One-Syllable Boy Names
336 one-syllable boy names with meanings, U.S. popularity, and audio pronunciation on every page.
Looking for girl names instead? One-Syllable Girl Names →
A single beat carries surprising weight on a boy. It is the sound of a name being called across a field, and it is why so many families land on one-syllable boy names after months of trying longer ones on for size. The sharpest of them hit like a drum: Jax, Cruz, Bryce and Zane are quick, current and impossible to mumble. There is no shortening these, no second version to correct on the first day of school — what you write on the birth certificate is what he will be called for the rest of his life, and there is something clean about that.
The other half of this shelf is older and steadier. Reed, Wade and Clark have a mid-century American solidity to them, the sort of names that sound competent before he has done a single thing. Boone and Wells bring the frontier in; Hank is pure warmth and front-porch friendliness; Rhys adds a Welsh edge that stands out on any American roster. If you want one syllable that still feels a little formal, Pierce and Briggs do it without adding a second beat.
Every name below opens to its full page — a sourced meaning, its U.S. popularity, and a clear audio pronunciation so you can hear it before you fall for it.
One-Syllable Boy Names — Page 2
Jacques#2375 in the U.S.Supplanter; God is gracious; French form of James/Jacob, from Hebrew Yaakov (supplanter) via La▶Parks#2382 in the U.S.Dweller near a park; from Old French parc (enclosed land, game park) — a surname for those who ▶Rook#2384 in the U.S.The rook chess piece; from Old French roc (the castle chess piece, ultimately from Persian rukh▶Yug#2387 in the U.S.Age; era; cosmic cycle; from Sanskrit yuga (an age of the world, a cosmic time cycle in Hindu c▶Klaus#2405 in the U.S.Victory of the people; German short form of Nikolaus (Greek Nikolaos: nike victory + laos peopl▶Tai#2409 in the U.S.Great; talented; large; from Chinese/Vietnamese tai (great, talented, distinguished — a positiv▶Abe#2416 in the U.S.Father of many nations; English short form of Abraham, from Hebrew Avraham (av: father + raham:▶Laine#2426 in the U.S.Road; lane; pathway; from Old English lane (a narrow road or path), used as a surname for famil▶Oak#2429 in the U.S.The oak tree; from Old English ac (the oak, Quercus robur) — the most venerated tree in British▶Rye#2431 in the U.S.The rye grain; island; from Old English ryge (the cereal grain Secale cereale) — also a place n▶Zach#2434 in the U.S.God has remembered; English short form of Zachary/Zechariah, from Hebrew Zekharyahu (Yahweh has▶Brice#2438 in the U.S.Speckled; freckled; from Celtic Bricius (speckled) or a French form of Rhys (ardor, enthusiasm)▶Clint#2439 in the U.S.Fenced settlement; hillside enclosure; short form of Clinton, from Old English Clint (a cliff, ▶Cross#2441 in the U.S.The cross; crossroads; from Old Norse kross and Old English cros, from Latin crux (the cross — ▶Jade#2448 in the U.S.Jade stone; from Spanish piedra de la ijada (stone of the flank/kidney — jade was said to cure ▶Kree#2452 in the U.S.modern invented one-syllable name, also associated with the Kree of Marvel Comics and the respe▶Buck#2472 in the U.S.Male deer; a young man; from Old English bucca (male deer, billy goat) — a byname for a vigorou▶Dael#2474 in the U.S.Valley; dale; from Old English dael (a valley) — a variant spelling of Dale; possibly also Hebr▶Floyde#2926 in the U.S.Floyde is a spelling variant of Floyd, itself an English rendering of the Welsh Llwyd, meaning ▶Penn#2978 in the U.S.Enclosure or hill; from Old English penn meaning a fold or enclosure for animals, also related ▶Rick#2981 in the U.S.Powerful ruler; a short form of Richard, from the Old High German Richart composed of the eleme▶Thane#2983 in the U.S.Warrior or military follower of a king; from Old English thegn meaning warrior or retainer, and▶Trayce#2984 in the U.S.A creative respelling of Tracy or Trace, from the Norman French place name Tracey meaning brave▶Vedh#2985 in the U.S.Knowledge or sacred wisdom; a variant or short form related to Veda, from Sanskrit veda meaning▶Blayne#2993 in the U.S.Yellow or golden; a variant spelling of Blaine, from