Short Baby Names

1978 Short names with meanings, U.S. popularity, and audio pronunciation on every page.

There is real power in a name that lands in one beat. Short baby names are easy to say, impossible to mangle and never need shortening — a quiet kindness to a child who will write it a million times. They also pair beautifully with longer surnames.

Short Girl Names

Quinn, Noa, Gia and Elle are crisp and confident. For something sweeter, Nina, Kora, Lina and Emmy; for a little edge, Blake, Sage and Demi.

Short Boy Names

Cade, Nash, Colt and Crew hit hard and clean. Cash, Kash, Lane and Reid are effortlessly cool, while Bo and Ari are as short as it gets.

Why Short Names Work So Well

They cut through noise. A one-syllable name is easy for a toddler to learn, easy for a teacher to call across a playground, and it balances a long or complicated last name better than anything else.

Every name below links to its own page with a sourced meaning, U.S. popularity, famous bearers, and a clear audio pronunciation — so you can hear it before you choose.

Short Girl Names

Quinn#97 in the U.S.Chief; descendant of Conn▶Sage#160 in the U.S.Wise, knowing; also the fragrant herb Salvia▶Noa#226 in the U.S.Motion, movement▶Gia#287 in the U.S.God is gracious — as a short form of Gianna (Italian form of Jane/Joan)▶Blake#295 in the U.S.Black (from Old English blaec); alternatively pale or fair (from Old English blac) — the two fo▶Nina#324 in the U.S.In Spanish, Nina means 'little girl' or 'granddaughter'. As a Slavic diminutive of names like A▶Demi#381 in the U.S.Short form of Demetria (devoted to Demeter) or from French demi meaning half; used independentl▶Mya#444 in the U.S.Variant of Mia and Maya; may derive from Latin 'maior' (great), from the Roman goddess Maia, or▶Emmy#445 in the U.S.Pet form of Emma or Emily; Emma derives from Germanic 'ermen' meaning whole or universal; Emily▶Elle#461 in the U.S.French word meaning 'she,' used as a given name; also a short form of names like Eleanor (Greek▶Kora#491 in the U.S.Variant spelling of Cora, from Greek 'kore' meaning maiden or girl; also an epithet for Perseph▶Allie#569 in the U.S.Noble; of noble kind — a short form of names beginning with the Germanic element adal (noble), ▶Lina#572 in the U.S.Tender; a short form of names ending in -lina (Carolina, Angelina, Catalina) or independently a▶Cali#574 in the U.S.Beautiful; most beautiful — a short form of Calista or Calliope from the Greek kalos/kallos mea▶Mara#589 in the U.S.From Hebrew mara meaning 'bitter' or 'sorrowful'; in the Book of Ruth, Naomi asks to be called ▶Mina#597 in the U.S.From Persian mina meaning 'blue glass' or 'enamel,' also used as a diminutive of Wilhelmina (fr▶Ari#614 in the U.S.Lion; from Hebrew ari▶Lexi#628 in the U.S.Short form of Alexandra or Alexis, from the Greek alexein ('to defend') + anēr ('man'), meaning▶Aya#644 in the U.S.In Arabic, aya means verse of the Quran, sign, or miracle; in Hebrew it means bird of prey, spe▶Nia#702 in the U.S.In Swahili, Nia means 'purpose' and is one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa; in Welsh it is a▶Emi#882 in the U.S.In Japanese, Emi can be written with characters meaning beautiful blessing (e: blessing, mi: be▶

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Short Boy Names

Cade#248 in the U.S.Round, stout; barrel-shaped▶Lane#250 in the U.S.A narrow country road or path▶Nash#255 in the U.S.By the ash tree; dweller near the ash▶Crew#256 in the U.S.A group working together; a team or company▶Colt#285 in the U.S.A young male horse; a spirited, energetic young man▶Kash#286 in the U.S.Hollow place; a phonetic spelling variant of Cash▶Cash#287 in the U.S.Hollow place; chest; maker of boxes or chests▶Reid#293 in the U.S.Red-haired; one with a ruddy complexion▶Banks#310 in the U.S.One who lives beside a bank — a hillside, mound, or riverbank▶Ari#393 in the U.S.From Hebrew Ari meaning lion; also a short form of Ariel (lion of God) or Aristotle; in Old Nor▶Kian#401 in the U.S.From Irish Cian meaning ancient or enduring; also a form of Persian Kayyan or Kai meaning king ▶Jasai#439 in the U.S.Modern American invented name, likely a phonetic variant of Josai or a creative blend; no estab▶Chance#442 in the U.S.From Middle English and Old French 'cheance,' meaning fortune, luck, or an opportunity; derived▶Bo#449 in the U.S.From Old Norse 'búa' meaning to live or dwell, used as a short form in Scandinavian naming; als▶Kane#451 in the U.S.From Irish 'Cathan' meaning 'battle' or from the Welsh 'Caen'; also an Anglicization of the Iri▶Rome#452 in the U.S.From the name of the ancient city Roma, used directly as a given name; the city's own etymology▶Jake#457 in the U.S.Medieval English short form of Jacob or John; Jacob derives from Hebrew 'Yaakov' meaning 'suppl▶Reece#460 in the U.S.Welsh name from 'Rhys,' meaning 'ardor,' 'enthusiasm,' or 'fiery spirit'; Reece is an Anglicize▶Mack#463 in the U.S.Short form of names beginning with Mac/Mc-, from Scottish and Irish Gaelic 'mac' meaning 'son o▶Quinn#467 in the U.S.From the Irish surname Ó Cuinn, meaning 'descendant of Conn,' where Conn derives from the Old I▶Kyson#471 in the U.S.Modern American surname-style name combining Kyle (from Scottish Gaelic 'caol' meaning narrow s▶

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Frequently Asked

What are the best short baby names?

Favorites include Quinn, Cade, Elle, Nash, Noa and Reid.

Are short names good with long surnames?

Usually yes — a brief first name gives a long or multi-syllable surname room to breathe, which is why so many parents pair them deliberately.

What are the shortest baby names?

Two and three-letter names like Bo, Ari, Gia and Noa are about as compact as names get.

How many short baby names are on More4Kids?

More4Kids lists 1978 short baby names, each with a sourced meaning, U.S. popularity, and an audio pronunciation.