One Syllable Names for Boys

Yu

Chinese

"universe"

Yu the Great founded China's first dynasty and the name went on to become one of the most popular boy names in its native country during the 2000s. In more recent years, it has been used as an…

Yule

English

"winter solstice"

A possible Christmas name for a baby boy, if you find Noel too mundane. But we fear it doesn't sound very festive.

Yore

Yore is an uncommon masculine name with multiple potential origins. It may derive from Old English 'geara' meaning 'of old' or 'long ago', connecting to the phrase 'days of yore' which refers to…

Zabe

Modern invented name

Parents with a penchant for inventing names seem especially enamored of the letter Z, maybe for its counterculture feel and its extra zip.

Zac

Diminutive of Zachariah/Zachary

"the Lord has remembered"

A popular nickname that, over the past few decades, has acquired enough standing to work on its own, a la earlier equivalents such as Jack and Max; an alternative to Zach/Zack. Actor/singer Zac…

Zack

Short form of Zachary or Zachariah

As the common short form of Zachary or, more unusually, Zachariah, Zack is less intuitive than Zach or Zac in terms of spelling but clearer in terms of pronunciations. Maybe because it rhymes with…

Zach

See Zac.

Zacc

Zacc is a contemporary masculine name representing a streamlined variant of Zachary or Zachariah, Hebrew names meaning 'remembered by God.' This punchy, abbreviated spelling emerged in the late 20th…

Zak

Diminutive of Zachary, Hebrew

"the Lord has remembered"

This zippy short form of Zachary is more and more often standing on its own -- sometimes as Zac, Zach, Zack, or even Zakk -- but this simple-yet-straightforward version may be the very best.

Zade

Modern invented name or variation of Zayd, Arabic

"increase, growth"

You might think of this as the zesty brother of Cade and Slade. Or Zade might appeal to you as an anglicized spelling of the Arabic Zayd or Zaid, the name of an enslaved man that Muhammad adopted as…

Zair

Biblical place-name

In the Bible, Joram and "all his chariots" pass over Zair.

Zayyir

Zayyir is a masculine name with Arabic origins. It's relatively uncommon and carries a distinctive sound that sets it apart. The name is thought to be related to Arabic words suggesting brightness,…

Zahn

German

"tooth"

Newswoman Paula brought the surname Zahn to the public eye. It makes a dramatic, unusual Zane alternative -- though you may not want to enlighten your child as to its prosaic meaning.

Zale

Greek

"sea-strength"

Appealing sound and meaning, but there is that discount-store association.

Zayle

Zayle is a modern masculine name with a contemporary feel. Its origins are somewhat obscure, but it may be a creative variation of names like Zale or Yale, or possibly derived from surnames. The name…

Zann

Zann is a concise, modern masculine name with multiple possible origins. It may be a shortened form of Alexander or Suzanne, a variant of Zane, or possibly derived from Arabic where it relates to…

Ziyad

Ziyad is a masculine name of Arabic origin, derived from the word 'ziyadah,' meaning 'growth,' 'abundance,' or 'increase.' It has historical significance in Islamic culture, as Ziyad ibn Abihi was a…

Ziyyad

Ziyyad is a masculine name with Arabic origins, being a variant spelling of Ziyad, which means 'abundance' or 'growth' in Arabic. This name has deep historical roots in Islamic and Arabic-speaking…

Zeb

Diminutive of Zebediah or Zebulon, Hebrew

"gift of God, exaltation, or little dwelling"

Short and to-the-point, it turns an ancient biblical name into a friendly cowboy.

Zed

Diminutive of Zedekiah

Newer than Zac, cooler than Ed, Ned, or Ted.