One Syllable Names for Boys

Rose and Briar are popular, and Hawthorn is cool – so why not the equally prickly Thorn? Add an E to give it a surnamey spin.

Fragrant herb often used for cooking, but scarcely as a name.

Dior was among the fastest-rising names for both girls and boys in the US in the early 2020s, but was the fastest-falling name for boys in the 2023 statistics.

The modern Tyge -- also found in other European countries as Tygo and Tyko -- is a spin on the ancient Greek Tycho or Tychon. A famous 16th century Danish astrologer was Tycho Brahe. Tyge may also be thought of as a short form of Tyger, a spelling variation of Tiger.

Sæl is an Old Norse word used as a greeting in modern Icelandic. As an American baby name, Sael is more likely a spin on more popular choices like Gael.

This short and sweet multicultural name has a lot of potential meanings packed into its two letters!

A handsome, spruced-up post-Bruce tree name.

Great Irish middle name choice for Shakespeare lovers.

This short form stands alone in its native Netherlands.

Snow is increasing in usage mostly as a girls' name, but hero Jon Snow of Game of Thrones just might nudge it into the boys' column. Currently, there are 12 times as many girls named Snow as boys, but its usage is much higher in middle place.

Distinctive though somewhat abrupt, most prominently borne by country singer Hoyt Axton.

A name with a lot of historical cred — Bayan was the name of two Mongol generals during the Yuan Dynasty and a number of other military rulers.

The most popular version of Thomas worldwide -- from Scandinavian to Latin to Slavic cultures -- brings Tomás into the Top 500 in this country.

Unisex variation of Jazz or Jasper that couldn't say it more plainly. Used for their daughter by tennis couple Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi.

Edo is a truly pan-European name with a rich history, having origins in German, Dutch, Italian, Georgian, Croatian, and Slovene.

Short and curt.

Bruin is the Old English term for bear, taken from the Dutch word meaning brown. Bruin might be a sports fan's choice or an animal name in hiding. As a kind of hybrid of Roone and Bruno, it's definitely got some cool.

See RIO.

The most famous Vlad was nicknamed "the Impaler." Enough said.

Branch is an attractive name with associations both with trees and with branching out into brave new worlds. Baseball's Branch (born Wesley, with Branch as his middle name) Rickey broke the color barrier by hiring Jackie Robinson for the Dodgers. Like Leaf, Branch makes a nice, not-so-obvious, addition to the tree category.