One Syllable Names for Girls
- Sue
Origin:
Diminutive of SusanDescription:
Much-used midcentury diminutive, now fallen far from favor even as a middle name.
- Ani
Origin:
Hawaiian; IgboMeaning:
"beautiful"Description:
Folk singer DiFranco popularized this simple, appealing form. In Igbo mythology, Ani is one of the names of the goddess of the earth, fertility, creativity, and morality.
- Íris
- Brianne
- Shane
Origin:
Irish variation of Sean or ShannonDescription:
As a boy's name, Shane is related more directly to the 50s movie cowboy and the Irish name Sean; for a girl, it might be a variation on Shannon, Shana, or Shawn. Parenthood star Erika Christensen named her daughter Shane. Another spin, used by Eddie Murphy, is Shayne.
- Ema
Origin:
Spanish, Portuguese, Slovene, Croatian, Bosnian, Czech, Slovak, and Lithuanian variation of Emma, GermanMeaning:
"universal"Description:
Common form of Emma found in the Baltic and Slavic states.
- Madge
Origin:
Diminutive of Margery or MargaretMeaning:
"pearl"Description:
A super diminutive nickname name, and sometime Madonna nickname – it was how the British tabloids referred to her when she moved to London in the 1990s, which she found annoying until then husband Guy Ritchie said it stood for 'Your Majesty'. Madge Undersee is Katniss's best friend in The Hunger Games books.
- Liane
- Saige
Origin:
Spelling variation of SageDescription:
What works for Paige just doesn’t work for Sage. The added i will likely create a lifetime of spelling mistakes.
- Cyn
- Rhya
Origin:
Variation of Rhea, GreekMeaning:
"a flowing stream"Description:
Rhya is the Fertility Goddess of several ancient religions, associated with mothers and pregnant women. In some legends she is the mother of Manann and Verena and wife of Taal. Pronounced rye-ah, similar names from other cultures include Rya, Riya, and Raya.
- Dash
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
For a boy, Dash is usually short for Dashiell, but as a girl's name it just stands for energetic--and also the stores run by the Kardashian sisters..
- True
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"true"Description:
An inspirational and aspirational word name that evokes ideas of loyalty, faith, honesty, and accuracy, True is a unisex name, which is just slightly more popular for boys. Like an updated form of Trudy and Prue and with the virtuous feel of Grace, Faith, and Hope, True was given to around 200 girls in 2023.
- Moa
Origin:
SwedishMeaning:
"mother"Description:
Moa is among the Top 100 Swedish baby names but virtually unknown in the US. Might Moa be a substitute for Mia or Maya? An intriguing idea. There is a Swedish author named Moa Martinson.
- Ylva
Origin:
Feminine variation of Ulf, ScandinavianMeaning:
"wolf"Description:
Ylva may look like it belongs with the Eva family of names, but it actually derives from Ulf, a name meaning "wolf." It's not a very intuitive name to English-speakers, and likely won't get picked up in the US anytime soon. At last count, it was only given to five American baby girls.
- Rayen
Origin:
Mapuche (Chilean)Meaning:
"flower"Description:
Rayen is well-known in Chile, and sometimes seen in the Netherlands, as a Mapuche girls name meaning flower. This name could be an alternative to people who like Ryan but want to keep it as a boys name or as a spunkier alternative to other names that mean flower, such as Fleur and Flora.
- Shawn
Origin:
Spelling variation of SeanMeaning:
"God is gracious"Description:
Shawn is one name that's become less unisex and more distinctly male over time in all its spellings, given to only 14 baby girls and over 500 boys in the US in the most recent year counted. But at its peak in the early 1970s, it was a Top 200 baby name for girls in the US, given to nearly 2000 baby girls... and 12,000 boys in this spelling alone.
- Ro
Origin:
Short form of Rose, Rosemary, Rowena, Rory et alDescription:
Ro is a casual short form that doesn't usually appear on the birth certificate on its own. But it makes a friendly nickname for any girls' name starting with Ro-.
- Leith
Origin:
Scottish, river nameDescription:
Traditionally a male name, Leith now can make a highly unusual, strong but soft, and intriguing girls' possibility.
- Lael
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"belonging to God"Description:
This Old Testament name is traditionally masculine, but with its lyrical Ls, sounds just as nice on a baby girl.