Nickname help!
We want to name our baby Penelope but we can’t decide on a nickname? Help!
Why use lots of syllables when you can use just one, right? One syllable boy names are simple, strong, and direct. But that doesn’t mean they’re not meaningful. Instead, among these “simple boy names”, you’ll find some of the most compelling names there are.
So, if you’re on the hunt for single syllable boy names, or you’re just after a bit of inspiration, we’ve got you covered. Here, we’re sharing over 200 one-syllable names.
In this article: 📝
- One syllable boy names from A to B
- Single syllable boy names from C to D
- Monosyllabic names from E to G
- One syllable names – from H to K
- Simple boy names from L to P
- Single syllable names from Q to S
- Short names for boys from T to Z
One syllable boy names from A to B
- Abe – Short for Abraham
- Al
- Art – Sometimes short for Arthur, Art is a name that comes from the Celtic word for “bear.”
- Ash
- Bear
- Beau – French for “handsome.”
- Beck – It comes from the Germanic word meaning “brook” or “stream.”
- Ben
- Bill
- Bjorn – A popular Norwegian name, it means “bear”. If you’re wondering “what are strong male names?”, maybe this one’s your answer.
- Blaine
- Blaise – A French name from Saint Blaise, it’s a pretty unique one syllable boy name.
- Blake – A truly unisex name, it’s a great name for a boy or girl.
- Bo – A short name originally from Norway.
- Bob
- Brad
- Brent
- Brett
- Brook
- Bruce – A family of noble Scots – and also a popular name in Australia.
- Bryce – From the Scottish, it means “freckled.”
- Buck
- Butch – What is the coolest name for a boy? Why not Butch, after the famous train robber and bandit, Butch Cassidy?
- Buzz
Single syllable boy names from C to D
- Cade
- Cain
- Carl – Carl means “free man.”
- Chad
- Chance
- Charles
- Chase – A French word meaning “to hunt.”
- Chet
- Chip – Short for Charles, Richard, or Christopher, Chip also makes a great name by itself.
- Chris
- Chuck
- Clark
- Claude – A classy French single-syllable name.
- Cliff
- Clint
- Clive
- Cole
- Colm – From the Irish word for “dove.”
- Craig
- Cruz – Meaning “cross”, Cruz is the name of Posh Spice and David Beckham’s son.
- Dag – From old Norwegian, Dag means “day.”
- Dale – The old English word for “valley.”
- Dean
- Dick
- Dirk – A German name meaning “famous ruler.”
- Dom
- Drake
- Drew
- Dwayne – Originally Irish, it means “swarthy” or “dark.”
Monosyllabic names from E to G
- Earl – Meaning “nobleman” it’s another of the strong one single syllable boy names.
- Ed
- Finn – Probably from the Irish meaning “white” or “fair” it’s an increasingly popular name.
- Flint
- Floyd
- Flynn – An Irish monosyllabic name that can be used for boys and girls.
- Ford
- Frank
- Franz
- Fred
- Fritz
- Frost
- Gage – An old English surname that is becoming popular as a first name.
- Garth – In old Scandinavian languages it meant “keeper of the garden.”
- Gene – Short for Eugene, it means “well-born.”
- Geoff
- George
- Gleb – What is the rarest boy’s name? In the west, it could be Gleb – a popular name in Russia.
- Glen / Glenn – The Scottish name for a valley.
- Grant
- Greg
- Gus
- Guy
One syllable names – from H to K
- Hank – Meaning “ruler of the home.”
- Hans
- Hart
- Hawk
- Hayes – Once a surname, it’s now a popular first name too.
- Heath
- Hugh
- Jace
- Jack
- Jake
- James
- Jarl
- Jay – The name of a bird in English.
- Jean
- Jeb – Probably originally a nickname for James, Jacob, or Joseph.
- Jeff
- Jem – Short for Jeremy, James, or Jeremiah – but also a popular unisex name.
- Jens
- Jez
- Jim
- Joe
- Joel – An ancient Hebrew name.
- John
- Juan
- Jude – A name that’s due for a comeback. It means “praised.”
- Jules – A unisex name we love.
- Kai – The Hawaiian name for the sea.
- Kane – Of Irish origin, it means “little battler.”
- Karl
- Keir
- Keith
- Kent
- Kit – Kit is a popular unisex option that can be short version of all sorts of names.
- Kim – Yes, this can actually be a boy’s name – think short for Kimball.
- Kirk
- Klaus
- Kris
- Kurt
- Kyle
Simple boy names from L to P
- Lance – Perhaps from the old German word meaning “land.”
- Lars
- Lee – It means “clearing” or “meadow.”
- Leif
- Len
- Lev – The Russian equivalent of Leo, meaning “lion.”
- Lex – A famous movie villain, short for Alex.
- Lloyd
- Lou – A unisex name probably meaning “renowned warrior.”
- Luke
- Mack
- Mark
- Max
- Mick
- Mike
- Miles – For jazz lovers out there, Miles is a great one-syllable name.
- Mitt
- Mo – Sometimes short for Mohammad, or just a standalone name.
- Moss
- Nate
- Ned – Short for Edwin, Edward, Edgar, Edmund.
- Neil – A popular Scottish name meaning “champion.”
- Nick
- Nils
- Noel – Noel actually means Christmas. Perfect for your December baby!
- Pat
- Paul – Meaning “small” or “humble.”
- Pax – A modern boy name that means “peace.”
- Pete
- Piers / Pierce
- Pip – Short for Philip.
- Phil
Single syllable names from Q to S
- Quince – The name of a fruit, William Shakespeare turned it into a unique one syllable boy name!
- Quinn
- Rab
- Ralph – A version of the name Rudolph, Ralph means “famous wolf.”
- Ray
- Reid – Originally a Scottish surname, Reid makes a wonderful monosyllabic first name too.
- Rex
- Rhys
- Rick
- Rob
- Rolf
- Ron
- Ross
- Russ
- Roy – The name Roy comes from the French roi, meaning king.
- Sam
- Saul
- Scott
- Sean
- Seb
- Seth – One of the sons of Adam and Eve.
- Shane
- Shawn
- Sid
- Sky – A modern unisex name.
- Smith
- Spike – A very cool name, but may require a certain type of personality.
- Stan
- Sten – A very popular name in Scandinavia.
- Steve
Short names for boys from T to Z
- Taj – In Persian, the name Taj means “crown”
- Tate – It’s a simple boy name with a big meaning “cheerful.”
- Ted
- Tim
- Todd – It’s an old English name meaning “fox.”
- Tom
- Trace
- Trent
- Tris – Short for Tristan, it’s originally Welsh.
- Troy
- Van – A common Dutch name meaning “of” Van is also short for Ivan or Evan.
- Vance – “Someone who lives near marshland” isn’t super inspiring, but we like it.
- Vaughn
- Vince
- Vlad – Short for the Russian name Vladimir, it means “glorious ruler.”
- Walt
- Wayne
- Wes
- Will
- Wolf – A name with ancient Nordic roots, we love its wild vibe.
- Xan – Probably short for Alexander, it has a lovely sound all by itself.
- Yves / Ives – The name of a saint, from the old name for a yew tree.
- Zac
- Zayne – Like Shane, Hans, and Jens, Zayne means “god is gracious.”
There you have it, mama! Your long list of short single-syllable boy names!
After longer names? Check out our list of two-syllable baby boy names.