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Short Baby Names

  1. Oak

    • Origin:

      English tree name

    • Meaning:

      "tree from the genus Quercus"

    • Description:

      Oak, a symbol of solidity, strength, and longevity, is joining Cedar and Pine as a viable name, one that would work especially well in the middle.
  2. Pat

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Patrick

    • Meaning:

      "noble, patrician"

    • Description:

      As seen on SNL, Pat is the ultimate androgynous name. Stick with long form Patrick, and make sure everyone calls him Patrick.
  3. Dov

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "bear"

    • Description:

      Fierce meaning, gentle image. This name is very common in Israel, where an endearing pet form is Dubi.
  4. Al

    • Description:

      Al is a masculine name that primarily functions as a shortened form of names beginning with 'Al,' such as Albert (meaning 'noble and bright'), Alfred ('wise counselor'), Alexander ('defender of the people'), or Alvin ('noble friend'). With its single syllable and straightforward pronunciation, Al projects a friendly, approachable quality that has made it enduringly popular as a nickname throughout the 20th century. The name peaked in popularity during the mid-1900s and carries associations with a generation of reliable, hardworking men. Al's simplicity gives it a timeless quality, though in recent decades it has become less common as a standalone given name, with parents more likely to use it as a familiar nickname for longer Al- names.

  5. Zan

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Alexander, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "defending men"

    • Description:

      There's Zan and there's Xan--take your pick. Both of these are the latest generation of Alexander nicknames, Xan having been noticed first as a character on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (a rich source of names), and soon phoneticized into Zan.
  6. Ed

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Edward et al

    • Meaning:

      "wealthy"

    • Description:

      The most minimalist of names, Ed is decidedly out -- though that usually means it's due to swing back in. More stylish these days: Ned or even Ted.
  7. Zak

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Zachary, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "the Lord has remembered"

    • Description:

      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.
  8. Pam

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Pamela, English

    • Meaning:

      "all honey"

    • Description:

      This mild-mannered short form was Queen of the Prom in the fifties and sixties, but today is mostly heard on TV's The Office (and of course as one of the founders of Nameberry).
  9. Cat

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Catherine, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "pure"

    • Description:

      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.
  10. Dee

    • Origin:

      Nickname for any girl name that starts with D

    • Description:

      Dee is a slight midcentury nickname that might be short for Deanna or Denise, but might be too slight for today's strong, independent female.
  11. Bas

    • Origin:

      Dutch, diminutive of Bastiaan and Sebastian

    • Meaning:

      "person from the city of Sebastia"

    • Description:

      Bas is a fashionable name in its own right in the Netherlands, where it's been in the Top 10. Used throughout Europe, it may have a future here as a straightforward-but-charming nickname name. Baz is another, similar and more appealing possibility.
  12. Zvi

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "deer"

    • Description:

      An alternative transcription of Tzvi, the latter of which is a Top 100 pick in Israel. It's a cool, sharp-sounding micro name which would make for a great distinctive alternative to Levi.
  13. Xen

    • Origin:

      Japanese

    • Meaning:

      "meditation"

    • Description:

      Xen and Zen, both pronounced the same way, are two hip new spiritual word names from Buddhist practice. Among the celebrity set, Corey Feldman has a Zen and Tisha Campbell Martin's son is Xen.
  14. Tea

    • Origin:

      Short form of Dorotea or Mattea

    • Meaning:

      "gift of God"

    • Description:

      As Theo and Thea get more popular, so do Teo and Tea, short forms of the Latinate variations of Theodore and Matthew -- which include Dorotea and Mattea. But like Theo and Thea, Tea can stand perfectly well on its own and blends seamlessly into any Anglophone or European culture, if that is your aim. Some may argue that the Tea version is the prettiest and it's certainly the sleekest.
  15. Sim

    • Origin:

      Scottish diminutive of Simon

    • Meaning:

      "the listener"

    • Description:

      The Biblical Simon has been rediscovered and this appealing short form, an alternative to Sam, might be a way to make your Simon even more special.
  16. Viv

    • Description:

      Viv is a feminine name that functions as both a standalone name and a diminutive of Vivian, Vivienne, or Viviana. These names derive from the Latin "vivus" meaning "alive" or "lively." Viv embodies this meaning perfectly with its short, vibrant sound. The name's brevity gives it a modern, punchy quality while maintaining connections to its more traditional longer forms. Viv gained some recognition through notable bearers like British actress Vivien Leigh (who was sometimes called Viv) and more recently through characters in film and literature. As a standalone name, Viv remains relatively uncommon, giving it distinctiveness while still being recognizable and easy to pronounce across various cultures.
  17. Tau

    • Origin:

      Indigenous Australian or Tswana, Sotho

    • Meaning:

      "dusk, twilight; lion"

    • Description:

      Tau, rhyming with cow, is a simple straightforward name with roots in two languages and cultures, the Kaurna language spoken by indigenous Australian people or the African Tswana language, a Bantu language spoken by five million people.
  18. Jas

    • Origin:

      Abbreviation of James or short form of Jasper
  19. Lex

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Alexis and Alexandra

    • Meaning:

      "man's defender"

    • Description:

      Lex is still used mostly for boys, but like Alex, may cross over with the rising popularity of all long forms of the name. Lexi is another, more feminine option.
  20. Anu

    • Origin:

      Finnish and Estonian diminutive of Anna, Sanskrit diminutive of Anuradha, Yoruba, Celtic

    • Meaning:

      "grace; causing success; mercy"

    • Description:

      A multicultural mini name with roots in three continents.