the Scottish Gaelic bla or blaan meaning y▶Cliff#2995 in the U.S.Ford by the cliff; cliff slope▶Deuce#2999 in the U.S.Two; the number two▶Kam#3011 in the U.S.Crooked nose; crooked river (as short form of Cameron)▶Leam#3015 in the U.S.Strong-willed warrior; protector (as variant of Liam)▶Oakes#3025 in the U.S.Dweller near the oak trees▶Cruze#3049 in the U.S.An alternate spelling of the Spanish name Cruz, from the Latin crux meaning cross, referring to▶Daksh#3053 in the U.S.From Sanskrit daksha meaning skilled, able, talented, or efficient; also the name of a prominen▶Hutch#3058 in the U.S.A diminutive nickname of Hugh and Richard, from the medieval pet form Huche or Hutche; ultimate▶Oz#3075 in the U.S.From Hebrew oz, meaning strength, might, or courage; used as an independent name and as a short▶Pete#3076 in the U.S.Short form of Peter, from Latin Petrus and Greek Petros, meaning rock or stone, a translation o▶Bleu#3099 in the U.S.French word bleu meaning blue, the color; used as a given name for its aesthetic and color-insp▶Cache#3101 in the U.S.From French cacher (to hide), via Canadian French cache meaning a hiding place or concealed sto▶Hayk#3113 in the U.S.From Armenian Hayk, the name of the legendary patriarch and hero considered the founding ancest▶Raife#3137 in the U.S.Variant of Ralph/Rafe, from Old Norse Ráðúlfr composed of ráð ('counsel,' 'advice') and úlfr ('▶Alp#3152 in the U.S.Old Turkic word meaning 'brave', 'heroic', or 'valiant', used as a name and honorific title for▶Arsh#3155 in the U.S.From Arabic arsh (عرش) meaning 'throne', specifically the Throne of God (Arsh Allah) in Islamic▶Bane#3159 in the U.S.South Slavic short form of Branimir or Branislav, meaning 'glory' or 'glorious defender'; in Ol▶Drue#3165 in the U.S.Variant spelling of Drew, a short form of Andrew, from Greek Andreas meaning 'manly' or 'virile▶Tadhg#3198 in the U.S.Poet, philosopher; a person skilled in verse and learning▶Arch#3211 in the U.S.Short form of Archibald; truly bold, genuinely brave▶Branch#3216 in the U.S.Branch of a tree; an offshoot, limb, or extension; transferred surname▶Burke#3218 in the U.S.Dweller at or from the fortified settlement or borough▶Wirt#3612 in the U.S.Wirt comes from the Middle High German wirt, meaning 'innkeeper, host, landlord,' an occupation▶Huel#3695 in the U.S.Huel most plausibly grew as a short form of Hughel or Hubert, Germanic names built on the eleme▶Kvon#7117 in the U.S.A modern American coinage — a brisk single-syllable name echoing Kwon and the -von of Devon/Dav▶Yee#7392 in the U.S.Yee is the Cantonese romanization of several distinct Chinese surnames, most commonly Yu (余, 'a▶Mang#7565 in the U.S.Mang is a short one-syllable name whose route into U.S. records we cannot document. Similar-loo▶Cloyd#7794 in the U.S.Cloyd is an American respelling of Lloyd, from the Welsh llwyd, meaning 'grey' or 'grey-haired'▶Bates#7800 in the U.S.An English surname, a patronymic from Bate, a medieval short form of Bartholomew ('son of the f▶Verl#8091 in the U.S.Verl is a genuine turn-of-the-century American boy's name, best read as a short form of Verle o▶Corde#9075 in the U.S.Corde reads as a modern coinage or respelling with no documented etymology; any resemblance to ▶Ao#9820 in the U.S.A romanized Chinese given name whose meaning depends on the character used — common choices car▶Het#10054 in the U.S.Het reads as a short, one-beat modern name; it may echo Gujarati 'het' ('affection'), but as us▶Ryse#10393 in the U.S.A modern respelling of the English word Rise ('to ascend; go upward; a rising'), used as a word▶Sahr#10404 in the U.S.A Kono and Mende name (Sierra Leone) traditionally given to a first-born son. A one-syllable, c▶Meek#10408 in the U.S.Meek is the English word 'meek,' meaning 'gentle, humble, mild,' used here as a one-syllable wo▶Foy#10528 in the U.S.Foy is a surname-turned-first-name from the Old French foi, 'faith,' originally a nickname or a▶Blass#10546 in the U.S.Blass reads as an echo of Blaise (Latin Blasius, tied to 'lisping, stammering'; St Blaise) and ▶Cheyne#11024 in the U.S.Cheyne began as a Scots-Norman surname from the Old French chesne, 'oak,' the same word behind ▶Clete#11037 in the U.S.Clete is a short form of Cletus, from the Greek