.A respelling of Winston, from an English place and surname — often given as 'joy stone' or 'winSyree#13939 in the U.S.Syree is a modern American coinage, close in shape to Syaire, Amiree and Tyree. No inherited meSyven#13940 in the U.S.Syven is a modern American coinage joining a Sy- opening to the fashionable -ven/-en ending heaTaariq#13941 in the U.S.From Arabic Tariq, 'one who knocks at the door by night' — and so the bright morning star that Volvi#13944 in the U.S.A Yiddish affectionate form (in the family of Velvel, 'wolf') and a modern coinage; no single sTadey#13945 in the U.S.Tadey reads as a modern pet form of Thaddeus, Tadeo or Tadeusz, given as a name in its own righTamer#13945 in the U.S.From the Arabic Tamer, 'one who sells or is rich in dates' (from tamr, 'dried dates'); also a wTaegan#13946 in the U.S.A modern respelling of Teagan, an anglicized Irish surname (O Tadhgain) built on Tadhg, 'poet; Tramir#13946 in the U.S.A modern coinage echoing names like Jamir and Demir, without a single documented source. RoutesTaelon#13947 in the U.S.Taelon is a modern American coinage joining the Tae- opening to an -lon ending, in the same famTannen#13947 in the U.S.From the German surname Tannen, tied to Tanne, 'fir tree' (so 'of the firs; by the fir trees').Taelynn#13948 in the U.S.A modern American coinage joining the Tae- opening to the -lynn ending, which is overwhelminglyTaequan#13949 in the U.S.A modern African American coinage joining the Tae- opening to the -quan ending seen in Daquan, Taher#13951 in the U.S.From Arabic tahir, 'pure; clean; chaste' — a word of ritual and moral purity in Islam. At-TahirTashfin#13951 in the U.S.An Amazigh (Berber) and Arabic name best known through Yusuf ibn Tashfin, the Almoravid ruler wTahmaj#13953 in the U.S.Tahmaj is a modern coinage with no documented root. It may be shaped on the Tah- opening commonTalmadge#13958 in the U.S.An English surname of uncertain origin, used as a given name chiefly in the American South. SugTanmay#13961 in the U.S.From Sanskrit tanmaya, 'absorbed in; engrossed; made of that' — describing complete absorption Tanveer#13962 in the U.S.From Arabic tanwir, 'illumination; enlightenment', taken into Urdu and Punjabi as Tanveer. WideTanvik#13963 in the U.S.A modern Indian name in Sanskrit style, usually glossed 'strong' or 'brave' and sometimes linkeTarrell#13964 in the U.S.A modern American spelling of Terrell or Tyrell, from an English surname of Norman origin (TireTarzan#13965 in the U.S.A name invented by Edgar Rice Burroughs for his 1912 novel Tarzan of the Apes, glossed within tTashi#13966 in the U.S.From the Tibetan word for 'auspicious; good fortune', heard daily in the greeting Tashi delek. Tason#13967 in the U.S.Tason is a modern American coinage that reads as a blend of Jason and Mason, or as Tate plus thTateum#13968 in the U.S.A modern respelling of Tatum, an English surname and place-name meaning 'Tata's homestead' — frTathan#13969 in the U.S.Tathan (also Tatheus) is the name of an early Welsh saint honoured in Monmouthshire, where St AYavin#13971 in the U.S.From the Hebrew Yavin (Jabin, a Canaanite king in Judges), from a root 'to understand; discern.Tawaf#13972 in the U.S.Tawaf is the Arabic word for the rite of circumambulating the Kaaba in Mecca, performed during Ullr#13972 in the U.S.From the Old Norse Ullr, 'glory; the glorious one'; the Norse god of archery, skiing, hunting, Taydem#13973 in the U.S.Taydem is a modern American coinage joining the bright Tay- opening of Taylor and Tayden to a -Taylyn#13974 in the U.S.Taylyn is a modern American coinage joining Taylor (an English occupational surname, 'tailor') Tane#13977 in the U.S.From the Maori Tane, 'man; male'; the Maori god of forests, birds, and living things, who separTeddie#13977 in the U.S.Teddie is a pet form of Edward (Old English Eadweard, 'wealthy guardian') or Theodore (Greek ThTeghveer#13978 in the U.S.Teghveer is a Punjabi Sikh compound name: tegh, 'sword' (a word with deep resonance in Sikh traTejveer#13979 in the U.S.Tejveer is a Punjabi Sikh compound of tej, 'radiance, brilliance, lustre' (a Sanskrit-rooted woTelly#13980 in the U.S.Telly is best known as a Greek-American pet form of Aristotelis (Aristotle) — the actor Telly STeotl#13981 in the U.S.Teotl is the Nahuatl word for divinity — the sacred force or god-energy at the centre of Aztec Teron#13982 in the U.S.Teron is a modern American coinage that sits beside Theron (a Greek name meaning 'hunter') and Teryn#13984 in the U.S.Teryn is a modern respelling that sits beside Taryn — a mid-century American coinage usually giXyrus#13986 in the U.S.A modern coinage that respells the sound of Cyrus — the Persian royal name Kurush, often read aTheeran#13987 in the U.S.Theeran is a Tamil name meaning 'brave one, hero,' from a root sense of courage and valour. It Sanvith#13989 in the U.S.A modern Indian coinage in Sanskrit dress, usually read through the prefix sam- ('together, comTorres#13990 in the U.S.A very common Spanish surname meaning 'towers' (from Latin turris, 'tower'), often marking a faThrasher#13993 in the U.S.Thrasher is an English occupational surname for a thresher of grain, from Old English therscan,Thurman#13994 in the U.S.Thurman is an English surname of Old Norse root, generally traced to the personal name ThormundThyri#13995 in the U.S.Thyri is a form of the Old Norse name Thyra or Tyri, built on the name of the god Thor. HistoriYancy#13995 in the U.S.A given name from the surname Yancey/Yancy, an American name of debated origin often linked to Tiar#13996 in the U.S.Tiar is a short modern coinage. Families may hear echoes of Tiago, Tiara or Amir in it, but it Tierre#13997 in the U.S.Tierre is a modern American coinage that borrows a French look — the -ierre of Pierre — withoutSehvyn#13999 in the U.S.A modern coinage and respelling, in the family of Sevyn and Seven; no single documented source.Tiller#13999 in the U.S.Tiller is an English occupational surname for a farmer — one who tills the ground — from Old EnTiyon#14002 in the U.S.Tiyon is a modern American coinage joining a Ti- opening to the -on ending common in Deion, JavToivy#14004 in the U.S.Toivy has two plausible routes. It may be a pet form of Finnish Toivo, 'hope.' It may equally bToki#14005 in the U.S.Toki romanizes a Japanese word meaning 'time,' also used for the Japanese crested ibis. Its modSeydou#14007 in the U.S.A West African name (widespread in Mali, Senegal, and beyond), from the Arabic Sayid/Said, 'hapTonny#14007 in the U.S.Tonny is a Dutch and Scandinavian spelling of Tony, the pet form of Anthony — from the Roman faTowa#14010 in the U.S.Towa romanizes a Japanese name usually read as 'eternity, forever' — though in Japanese the senShahzaib#14011 in the U.S.From Persian shah ('king') combined with zeb/zaib ('adornment, grace, beauty') — usually read aTracyn#14011 in the U.S.Tracyn is a modern coinage that takes Tracy — a Norman-French place-name surname turned given nTraven#14013 in the U.S.Traven is a modern coinage sitting between Travis and Raven. It is also the pen name of B. TravTraylon#14015 in the U.S.Traylon is a modern American coinage joining the Tray- of Trey and Traylor to the -lon ending oTrebor#14016 in the U.S.Trebor is Robert written backwards — a reversal name, a playful modern habit. Robert itself is Tyriek#14017 in the U.S.A modern coinage and respelling in the family of Tyrique and Tarik, without a single documentedTreighton#14018 in the U.S.Treighton is a modern American coinage: the Trey- sound joined to the -ighton spelling of CreigTrelin#14019 in the U.S.Trelin is a modern American coinage joining the Tre- prefix common in contemporary names to a sShivik#14020 in the U.S.A modern Sanskrit-styled coinage built on the Shiva element (the deity Shiva, 'auspicious; kindTrentyn#14022 in the U.S.Trentyn is a modern respelling of Trenton — an English place name, from the River Trent, later Trequan#14023 in the U.S.Trequan is a modern American coinage joining the Tre- prefix to the -quan ending seen in DaquanTrexton#14025 in the U.S.Trexton is a modern American coinage: a Trex- opening — with the x-crunch families favour — setTreylen#14026 in the U.S.Treylen is a modern American coinage joining Trey — an old word for 'three' — to a soft -len enTreyshaun#14027 in the U.S.Treyshaun is a modern American coinage joining Trey — an old word for 'three' — to Shaun, the aTrustin#14029 in the U.S.Trustin is