One Syllable Names for Boys

The lead character of the Captain America movies, played by Chris Evans, is occasionally called Cap, short for "captain," but even he has a real name. (Steve Rogers, ICYC)

Rhyett is a respelling of the word name Riot with a name-centric spin combining the popular Rhett and Wyatt. While rising in popularity, Rhyett might prove confusing on spelling and pronunciation, spawning a lifetime of "Riot? Wyatt? How do you spell that, anyway?"

With its sharp Z initial and similar sound to Ryan, Zion has shot up the charts in singer Lauryn Hill used it for her son in 1997. Following on in its footsteps, spelling variant Zyon entered the Top 1000 in 2019 and was given to around 270 babies in a recent year.

A traditional, consistently common name in Iceland, where it is cognates with Stephen.

McCabe is an Irish patronymic surname that originated with Scottish mercenaries in Ireland who wore distinctive hats -- or cabas, which is also the name for capes.

Obscure and quirky, but not without some appeal.

Suggests the salty, windswept air of the seashore.

As Brooks shined in the spotlight — all the way up in the Top 100 — Rooks feels fresh but equally fashionable.

Boi, sometimes used as a standalone in Catalonia, comes from names like Baldwin and Baldric. It doesn't sit so well in the English language, where it sounds like — and is an alternative spelling for — "boy".

Heiress has been recorded as a baby name since 2004, but the male version, Heir, took longer to catch up. It debuted in 2019 with just five uses but appears to be rising quickly. One factor that will likely help its case: star power. Nick Cannon named one of his twin sons, born in 2021, Zillion Heir (that's right, Zillionaire), drawing attention to this new addition to the class of money-related names. In 2022, it was chosen by parents for 13 baby boys.

Thad is a tad too slight to stand alone as a name, though as a short form of the imposing Thaddeus it's as serviceable as Ted or Ed.

Wise is a lovely virtue to bestow upon a baby, as seen through the increasingly popular unisex choice Sage. Wise would make for a perfect middle name with the one-syllable flow.