230+ One Syllable Boy Names

  1. Oak
    • Origin:

      English tree name
    • Meaning:

      "tree from the genus Quercus"
    • Description:

      Oak, a symbol of solidity, strength, and longevity, is joining Cedar and Pine as a viable name, one that would work especially well in the middle.
  2. Lex
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Alexander
    • Meaning:

      "defending men"
    • Description:

      Cool short form of Alexander, fresher than Alex and less trendy than Xander... for now.
  3. Gene
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Eugene, Greek
    • Meaning:

      "wellborn, noble"
    • Description:

      Like Ray, a formerly funky nickname name that is newly cool. Comedian Amy Schumer used it for her son.
  4. Shea
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "the stately, dauntless one"
    • Description:

      A common surname in Ireland that projects a complex image for a short-one-syllable name, combining spirit and substance.
  5. Kent
    • Origin:

      English surname and place-name
    • Meaning:

      "edge"
    • Description:

      Kent is a no-nonsense, brief, brisk one-syllable name, almost as curt as Kurt.
  6. Art
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Arthur
    • Meaning:

      "noble one; bear man"
    • Description:

      Though short and brisk, no nickname name could have a more creative image. Comic actor Chris O'Dowd named his son Art, as in his native Ireland it's used as a name on its own, separate from Arthur., coming from an ancient word for ""a bear,"" and used in the sense of ""outstanding warrior"" or ""champion."" A pagan High King of Ireland, Art’s rule was so honest that two angels hovered over him in battle.
  7. Todd
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "fox"
    • Description:

      A 1970s beach boy surfing buddy of Scott, Brad, and Chad, Todd is given to relatively few babies these days.
  8. Jones
    • Origin:

      English surname derived from John
    • Meaning:

      "God is gracious"
    • Description:

      Quintessentially common last name makes distinctive if problematic first, given to nearly 100 babies in the US in the most recent year counted.
  9. Drake
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "dragon; or, male duck"
    • Description:

      A simple one-syllable name that has been on the popularity list since the mid-1980s, Drake is most associated today with the single-named rapper (born Aubrey). The name peaked at Number 197 in 2010 and has since been on a slow decline, but it still can be counted among the stylish contemporary boy names starting with D.
  10. Will
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of William
    • Meaning:

      "resolute protector"
    • Description:

      Will has definitely replaced Bill, not only as a nickname for William but as a stand-alone name as well, partly thanks to England's Prince William, also known as Wills.
  11. Oz
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "strength, powerful, courageous"
    • Description:

      This may be a legitimate Hebrew name denoting power, but to any American kid, it will evoke ruby slippers and a yellow brick road. The full Hebrew name is Ozni, who was a grandson of Jacob in the Bible.
  12. Saint
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "saint"
    • Description:

      Saint as a descriptive word name was first chosen by rocker Pete Wentz for his younger son (baby brother is Bronx), and now Kim Kardashian and Kanye West have catapulted the name into the celebrity stratosphere by choosing it for their baby boy. The couple called their baby "Saint" throughout the pregnancy because his conception had been so difficult. Saint was named in our predictions for the top baby name trends of 2015, on descriptive word names which also include Royal and Noble, King and Rogue. Saint is moving beyond the group of names that are only celebrity baby names and into the general lexicon.
  13. Slate
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Description:

      One of the more unusual of the current crop of strong, single-syllable boys' names, evoking the images of both old-fashioned blackboards and modern stepping-stones and countertops.
  14. Fritz
    • Origin:

      German, diminutive of Friedrich or Frederick
    • Meaning:

      "peaceful ruler"
    • Description:

      Since female cousins Mitzi and Fritzi have entered the realm of possibilities, there's a chance that Cousin Fritz could as well. Fritz is the name of several notables, from early German-born film director Lang to early footballer Fritz (born Frederick) Pollard, the first African-American to play in the Rose Bowl in 1916.
  15. King
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "monarch"
    • Description:

      King is a name that sends a mixed message. While some might think of it as more fitting for a canine, others see it as a strong name with offbeat style and a full court of rich associations, from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to Elvis.

      King Vidor was an important early Hollywood director; King Camp Gillette invented the safety razor.

      If it's king names you're after that aren't King itself, see our list of Names with Royal Meanings or other lists and blogs on royal names.
  16. Ridge
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "an elevated body part or structure"
    • Description:

      Ridge may be the quintessential daytime drama name, but it's still better than most. This is one word name rising rapidly through the ranks, reentering the US Top 1000 in 2015 for the first time since 1989.
  17. Earl
    • Origin:

      English aristocratic title
    • Description:

      Earl is a title name - brought to England by the vikings - that's out of fashion right now, unlike King and Duke. Its peak popularity was in the 1920s, which gives it a dusty great-grandpa feel, but there are also younger Earls in pop culture, like the reformed criminal in "My Name is Earl".
  18. Kim
    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Kimball
    • Description:

      Kim is forever feminized, despite memories of the Rudyard Kipling character.
  19. Locke
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "enclosure or fortified place"
    • Description:

      Usually adding an e to the end of a name makes it more feminine, but Locke is at most recent count used only for baby boys. Still, this stylishly strong one-syllable name is theoretically gender-neutral.
  20. Sal
    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Salvador or Salvatore
    • Description:

      The sidekick in almost every movie or TV show with an Italo-American setting.