One Syllable Word Names Part 1

A brisk and unconventional name that could be a style stand-in for confederates Casey, Chase, Cale, and Cade.

May be the most modern, stylish Catherine nickname: more unusual than Kate or Cate, with an animal and word name edge. Cat Power is a trendy folksinger.

Though it sounds like a modern invention, Champ actually has a long history as a first name. It hit the Top 1000 several times just before and after the turn of the 20th Century.

Once a cavalier Mississippi gambler type name, Chance has entered the mainstream since being endorsed by such celebrity dads as Larry King and Paul Hogan. Chance the Rapper has also boosted the name's popularity.

Chase, with its sleek and ultraprosperous aura, is redolent of the worlds of high finance and international banking. Chase has been well used during the last few decades, seen as a character on 24 and on several young-audience shows.

Only if you're madly nostalgic for sixties TV.

So far out it's almost ready to be let back in.

Clay is a rich, earthy one-syllable name with a southern-inflected handsome-rogue image, featured on soap operas and reality TV. Its longer forms are Clayton and Clayborne.

Cliff is a familiar, timeless short form -- never too popular, yet widely known -- that you might also think of as a geographical name ala Vale or Field.

Like Sky and Sunshine, this fluffy name from the hippie 1970s has floated back onto the naming radar.

Clove is one of a whole tantalizing genre of spice names that might work for a boy. Clovis could be considered a long form.

This recently coined respelling of Cole darkens its image.

Colt is the kind of unconventionally macho name that is so trendy right now, because of or in spite of its association with horses and guns.

This is the kind of strong one-syllable boy's name many parents are seeking these days. The more musical Chord was introduced by hot young actor Chord Overstreet.

Buoyant but lightweight.

Nobility names like Duke and Count seem to be forming a minitrend: actor Danny Bonaduce named his son Count Dante Jean-Michel Valentino. Beat that. Or wait: don't.