230+ One Syllable Boy Names

  1. Quay
    • Origin:

      French word name
    • Meaning:

      "wharf"
    • Description:

      A name that looks intriguing and masculine on paper, but is, unfortunately, a homonym for a girl's name.
  2. Tim
    • Origin:

      Greek, diminutive of Timothy
    • Description:

      Tim is a boyish short form very rarely given on its own.
  3. Josh
    • Sem
      • Origin:

        Dutch form of Shem, Hebrew
      • Meaning:

        "name"
      • Description:

        Popular name in the Netherlands that's arguably more attractive than the original Shem, who was one of the biblical sons of Noah. A Sam alternative, though you'll forever be explaining it.
    • Kris
      • Origin:

        Short form of Kristof or Kristofer
      • Meaning:

        "Christian"
      • Description:

        Many European cultures spell Christopher with a K and thus the short form Kris. There were about 35 baby boys named Kris, just Kris, in the US last year, and only a handful of baby girls -- this after the name ranking in the Top 1000 for both genders from the late 1940s through the 1970s. However you spell it, it's an appealing name that's in a slump right now because of overexposure. It's also one of the original gender neutral names, paving the way for a new way of thinking about names and gender.
    • Walt
      • Origin:

        German, diminutive of Walter
      • Description:

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

        English
      • Meaning:

        "basket weaver"
      • Description:

        Might suggest speed, excitement, even danger, were it not for its best-known bearer, conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh.
    • Laird
      • Origin:

        Scottish
      • Meaning:

        "lord of the land"
      • Description:

        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.
    • Tide
      • Origin:

        Nature name
      • Description:

        As likely to be tied to the detergent as to the rhythms of the ocean.
    • Spruce
      • Origin:

        Tree name
      • Description:

        A handsome, spruced-up post-Bruce tree name.
    • Griff
      • Al
        • Cale
          • Origin:

            Diminutive of Caleb or surname
          • Description:

            This up-and-coming single-syllable name has a few famous bearers, including baseballer Cale Iorg and Canadian hip-hop musician Cale Sampson. Sounding like Kale, this name also has a crunchy, hipster vibe.
        • Wright
          • Tay
            • Origin:

              Scottish place-name
            • Description:

              This name of the largest river in Scotland, renowned for its salmon fishing, is usually thought of as a nickname for Taylor.
          • Jim
            • Origin:

              English, diminutive of James
            • Meaning:

              "supplanter"
            • Description:

              Peaked in the 1940s, but still an amiable classic, a la Joe and Tom -- though rarely used on its own.
          • Dan
            • Origin:

              Hebrew
            • Meaning:

              "God is my judge"
            • Description:

              Often stands alone in Israel, but rarely here.
          • Knight
            • Origin:

              English word name
            • Meaning:

              " a mounted man-at-arms serving a feudal superior"
            • Description:

              Knight (as opposed to Night) is a name clad in shiny armor. This high-ranking word name was introduced by singers Kelis and Nas. Knight might join brothers King, Royal, and Noble in a new definition of royal baby names.
          • Pom
            • Origin:

              French diminutive
            • Meaning:

              "apple"
            • Description:

              Pom is a shortened word name that's not much used in France, but cute and familiar here as one of Babar (the Elephant's) triplets. Pom, pommy and pommie are (non-derogatory) terms sometimes used by Australians, New Zealanders and South Africans to denote a person of English heritage.
          • Fife
            • Origin:

              Scottish
            • Meaning:

              "place name"
            • Description:

              Great middle name choice for music lovers or those with Scottish roots, also spelled Fyfe.