Kletos, 'called' or 'invoked' - the same word r▶Ayers#11052 in the U.S.From the English surname Ayers/Ayres, from Middle English 'eir' ('heir; one who inherits'). Use▶Gal#11093 in the U.S.A Hebrew name, 'wave' or 'mound, heap' — unisex in Israel, carried by actor Gal Gadot. A short,▶Fran#11209 in the U.S.A short form of Francis or Francisco, from the Latin Franciscus, 'Frenchman; free one'. Crisp a▶Grand#11340 in the U.S.The plain English word 'grand' — great, magnificent, imposing (from Latin 'grandis', 'great'). ▶Hall#11374 in the U.S.From the English surname Hall, an occupational/locational name for someone who lived or worked ▶Hap#11381 in the U.S.The English word hap, 'luck, chance, good fortune' (the root of 'happy' and 'happen'), used as ▶Harsh#11385 in the U.S.From the Sanskrit harsha, 'joy, delight, happiness' — a common and cheerful given name in India▶Hawke#11389 in the U.S.From the English word hawk, a keen-eyed bird of prey, and the surname Hawke; used as a bold, si▶Thao#11441 in the U.S.A Vietnamese name, by route 'respectful; filial; devoted to one's parents,' and separately a wo▶Krash#11543 in the U.S.A modern American coinage — a stylized respelling of the English word 'crash' with a K. A punch▶Creg#11694 in the U.S.Creg sits between two distinct names in spelling: Craig, from the Scottish Gaelic creag meaning▶Lyles#11701 in the U.S.Lyles is an English surname, an -s form of Lyle, from the Anglo-French de l'isle, 'of the islan▶Shadd#11816 in the U.S.Shadd is a doubled-consonant spelling of Shad, a short form of Shadrach, the Babylonian name gi▶Pearse#11891 in the U.S.An Irish surname spelling of Piers, the medieval English form of Peter, from Greek petros ('roc▶Wilks#11933 in the U.S.From the English surname Wilks, 'son of Wilk' — Wilk being a medieval pet form of William, itse▶Tau#11969 in the U.S.Two honest routes: the Greek letter Tau (the nineteenth letter, a mathematical and symbolic mar▶Reaves#11985 in the U.S.An English occupational surname from 'reeve,' a medieval bailiff or local official who oversaw ▶Rooke#12018 in the U.S.An English surname from 'rook,' the black crow-like bird (and, later, the chess piece) - often ▶Rooks#12020 in the U.S.An English surname, the plural of Rooke/'rook' (the crow-like bird), often a place or family na▶Royle#12024 in the U.S.An English surname from a place name, 'rye hill' (ryge, 'rye,' + hyll, 'hill'). As a first name▶Vaun#12040 in the U.S.A modern one-syllable name echoing Vaughn, from a Welsh root meaning 'little; small.' As spelle▶Tirth#12094 in the U.S.From Sanskrit tirtha, a ford or crossing place, and by extension a holy site of pilgrimage — a ▶Sly#12107 in the U.S.The English word sly, meaning 'cunning, crafty' — a plain fact families should weigh. It is als▶Thaine#12157 in the U.S.Thaine reads as a modern spelling that echoes 'thane,' the Old English and Scottish term for a ▶Wulf#12165 in the U.S.From the Old English/Germanic wulf, 'wolf' — an element in many old names (Wulfric, Wulfstan) a▶Vern#12205 in the U.S.Vern is a short form of Vernon, an English surname from a French place name meaning 'alder grov▶Vin#12209 in the U.S.Vin is a short form of Vincent, from the Latin vincens ('conquering'), tied to vincere ('to con▶Cayd#12463 in the U.S.Cayd reads as a modern respelling of Cade, an English surname-name tied to 'barrel maker' or 'r▶Chao#12467 in the U.S.As a given name Chao most often represents the Chinese character meaning 'to surpass, exceed, t▶Berk#12476 in the U.S.Berk is a modern Turkish given name meaning 'solid, firm, strong'; in English it also exists as▶Chas#12507 in the U.S.A short form of Charles (from the Germanic 'karl', 'free man'), long used as an abbreviation ('▶Clutch#12569 in the U.S.The English word 'clutch' — to grip firmly, and, in modern slang, a 'clutch' performer who deli▶Chaynce#12622 in the U.S.A modern respelling of Chance, from the English word 'chance' ('fortune; luck'). The 'Chay-' sp▶Chaze#12623 in the U.S.A modern respelling of Chase, from the English word 'chase' ('to hunt or pursue'), originally a▶Chazz#12624 in the U.S.A modern short form, usually a nickname for Charles (from Germanic 'ceorl', 'free man') via the▶Cheick#12625 in the U.S.A West African (Francophone) spelling of