If you love one-syllable names...

  1. Dell
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "shaded valley"
    • Description:

      A sweet and simple nature name that could also be short for the surname name Odell, the vintage name Della, or the obscure saint's name Endellion.
  2. Doe
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "a female deer"
    • Description:

      Doe is a soft and gentle-eyed middle name possibility and, like Fawn, one of the few animal names open to girls.
  3. Dove
    • Origin:

      Nature name
    • Meaning:

      "dove, a bird"
    • Description:

      One of the new bird names, like Lark and Wren, this one's associated with the billing and cooing sounds of love. Soft and gentle, Dove also has the admirable association with peace.
  4. 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.
  5. Dream
    • Origin:

      Word name, English
    • Meaning:

      "cherished ambition or hope; thoughts and images experienced during sleep; ideal"
    • Description:

      A whimsical and serene feeling word name, bestowed to reflect the joy and perfection parents might find in their children and the ambitions they have for them. Once a fantastical and celebrity-only feeling option, Dream came into popular usage after Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna chose it for their daughter in 2016.
  6. Drew
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Andrew
    • Meaning:

      "strong and manly"
    • Description:

      Drew, which projects a polished, somewhat intellectual impression, is rapidly becoming the Andrew nickname of choice, replacing the past favorite, Andy. It is fully capable of standing on its own, which it has for many decades, non-stop since 1942.
  7. Dune
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "sand hill"
    • Description:

      Dune is a name of several layers. It's a modern nature name, like Ocean, Bay and Reef, although rarer, conjuring up images of breezy sand dunes on summer beach days.
  8. Dusk
    • 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".
    • East
      • Origin:

        Word name
      • Description:

        North and West are easier on the ear, but this works fine if it has some significance for your family. Could be lengthened to Easton.
    • Eire
      • Elle
        • Origin:

          French
        • Meaning:

          "she"
        • Description:

          Combine the charming heroine of the movie Legally Blonde with supermodel Elle Macpherson and the trend toward all names beginning with "el"—Ellie, Ella, Eleanor—and you have one hit name.
      • Elm
        • Origin:

          English, German, Norse, Danish tree name
        • Meaning:

          "red, brown"
        • Description:

          Strong, straight, and leafy, one of the new tree names used mostly as middles.
      • Eve
        • Origin:

          Hebrew
        • Meaning:

          "life"
        • Description:

          Eve, the oldest name in the Book, is now coming back into style, having the virtues of simplicity and purity, yet with more strength and resonance than other single-syllable names like Ann. British actor Clive Owen chose Eve for his daughter, as did Jessica Capshaw.
      • Eyre
        • Origin:

          Literary name and Old Norse
        • Meaning:

          "gravel bank river"
        • Description:

          This lovely name -- Eyre sounds just like air -- is best-known as the surname of eponymous Bronte heroine Jane, and would make an appealing and distinctive middle name for the child of fans of that book. While the surname Eyre is found mainly in England, its origins are Norse and it's thought to derive from Norse settlers. Still, the status of the classic books means Eyre deserves to stand proudly among English baby names.
      • Fae
        • Origin:

          Spelling variation of Faye
        • Description:

          Now that Faye is back on the Top 1000 after a decades-long absence, its spelling variations are being revived as well. Fae was given to nearly as many baby girls last year as Fay and may be especially attractive as a middle name option.
      • Faith
        • Origin:

          Virtue name
        • Description:

          Faith is one of the most straightforward of the virtue names popularized by the Puritans in the seventeenth century, many parents still choosing it as an indicator of their religious conviction. Faith peaked in 2002 at Number 48.
      • Faun
        • Fawn
          • Origin:

            Nature name
          • Meaning:

            "a young deer"
          • Description:

            The doe-eyed Fawn is as gentle and soft as the baby deer it represents. And much like that baby deer, it carries with it the potential of new life. Fawn was featured at the bottom of the Top 1000 throughout the '60s and '70s — around the same time that Bambi came into play. But unlike Bambi, Fawn maintains relevance in the 21st century, thanks to its warmth and ties to the natural world. We would love to meet more baby girls named Fawn.
        • Faye
          • Origin:

            English
          • Meaning:

            "fairy"
          • Description:

            Soft and simple, but no less magical, Faye is enjoying a quiet spell of popularity in the US. It broke the Top 1000 in 2014, and by 2023, was one of the fastest rising names on the charts. Faye is a perfect example of a name that fits in and stands out, recognizable and yet unexpected. It also makes a beautiful middle name option, if Mae and Rae are feeling too overdone.