One Syllable Names for Boys

A unisex Hebrew name sometimes given in Israel to kids born under the goat sign of Capricorn; it's also spelled Yael/Ya'el.

As likely to be tied to the detergent as to the rhythms of the ocean.

The Icelandic form of the internationally popular Magnus, currently ranked in the Top 50 over there.

Apt choice for an architect's child, honoring German-born Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, a central figure in modern design, and universally referred to as Mies.

The more popular Greer spelling might lean feminine, however, Grier sees more even distribution between the sexes. It is given to a small handful of babies each year, and for every one Grier, there are three Greers.

The y makes it seem more like a name and less like an animal, but it's still not as appealing as several Leo choices.

In the US, the multicultural surname Roe is primarily associated with the landmark Supreme Court case Roe vs. Wade, which granted the federal right to abortion, though elsewhere it might be associated with fish eggs or a small breed of reddish deer.

A cross-cultural name that can be a nickname for David, as is common in Wales, pronounced "dye".

Lem is a corn-cob pipe-smoking, back porch-rocking nickname name. But we predict as Sam and Gus become ho-hum, more parents will look to Lem.

A possibility for parents seeking a Hebrew name with an English-language sound.

Originally a short form of Odell, a place name turned surname that hails from England.

Laird is a Scottish title for the landed gentry – it ranks just below a Baron – with a pleasantly distinctive Scottish burr that must have appealed to Sharon Stone, who chose it for her son.

Slate, Stone and Steel are on the rise, so why not Shale?

Upper-class surname in England that might be prime for adoption here.

Fragrant herb often used for cooking, but scarcely as a name.

A perennial classic in the Netherlands, short-and-sweet Dirk is starting to feel like a fresher alternative to cousin Derek.

The Old Norse and modern Norwegian word name Fjord, which refers to a passage in the sea, could work for children of both genders. It conjures vivid blue, ice laden landscapes.

Yes, the poet Joyce Kilmer ("Trees") was a man, the very last male named Joyce. And even for women, it's been in limbo for several generations.

Rose and Briar are popular, and Hawthorn is cool – so why not the equally prickly Thorn? Add an E to give it a surnamey spin.