the Arabic honorific 'Sheikh' ('chief; elder; learned ▶Cinch#12642 in the U.S.A modern word-name from English 'cinch' (a saddle girth; also 'a sure thing; something easy'), ▶Coye#12660 in the U.S.A spelling of Coy, either the surname (a form of 'Coe', linked to jackdaws) or the word 'coy' (▶Creede#12662 in the U.S.A spelling of Creed, from the word 'creed' ('a statement of belief; faith'). Also a historic si▶Creu#12663 in the U.S.A modern coined name, read as a stylized spelling of Crew/Cru ('a team; a group'). Its route as▶Crow#12665 in the U.S.A word-name from 'crow', the clever black bird, from Old English 'crawe'. A bold nature-and-bir▶Cyre#12668 in the U.S.A modern coined name, read as a short form of Cyrus ('lord; sun') or a spin on 'sire'. Its rout▶Cyx#12669 in the U.S.A modern coined name, read as a stylized spelling of 'six' or an echo of the Greek Ceyx (a myth▶Deane#12702 in the U.S.A spelling of Dean, an English surname-name meaning 'valley dweller' (Old English 'denu', 'vall▶Chais#12800 in the U.S.Chais is a spelling variant of Chase, an English surname turned first name. Chase comes from a ▶Hyun#12940 in the U.S.A Korean name element (romanized from Hangul) often meaning 'virtuous, worthy' or 'wise, bright▶Gean#12982 in the U.S.Gean reads as a short modern name or respelling, echoing Gene (a short form of Eugene, 'well-bo▶Hung#13058 in the U.S.Hung (Vietnamese Hung) means 'hero,' 'brave' or 'grand,' and is a widely used Vietnamese boy's ▶Jaan#13107 in the U.S.Two routes: Jaan is the Estonian form of John ('God is gracious'); separately, in Persian and U▶Lens#13386 in the U.S.Lens is very rare as a given name. It is read variously as a clipping of Leonard or Lennox, as ▶Lin#13399 in the U.S.Lin is a romanization of several different Chinese characters — the most familiar means 'forest▶Nai#13517 in the U.S.A short, single-syllable name echoing Nye and appearing across cultures (including as a Chinese▶Quoc#13538 in the U.S.Quoc is the Vietnamese word quốc, meaning 'country' or 'nation'; it is used both alone and with▶Read#13603 in the U.S.Read is an English surname turned first name. It comes either from Old English 'read' ('red,' a▶Rhoads#13668 in the U.S.An English surname, a spelling of Rhodes, 'dweller by a clearing or road' (Old English rod). Bo▶Rood#13766 in the U.S.Rood is the Old English word for a cross or crucifix, best known from the poem 'The Dream of th▶Tin#13856 in the U.S.Tin appears as a short, stand-alone name in more than one tradition: it is used as a nickname/s▶Tide#13879 in the U.S.The English word tide, from Old English tid meaning 'time, season, hour' — the sense of the sea▶Sixx#13885 in the U.S.The number six, restyled with a double x — a bold, modern word-name popularized by musician Nik▶Rik#13899 in the U.S.Rik is a short, standalone form of names ending in the Germanic -rik/-ric element, meaning 'rul▶Tod#13985 in the U.S.A form of Todd, from a northern English dialect word for 'fox' — hence, by nickname tradition, ▶Taite#14007 in the U.S.Taite is a spelling variant of Tate, an English surname turned first name. Tate comes from the ▶Treg#14021 in the U.S.Treg is a short, punchy modern name. It reads as a variant of Trig/Tregg, or as a use of the Co▶Vahn#14174 in the U.S.A modern one-syllable coinage with no documented etymology. It echoes the Dutch 'van' of surnam▶Ziel#14183 in the U.S.A modern one-syllable coinage closing with the Hebrew-style element -el, 'God'. It also happens▶AsrFrom Arabic 'asr', 'the late afternoon; the afternoon prayer; an age or era.' Al-Asr ('The Decl▶BrewThe English word 'brew' — to make by steeping or fermenting, as with tea, coffee or ale. A shor▶GloireThe French word gloire, 'glory' — often used as a Christian praise-name in Francophone Africa. ▶RuhnA modern coinage with no documented etymology. It echoes the word rune (an old Germanic letter,▶TzarFrom the Russian tsar (also spelled tzar), 'emperor; monarch' — a title derived from the Latin ▶XairA modern one-syllable coinage echoing Xavier and the place-name Zaire, read with a 'Z-' opening▶
Explore More
Frequently Asked
What are good one-syllable boy names?
Strong, single-beat names like Reed, Blake, Zane and Boone. They are complete as written and need no nickname.