One-Syllable Baby Names

  1. Zade
    • Origin:

      Modern invented name or variation of Zayd, Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "increase, growth"
    • Description:

      You might think of this as the zesty brother of Cade and Slade. Or Zade might appeal to you as an anglicized spelling of the Arabic Zayd or Zaid, the name of an enslaved man that Muhammad adopted as his son.
  2. Ty
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of various Ty-beginning names
    • Description:

      As Tyler has begun to recede, a number of parents, including the Wayne Gretzkys, have cut straight to the livelier short form.
  3. Bliss
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Description:

      A sweet, uplifting and still fairly uncommon modern virtue name. Its single syllable makes it especially good as a middle name, but it would also make a big impact in the first spot.
  4. Zack
    • Origin:

      Short form of Zachary or Zachariah
    • Description:

      As the common short form of Zachary or, more unusually, Zachariah, Zack is less intuitive than Zach or Zac in terms of spelling but clearer in terms of pronunciations. Maybe because it rhymes with Jack and Mack, it also feels more complete as a name. Some people also use Zack and brothers as a short form of Isaac.
  5. Win
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Winslow, Winthrop, or Winston
    • Description:

      Win is an upbeat, can-do name that can be a short form of one of the buttoned-up British choices above or can stand on its own. Welsh Wyn is another possibility.

      Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and singer Ciara named their son Win Harrison. Harrison is Wilson's father's first name.
  6. Psalm
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "a sacred song or hymn"
    • Description:

      Kanye West and Kim Kardashian added this new word name to the lexicon when they chose it for their second son and fourth child in 2019. It is now 7 times more popular than it was then, given to 120 boys and 40 girls in a recent year.
  7. Lyle
    • Origin:

      Scottish and English from French
    • Meaning:

      "someone who lives on an island"
    • Description:

      Though it's used far more often for boys, Lyle has a lot in common with today's trending girl names that share the double L sound: Lila, Layla, and Lola.
  8. Vern
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Vernon, English
    • Meaning:

      "place of alders"
    • Description:

      Until recently, Vernon and its short form Vern seemed like grandpa names not ready for revival, but now we can see it happening. Never the popular, Vern works particularly well as a middle name.
  9. Pike
    • Origin:

      American animal name
    • Meaning:

      "pike, a fish"
    • Description:

      The field of nature names is constantly expanding to include all species of flowers and trees and animals and birds and even fish. In addition to its appeal for anglers, Pike recalls Zebulon Pike, the explorer who discovered and gave his name to Pike's Peak.
  10. Blaise
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "one who stutters"
    • Description:

      Despite its modern sound, Blaise has plenty of history as a given name (for boys), from a Christian martyr to Arthurian legends. Today Blaise feels like the cool and edgy Blaze with a French accent.
  11. Britt
    • Origin:

      Swedish, contracted form of Birgit
    • Meaning:

      "high goddess"
    • Description:

      Brisk but rather brittle. Britt Eklund was a Bond Girl in the 1974 The Man with the Golden Gun. Britt is a contracted form of Birgit, but be aware that it does come with the strong possibility of being confused with Bret/Brett—or as a shortening of Brittany.
  12. Truth
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "the state of being the case"
    • Description:

      True has become an accepted first and middle name; Truth makes an even stronger statement. And with nearly 150 baby boys named Truth in the US in the most recent year counted, as many as were named Ross, the word name is edging up on the Top 1000.
  13. Dale
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "valley"
    • Description:

      An early unisex nature name that has been surpassed by others, Dale is still a simple, sylvan and serene option.
  14. Nile
    • Origin:

      River name and color name
    • Meaning:

      "dark blue, indigo"
    • Description:

      Cool, serene name of the Egyptian river can make a fresh choice for a girl. The origin of river name Nile relates to the Arabic and ancient Hebrew word for dark blue or indigo; in ancient Egyptian, its literal meaning is river.
  15. Walt
    • Origin:

      German, diminutive of Walter
    • Description:

      A straightforward, down-to-earth nickname many Walters, from Whitman to Disney, have chosen to go by.
  16. Bess
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Elizabeth
    • Meaning:

      "pledged to God"
    • Description:

      Although she declared her independence as far back as the reign of Elizabeth I--Good Queen Bess, Bess now sounds less passé than Beth or Betsy.
  17. Gray
    • Origin:

      Color name
    • Description:

      This color name, spelled either Gray or Grey is rapidly catching on. Actress Jenny von Oy recently called her daughter Gray Audrey.
  18. True
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "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.
  19. Cort
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "brave"
    • Description:

      Short and curt.
  20. Leith
    • Origin:

      Scottish, river name
    • Description:

      Traditionally a male name, Leith now can make a highly unusual, strong but soft, and intriguing girls' possibility.