If you love one-syllable names...

A comprehensive list of one-syllable names, both male and female, ranging in obscurity from the most common to the most unusual.
  1. Ace
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "one, unity"
    • Description:

      No longer tied to the hapless Ace Ventura, this jaunty, high-flying nickname name is starting to take flight among celebrity and other parents, with its countless positive references to doing well in tests and poker games, on the tennis court and golf course, and in the air.
  2. Aed
    • Aer
      • Aide
        • Air
          • Origin:

            Word name
          • Description:

            This nature name hasn't escaped the hippie dippy air of others like River or Sky.
        • Aire
          • Origin:

            English word name or Japanese
          • Meaning:

            "air; love"
          • Description:

            Aire is a poetic spelling of the word "air", once widely used in Middle English. Today, it's a brand new baby name, introduced to wider audiences when Kylie Jenner revealed it as the new name of her son (the baby previously known as Wolf). Aire is an exciting new choice in nature names and unisex names — one that is decidedly less materialistic than the homophone name Heir.
        • Airle
          • Ann
            • Origin:

              English variation of Hebrew Hannah
            • Meaning:

              "grace"
            • Description:

              Ann, the name of the sainted mother of the Virgin Mary, was among the top girls’ names for centuries, in both the original English Ann spelling and the French Anne. Both left the Top 100 around 1970 and show no signs of returning, with Anne is the middle of the US Top 1000 and Ann dropped out of sight.
          • Anne
            • Origin:

              French variation of English Ann and Hebrew Hannah
            • Meaning:

              "grace"
            • Description:

              The name of the sainted mother of the Virgin Mary was among the top girls’ names for centuries, in both the original English Ann spelling and the French Anne. Both left the Top 100 around 1970 but Anne is still among the most classic names for girls, although others are more likely to choose the original Hannah, the Anna variation, or even Annabel or Annabella.
          • Aodh
            • Origin:

              Gaelic
            • Meaning:

              "fire"
            • Description:

              Aodh, the name of the Celtic sun god meaning "fire", was common in early Scotland. It's also the origin of the wildly popular Irish name Aidan (originally Aodhán). Its pronunciation varies depending on region: AY or EE are Irish pronunciations, and in Scotland it's closer to UH, and has been Anglicized as Hugh.
          • Arlo
            • Origin:

              Irish or English
            • Meaning:

              "between two hills"
            • Description:

              Quirky cool Arlo is now well and truly back. Last year it broke into the US Top 200 boy names and consistently ranks among the most popular boy names on Nameberry.
          • Ash
            • Origin:

              Diminutive of Asher, English
            • Meaning:

              "ash tree"
            • Description:

              Ash has Southern charm plus the arboreal-nature appeal. Plus your little boy will prize Ash as the name of the hero of the Pokemon cartoons. Ash can also be a dashing short form of Asher, Ashton, or any other "Ash" name.
          • Aud
            • Origin:

              Norwegian
            • Meaning:

              "deserted, empty"
            • Description:

              This minimalist name is frequently heard in Norway, but has little chance of acceptance in the US.
          • Aude
            • Aure
              • Ayn
                • Origin:

                  English
                • Meaning:

                  "grace"
                • Description:

                  Ayn is a nonconformist name associated with controversial Russian-born writer and philosopher Ayn Rand, (born Alisa) author of The Fountainhead, who adopted it when she moved to the US in 1926.
              • Bay
                • Origin:

                  English word, Old English
                • Meaning:

                  "an inlet of the sea where the land curves inward; berry"
                • Description:

                  Like River and Lake, a cool, refreshing modern water-related choice. This name is also associated with bay leaves, the bay laurel, the contemporary term of endearment, "bae", and the Old English word beġ meaning "berry"
              • Bear
                • Origin:

                  Animal name
                • Meaning:

                  "bear"
                • Description:

                  Bear has suddenly lumbered onto the baby name landscape. Perhaps inspired by British adventurer Bear Grylls (born Edward Michael), first celebrity chef Jamie Oliver used it as the middle name for his boy Buddy, and more recently Alicia Silverstone called her son Bear Blu., followed by Kate Winslet's Bear Blaize. It's part of a current trend normalizing once aggressive animal names like Wolf and Fox. Bear is now Number 218 on Nameberry and in the Top 900 in England.
              • Beau
                • Origin:

                  French
                • Meaning:

                  "handsome"
                • Description:

                  Beau suggests someone devilishly handsome, with a large measure of southern charm—a nice image to bestow on your boy. Often solely a nickname in the past, it's now standing firmly on its own. Beau has been on the Social Security list non-stop since 1969.
              • Beige
                • Origin:

                  Color name
                • Description:

                  Nice sound, colorless image.