Famous Twin Names That Will Make Your Kids Stand Out
Are you having twins soon, or do you have a pair of cute pet animals you want to have twin-style names? Well, there are many famous twin names that you could use to help them stand apart! Let’s take a look at some of the most famous twin names in the world and include a little context about why each of the names included on this list is famous and worth your time.
Celebrity Twin Names
Over the years, there have been many celebrity twins that might provide you with a great set of names for your little ones. These include modern stars who remain very popular and some that you might not even know. Note that some of these names are a little more modern than some may enjoy, so we included some mythological and twin names that might interest you.
Ashley and Mary-Kate
Anybody who lived through the late 1980s and 1990s likely remembers Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen. These two twins turned their lives into a massive media empire and have mostly focused on modeling after retiring from acting in the late 2000s.
Barbara and Jenna
Anyone who remembers the George W. Bush presidency likely remembers Barbara and Jenna. These fraternal twins not only spent time in the White House when their grandpa was president but lived there as 19-year-olds when their dad was the president from 2000-2004.
Brie and Nikki
These twin names were popularized by the professional wrestling duo Brie and Nikki Bella. They wrestled from 2007 to 2018 and starred in a reality television show from 2016 to 2021 and have since focused on their families after retiring from that show.
Cole and Dylan
Dylan and Cole are very popular names that became especially famous after the television show “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody” pushed Cole and Dylan Sprouse into the big time. Both have gone on to appear in other shows after this star-making series ended in 2008.
Elvis and Jesse
As one of the most famous singers of all time, Elvis Prestley is a legend that still sells millions of albums every year. Fewer people know about his twin, Jesse Garon, who was stillborn. Elvis often talked about his twin as if he was still alive, highlighting the unique connectedness of twins.
Giovanni and Marissa
This female and male twin name combination is perfect for anyone who loves more old-fashioned names. It comes from Giovanni and Marissa Ribisi, an actor and actress who have appeared in general films together and apart.
James and Oliver
Harry Potter fans will immediately recognize these names from the Phelps twins, who played the Weasley twins in the Harry Potter films. Since then, they have mostly retired from acting and focus on a podcast in which they talk to former child actors.
Keith and Kenny
The phonetic similarities in these two names make them a very popular twin combination. However, they also refer to the Lucas Brothers, an Oscar-winning writing team who also worked together as actors in shows like “Arrested Development.”
Lucas and Marcus
Besides these two names sounding good together phonetically, they’re also connected to the Dobre twins. These two social media stars have garnered millions of views and continue to gather new viewers with their frequent video uploads.
Ronde and Tiki
These two unique names come from Ronde and Tiki Barber, who played in the NFL as a cornerback and running back, respectively. Since retiring, they have written children’s books together and serve as an inspirational story for twins interested in professional sports.
Related post: Check out 50+ Unique Names for Twin Boys
Biblical Twin Names
Some of the most popular names in the world come from the Bible due to its widespread impact on Western culture. There are many twins in the Bible that you can draw on for your twin names if you like. Understanding these names and their unique contexts can help you decide if they’re right for your needs or if you want to try a different approach for your twins instead.
Abel and Cain
Even if these two brothers weren’t technically twins (it’s hard to say from the Bible), they could make a unique set of twin names. While their story ends badly as brothers, this name set might work well for a set of pets that don’t seem to get along together.
Castor and Pollux
Though technically they’re part of Greek mythology, they are also mentioned in the Bible in Acts. It’s said that Paul sailed on an Alexandrian ship that featured these two important figures. They were the patron gods of sailors and were common on boats at the time.
Ephraim and Manasseh
These twins are another set that originates in Genesis. These two twins create a multitude of tribes throughout Israel. Though not directly stated to be twins in this book, it’s clear from the context of their stories that they were meant to be twins.