a modern American coinage that leans on the English word 'trust' while borrowing theVaelin#14029 in the U.S.A modern fantasy-styled name, known from the character Vaelin Al Sorna in Anthony Ryan's novelsTryston#14031 in the U.S.Tryston is a modern respelling of Tristan, the tragic knight of Arthurian romance. The name is Tsering#14032 in the U.S.Tsering is a Tibetan name meaning 'long life,' widely given in Tibetan Buddhist families as a bTui#14033 in the U.S.Tui is the Maori name of a New Zealand songbird famous for its white throat-tuft and its extraoTuli#14034 in the U.S.Tuli has more than one live route. In Finnish, tuli means 'fire.' In Hebrew and Yiddish usage iTyeir#14035 in the U.S.Tyeir is a modern American coinage on the productive Ty- prefix, with an unusual -eir spelling.Tyeson#14036 in the U.S.Tyeson is a modern respelling of Tyson, an English surname of Old French root — tison, 'firebraTyjay#14037 in the U.S.Tyjay is a modern American coinage that reads as the initials 'T. J.' spelled phonetically, or Tyking#14038 in the U.S.Tyking is a modern American coinage joining the Ty- prefix to the English word 'king.' It belonTylar#14039 in the U.S.Tylar is a variant spelling of Tyler, an English occupational surname for a maker or layer of tTylee#14040 in the U.S.Tylee is a modern American coinage joining the Ty- prefix to the -lee ending, which leans towarTylo#14041 in the U.S.Tylo is a modern American coinage joining the Ty- prefix to an open -o ending, in the manner ofTylyn#14042 in the U.S.Tylyn is a modern American coinage joining the Ty- prefix to the -lyn ending, which leans stronTymon#14045 in the U.S.Tymon is the Polish form of Timon, from Greek Timon, built on time, 'honour, esteem.' Timon appTyndale#14046 in the U.S.Tyndale is an English surname from Tynedale, the valley of the River Tyne in Northumberland. ItZyelle#14046 in the U.S.A modern American coinage joining a Zy- opening with an -elle ending; no single fixed root. RouTyquez#14047 in the U.S.A modern American coinage built from the popular Ty- prefix (as in Tyrone, Tyler) and a -quez eReynier#14048 in the U.S.A Dutch and French form of Rayner, from the Germanic ragin, 'counsel; wisdom,' and hari, 'army'Tyrece#14048 in the U.S.A spelling variant of Tyrese, a modern American coinage joining the Ty- prefix to a -rese/-reecTyreece#14049 in the U.S.A phonetic respelling of Tyrese, blending the Ty- prefix with the bright -reece ending also seeTyro#14051 in the U.S.An English word name. A tyro is a beginner or novice, from Latin tiro, 'young soldier; new recrTyten#14052 in the U.S.A modern American coinage that respells Titan — the elder race of giant gods in Greek mythologyStaten#14053 in the U.S.Staten is used as a modern American given name drawn from Staten Island in New York, itself namUbayd#14053 in the U.S.From Arabic Ubayd, a diminutive of Abd, 'servant' — understood in Muslim tradition as 'little sUgo#14054 in the U.S.The Italian form of Hugh, from the Germanic element hug, 'mind; heart; spirit'. A long-establisUilliam#14055 in the U.S.The Irish form of William, from the Germanic elements wil, 'will; desire', and helm, 'helmet; pUlric#14056 in the U.S.From the Germanic name Ulrich, formed from wulf, 'wolf' (or uodal, 'heritage'), plus ric, 'ruleUlrik#14057 in the U.S.The Scandinavian form of Ulrich, from Germanic wulf, 'wolf' (or uodal, 'heritage'), plus ric, 'Umer#14058 in the U.S.A common South Asian spelling of the Arabic name Umar, linked to the root for life and long-livUnai#14059 in the U.S.A Basque name meaning 'cowherd; herdsman', from Basque unai. It became popular in the Basque CoValens#14061 in the U.S.A Latin name and Roman cognomen meaning 'strong; healthy; vigorous', from valere, 'to be strongVardhan#14063 in the U.S.From Sanskrit vardhana, 'growing; increasing; prospering', from the root vridh, 'to grow'. It aWasif#14064 in the U.S.From the Arabic Wasif, 'one who describes; who praises; attendant'. A warm, expressive name, noVayden#14065 in the U.S.A modern American coinage formed by swapping the initial sound of the popular -aden family (AidVedaansh#14066 in the U.S.A modern Sanskrit-based compound: veda, 'knowledge' and the name of the Vedas, the oldest sacre