One Syllable Names for Girls

Name that enjoyed some popularity early in the 20th century but now is locked in another, ahem, era.

Mayte

Emy is a feminine name that functions as a shortened form of names like Emily, Emma, or Emilia. This diminutive version offers a sweet, modern simplicity while maintaining connections to its longer counterparts, which dictate its meaning.

Emily derives from the Latin "aemulus" meaning "rival" or "emulating," while Emma has Germanic roots meaning "whole" or "universal." Emmy and Emmie are more popular spellings of the name, with about 700 and 400 baby girls respectively given the name last year, while Emy was used for only 65 girls. 

But in France and other French-speaking countries, Emy is the preferred spelling, perhaps because of its similarity to the French Remy, ranking in the Top 100.

Starr today is more fashionably the plain-spoken Star or the more obscured Stella, Esther, or Estella.

Starr

Cloe comes in second to the original form, Chloe, in it's native Spain. In the US, this honor goes to the Kardashian-ized Khloe.

Cloe

A relatively new name on the scene, increasing in popularity since 1999. It is likely a variation of Nia, a Swahili name based on the Arabic Niya meaning "tenacity, purpose, determination". Alternatively it may be based on Naia, a Basque name meaning "sea foam, wave" or it may simply be a modern creation, influenced by the popularity of Mia, Mya, Kaia, and similar.
 
The alternative spelling Nyah has been familiar since the 2000s when it was used for a character in Mission: Impossible 2, but the streamlined Nya has proved popular in the UK in recent years. It was one of the fastest rising names in 2023 when it entered the Top 1000 for the first time.
 
Social media influencer Nya Temple is a notable bearer while singer Nyachomba Muchai-Kinya uses Nya as her stage name. The name also featured in the Lego animated TV series, Ninjago.

A musical name that is undeniably cool, Rhythm may appeal to fans of Anthem, Lyric, Cadence, and Poem. First appearing in the US stats for girls in 2003 (having debuted for boys three years prior), Rhythm has been steadily and quietly gaining in popularity with around 90 babies given the name in a recent count. It has been leaning more feminine (60:40), but has leaned masculine in the past.  

Rhythm

Shreya is an Indian name with several positive meanings--beautiful, fortunate, auspicious, favorable--and ties to the goddess Lakshmi.
 Shreya was on the U.S. popularity list from 2002 to 2005.

Shreya

Pronounced as the English word joy, rather than as the French phrase joie de vivre, Joie might produce more complications than joy. 

Joie

Mayah is a beautiful feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may be a variant spelling of Maya, which has roots in various cultures. In Hebrew, it can mean 'spring' or 'water', while in Sanskrit, it refers to 'illusion' or 'magic'. In Greek mythology, Maia was one of the Pleiades and mother of Hermes. As a variant spelling, Mayah offers a unique twist while maintaining the melodic quality of the original. The name has gained moderate popularity in recent decades as parents seek names with multicultural significance and gentle sounds. Mayah projects an image of beauty, creativity, and mystique, making it an appealing choice for baby girls.

Mayah

A short, breezy name with a sophisticated yet upbeat image, that doesn't betray its Irish roots.
Bree first came to notice here in 1971 via the complex prostitute character in the movie Klute, which earned Jane Fonda an Oscar. More recently, it was tied to the character of Bree Van de Kamp on Desperate Housewives.
 Other recent references include Stephenie Meyer's novella The Short Second Life of Bree Turner in the Twilight series. And in the popular Fancy Nancy children's book series, Bree is Nancy's bff.
 The Bree spelling is much preferable to the cheese-related Brie.

Bree

Jayne

Lya is a delicate feminine name with several possible origins. It may be a variant spelling of Lia, which itself is a variation of Leah, meaning "weary" or "delicate" in Hebrew. In some cultures, Lya can be a shortened form of names like Eliana, Amelia, or Lydia. The name has a simple yet elegant quality with just two syllables and a graceful sound. Popular in parts of Europe, particularly in French and Germanic language regions, Lya has a sophisticated international appeal while remaining relatively uncommon in English-speaking countries. The simplicity and brevity of Lya give it a modern feel, though it connects to traditional naming roots. Its rarity makes it distinctive without being difficult to pronounce or spell.

Mayar is one of those names that has a host of different meanings across cultures. It's the name of a tribe and several places near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. It's a mountain in Scotland. It's a variant spelling of Hebrew Mayer. It's an Arabic name apparently meaning "moonglow." It's a Spanish verb meaning "to meow." It's unclear which of these connotations has been boosting Mayar's popularity as a girls' name recently, but boosted it has been.

Mayar

Beau, when used as a feminine name, represents an interesting gender crossover from its traditional masculine usage. Derived from the French word meaning 'handsome' or 'beautiful,' Beau originated as a masculine name but has gained some popularity as a female name in recent decades. This trend reflects the broader movement toward gender-neutral naming. As a feminine name, Beau maintains its elegant French associations while offering a concise, modern feel. The simplicity of its spelling and pronunciation (BOH) appeals to parents seeking minimalist names. While still predominantly used for boys overall, feminine Beau usage has increased particularly in English-speaking countries as parents embrace its stylish brevity and sophisticated sound.

Beau

James for a girl? Believe it or not, this is one of the <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/79/boy-names-for-girls">boy names for girls"</a> gaining a lot of attention these days, since Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds shocked the world by choosing it for their eldest daughter in 2014 (after his late father).
 
Since then, it's become something of a celebrity baby middle name du jour, with high-profile parents including Coco Rocha, Kristin Cavallari, Nev Schulman and Brandon Jenner all having daughters with James in the middle spot.

James

Kleo

Kyah is a contemporary feminine name with multiple potential origins. It may derive from the Aboriginal Australian word meaning 'hello' or could be a modern variation of Kaia or Kaya, names with Norse and Native American roots respectively. The name has gained modest popularity in the early 21st century, particularly in Australia and among families seeking short, distinctive names with a global feel. Kyah carries a fresh, vibrant quality with its crisp sound and straightforward spelling. Despite its brevity, the name has character and presence. As a relatively new addition to the naming landscape, Kyah doesn't carry heavy traditional associations, making it appealing to parents seeking something modern yet accessible.

Kyah

This name of the French town where a young peasant girl had a vision of the Virgin Mary in 1858 vaulted into the spotlight when Madonna chose it for her daughter, but few other families except for devout Roman Catholics have followed her lead (any more than they've used Rocco for their sons). 

Lourdes

This name of a character played by Kirsten Dunst in the movie Virgin Suicides, originally a novel by Jeffrey Eugenides, is gaining attention, also thanks to the heroine Lux, Lady of Luminosity in the League of Legends games. Luz is the Spanish version.
 
Influencer Brooklyn Larsen named her daughter Lux in 2026.