One-Syllable Middle Names for Girls

A cool name, representing the Roman goddess of peace and offering a positive message to bestow upon a child. Pax is one of the most stylish new names that mean peace.

May be the most modern, stylish Catherine nickname: more unusual than Kate or Cate, with an animal and word name edge. Cat Power is a trendy folksinger.

Gem is a concise, evocative feminine name derived directly from the English word for precious stones. This nature-inspired name conveys qualities of rarity, beauty, and value. As a given name, Gem has never been widely common but has maintained steady, limited usage, particularly in English-speaking countries. The name's brevity makes it distinctive in an era when longer names are often popular. Gem can also function as a nickname for longer names like Gemma, Gemini, or even more distantly related names like Jemima. The name evokes positive associations with brilliance, durability, and natural beauty. Its simplicity makes it easy to spell and pronounce across cultures while carrying rich metaphorical meaning.

Although the single-named singer is male, this might be a girl's nickname name or a sleek nature name that's perfect in the middle.

Chosen by aviators Charles and Anne Lindbergh for their daughter, Reeve could work as a distinctive alternative to Reese. While it is currently more popular for boys, nine girls received the name in a recent year, meaning around 20% of all Reeves born in the US were girls.

Skater Tai Babilonia brought this sleek modern name to the world's attention. Pronounced "tie."

Hip new middle-name choice, conjuring up the gothic tales of Edgar Allan, and current single-named pop singer Poe. As a first name, it's radically underused, given last year in the US to only five baby boys and no baby girls.

Ayn is a nonconformist name associated with controversial Russian-born writer and philosopher Ayn Rand, (born Alisa) author of The Fountainhead, who adopted it when she moved to the US in 1926.

We once dismissed Bird as "too flighty", but with the rise of avian names from Lark to Robin to, well, Birdie, we don't see why Bird can't be a fine choice, especially as a middle name.

March has never been popular as a month name, possibly because of its slightly abrupt sound. But with all kinds of month (and season, day, and holiday) names, from January to December, Sunday to Easter, Winter to Midnight, coming to the fore, March is beginning to seem eminently baby-ready.

North's image and gender status was irrevocably changed when Kim Kardashian and Kanye West announced it as the name of their newborn daughter. But why not? West is firmly established as a name, Easton is coming up strong, and North has a nice solid sound as well -- certainly as appropriate for either gender. South, though, not so much.

Dune is a haunting and evocative sandy-beach name, which also has sci-fi connections. Dune is a science fiction franchise that was launched by Frank Herbert's 1965 novel. Some interesting Dune character names include Alia, Leto, Siona, Bellonda,and Tamalane.

Ames is that jewel of a name that's simple and familiar while at the same time being unusual and rare. With gender neutral surname names ending in S trending today -- think Brooks, Wells, Oakes -- Ames can make a perfect update on Amy or Amanda.

A striking word name for either gender. It's a safer choice when used as a middle name. Sixteen baby girls were named Brave in the US last year, the same number as were named Breezy.

This nature name hasn't escaped the hippie dippy air of others like River or Sky.

Kerr, a simple, unusual unisex middle-name choice, can be pronounced either car or kehr.

With the growing popularity of Celia and Cecilia, this vintage canasta-playing nickname name could be due for a comeback.

Straightforward yet romantic, this is one newly minted name with long-term appeal, especially as a middle name. It was used as such for Tea Leoni and David Duchovny's Madelaine, whom they call West. Definitely ambigender, it was chosen by Marley Shelton for her daughter. 

Traditionally a male name, Leith now can make a highly unusual, strong but soft, and intriguing girls' possibility.

Tree is an ultimate nature name, made famous by longtime Taylor Swift publicist Tree Paine, born Trina Snyder.