Esau and Jacob
The twin sons of Issac and Rebecca are mentioned in the book of Genesis, the first in the Bible. Jacob is the father of the 12 tribes of Israel, while Esau is the father of the Edomites. The stories of these two groups are told throughout Genesis, Obadiah, and Malachi.
Perez and Zerah
These two unique twin names come from a unique story in Genesis that later evolves into another story in Ruth. Tamar, who is Judah’s daughter-in-law, disguises herself as a prostitute and sleeps with Judah, creating Perez and Zerah. Perez produces the family of David.
Related post: Having a pair of girls? Find more awesome name ideas for twin girls in our dedicated post for them!
Mythological Twin Names
Throughout history, there are many mythological stories that feature twins, which showcases the unique interest these siblings have held throughout history. Thankfully, there should be multiple options available to you from just about every mythological tradition. We’ll highlight a few from each to ensure that you find an option that makes the most sense for your needs.
Apollo and Artemis
In Greek mythology, these names refer to the twin children of Zeus and Leto, who both serve as gods and goddesses throughout history. This unique combination of names gives your little ones a strong and stately set of names that should help them stand out.
Arsu and Azizos
These names come from the Syrian mythological tradition, one that often doesn’t get the attention that it deserves. They refer to the gods of the evening star and morning star, with names that are similar and different enough to make your twins easily identifiable.
Chennayya and Koti
If you’re interested in Hindu mythology, try these names out for your little ones! They’re a pair of twin heroes who have been featured in multiple stories throughout this unique mythological tradition. They’re some of the most popular characters within the Hindu religion.
Epimetheus and Prometheus
These important Titans worked as representatives of mankind and were depicted in various ways. Epimetheus was shown to be foolish, while Prometheus was intelligent. The latter suffers greatly when he decides to grant humanity fire against the wishes of the gods.
Freyr and Freyja
This God and goddess twin combination is the children of Njörðr and is very important throughout Norse mythology. Their uniquely similar names make them a great option if you are having a boy and girl twin set or have male and female pets.
Gluskap and Malsumis
In Nigerian mythology, Gluskap is a cultural hero for the Wabanaki people, while his brother, Malsumis, is his evil counterpart. It’s one of the earliest-known good-evil twin dichotomies, which makes it particularly fascinating for anthropologists to study.
Hercules and Iphicles
Hercules and Iphicles are brothers from different mothers, with a shared father in always promiscuous Zeus. The former was known as the strongest person in the world, while his brother was one of the Calydonian boar hunters in Greek mythology.
Hypnos and Thanatos
These two Greek gods are twins that serve as the gods of sleep and death, respectively. They were humorously portrayed in the popular video game “Hades,” as Hypnos struggles to stay awake while Thanatos is a cynical and popular character.
Isis and Osiris
Derived from Egyptian mythology, these two names refer to twins and married partners. Osiris is the Lord of the Underworld who marries his twin sister, Isis. In spite of this rather non-traditional romance, these two beautiful names work well for twins.
Lava and Kusha
The children of Rama and Sita in the Hindu epic Ramayana. They are very important in various sections of this epic and become rulers with their father after finding the cities Lavapuri and Kasur. The similarity between the name Lava and the geological lava is coincidental, it seems.
Nakula and Sahadeva
Features in the Hindu epic Mahabharata, Nakula and Sahadeva are twins given to Madri and are the fourth and fifth of the Pandava brothers. They are both important warriors throughout this epic and may refer to real historical people within India at the time.
Yama and Yami
These two very similar names refer to the Norse god and goddess of death, respectively. Norse mythology often features sibling pairings like these, which makes it an interesting and fascinating one to study if you’re interested in diversity.
Related post: Discover 50+ more unique ideas for twins boy and girl!
Wrap Up – Famous Twin Names
From celebrity twins of the past and present to mythical twins, we hope you found plenty great options for name ideas!
What set of famous twin names did you like in this list? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
Resource: We use Behind the Name to research name meanings, history, and popularity.