230+ One Syllable Boy Names

  1. Sid
    • Origin:

      Short form of Sidney, French
    • Meaning:

      "Saint-Denis"
    • Description:

      Sid originated as a nickname for Sidney, but we like it on its own, a la Sara Quin's and Jason Biggs and Jenny Mollen's sons. Sid Vicious, member of the band the Sex Pistols, gives this name a punk rock vibe.
  2. Puck
    • Origin:

      Literary name
    • Description:

      Puck was Shakespeare's mischievous pixie who'a had a few television incarnations in more recent years. A popular name in The Netherlands but nowhere else, from what we can tell.
  3. 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.
  4. Marc
    • Origin:

      French, Welsh and Catalan variation of Mark
    • Description:

      Designer (as in Marc Jacobs) form of Mark. An international classic, but long falling in popularity as a boys' name.
  5. Jed
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Jedidiah, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "beloved of the Lord"
    • Description:

      Cowboyish short form that's both macho and cool. Got prime time exposure on The West Wing.
  6. 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.
  7. Eames
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "son of the uncle"
    • Description:

      An upscale surname with a nice modern design connection to the creators of the Eames chair and other midcentury furniture classics, Charles and Ray Eames.
  8. York
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "from the yew estate"
    • Description:

      Brisk, preppy York is an underused classic with the potential to really shine in the 21st century. It's most familiar as a place name — York is a city in England — and surname. New York City and State were named after the Duke of York.
  9. Croix
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "cross"
    • Description:

      Pronounced "crwa", this unusual name was chosen by Cedric the Entertainer for his son.
  10. Bob
    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Robert
    • Meaning:

      "bright fame"
    • Description:

      Kids love Bob the Builder, but do they want to be Bob the Builder? Bob and Bobby have been out of style since the 1960s, but as vintage nickname-names -- Fred, Archie -- come back into vogue, Bob may tag along. Charlie Sheen used it for one of his twin sons.
  11. Kurt
    • Origin:

      German, diminutive of Kurtis
    • Meaning:

      "courteous, polite"
    • Description:

      A name that defines itself, a bit more curt in the harder K version.
  12. Hawk
    • Origin:

      Nature name
    • Meaning:

      "hawk, a bird"
    • Description:

      Animal names are on the rise, especially more of the aggressive Hawk-Fox-Wolf variety than cute little Bunnys or Robins, and Hawk is a prime example.

      Hawk is more commonly heard as a surname, represented by uber-skateboarder Tony Hawk, a pioneer of modern vertical skateboarding. Variations include Hawke, as in actor Ethan, Hawks, as in Golden Age movie director Howard, Hawking, as in scientist Stephen, and Hawkins, as in musicians Coleman, Screamin' Jay and Sophie B, and was recently given to his baby boy by quarterback Tony Romo. There have been characters named or nicknamed Hawk in The Revenant, The Path and Robert B. Parker's Spenser novels. Hawk ranks at Number 699 on Nameberry.

  13. Seb
    • Origin:

      Egyptian
    • Meaning:

      "God of the earth"
    • Description:

      This name, more recognized as a short form of Sebastian, is perfectly usable a cool full name, and, in fact, ranks on the UK popularity list. Seb is getting lot of attention as the nickname name of the Ryan Gosling character in the hit film La La Land.
  14. Frost
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "freezing"
    • Description:

      Long heard as a last name, as in venerable poet Robert, U.K. talk show host David, British actress Sadie and old Jack Frost, Frost has suddenly entered the scene as a possible first, along with other seasonal weather names like Winter and Snow.
  15. Kirk
    • Origin:

      Norse
    • Meaning:

      "church"
    • Description:

      Far more friendly and open than similar one-syllable names like Kent, Kurt, and Karl, it's been associated for more than half a century with actor Kirk Douglas, whose birth name was Issur Danielovitch Demsky.
  16. Leaf
    • Origin:

      Nature name
    • Description:

      The nature boy version of the Scandinavian Leif, which actually means "heir". In the creative-naming Phoenix family, Leaf is the former name of the actor we know as Joaquin.
  17. Dex
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Dexter
    • Meaning:

      "dyer; right-handed"
    • Description:

      Dex, the nickname for Dexter that is sometimes used on its own, has lots of energy and dynamism. It was chosen by comedian Dana Carvey for his now grown son. With the growing popularity of Dexter, we may be seeing more of Dex.
  18. Floyd
    • Origin:

      Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "gray-haired"
    • Description:

      Floyd was a Top 100 name from the 1880s to the 1940s that somehow developed an almost comical hayseed persona along with a touch of retro jazz cool; it's beginning to appeal to parents with a strong taste for the quirky.
  19. 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.
  20. Cru
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Crew or short form of Cruz or Crusoe
    • Description:

      The short, clipped Cru is one of those modern names that's starting to find favor -- it was given to about 100 boys last year, while Crew has vaulted onto the Top 1000. One inspiration is undoubtedly the Spanish name Cruz, which came to wider attention via the third son of Victoria and David Beckham. Cru has a handsome sound and a modern feel.