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Short Baby Names

  1. Bay

    • Origin:

      English word, Old English

    • Meaning:

      "an inlet of the sea where the land curves inward; berry"

    • Description:

      One of the most usable of the pleasant, newly adopted nature/water names (like Lake and Ocean), especially in middle position. It's gentle, slightly whimsical, but grounded by its similarity to May or Rae.
  2. Bob

    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Robert

    • Meaning:

      "bright fame"

    • Description:

      Kids love Bob the Builder, but do they want to be Bob the Builder? Bob and Bobby have been out of style since the 1960s, but as vintage nickname-names -- Fred, Archie -- come back into vogue, Bob may tag along. Charlie Sheen used it for one of his twin sons.
  3. Seb

    • Origin:

      Egyptian

    • Meaning:

      "God of the earth"

    • Description:

      This name, more recognized as a short form of Sebastian, is perfectly usable a cool full name, and, in fact, ranks on the UK popularity list. Seb is getting lot of attention as the nickname name of the Ryan Gosling character in the hit film La La Land.
  4. Ara

    • Origin:

      Armenian

    • Meaning:

      "king"

    • Description:

      Ara is a unique boys' name that one of the most melodious in the Armenian name pool, familiarized by Notre Dame football coach Ara Parseghian. In Armenian mythology, Ara was a king so handsome that a rival queen went to war in order to make him her own. The name Ara is also known in the Arabic and Hebrew cultures.
  5. Tim

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Timothy, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "honoring God"

    • Description:

      Tim is a boyish short form occasionally given on its own. There were 37 baby boys named Tim in the US last year, versus over 1700 named Timothy.
  6. Bee

    • Origin:

      Animal name or English diminutive of Beatrice, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "she who brings happiness"

    • Description:

      We've seen Beatrice and Beatrix climb in popularity, along with traditional nickname Bea. And now there's Bee, giving it a buzzy nature world spin, plus a tie to popular late night TV''s Samantha Bee, not to mention Aunt Bee on the old The Andy Griffith Show TV show. Bee can theoretically be short for any girl names starting with B.
  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. 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.
  9. Cas

    • Origin:

      Short form of Casper, Persian

    • Meaning:

      "Imperial"

    • Description:

      This short-but-strong name is popular for boys in The Netherlands. While Cass is usually a female name in the U.S., it feels just as right for boys.
  10. Mel

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Melanie

    • Meaning:

      "black, dark"

    • Description:

      Not one but two Spice Girls are named Mel, which led to it briefly being more popular for girls than boys in the 90s and early 00s, but it has now fallen out of favor for both sexes.
  11. 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.
  12. Dot

    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Dorothy

    • Description:

      Old-fangled nickname could make dot.com era short form or middle name.
  13. Oma

    • Description:

      Oma is a feminine name with Germanic origins, literally meaning 'grandmother' in German and Dutch. The name carries warm associations of maternal wisdom and familial nurturing. While primarily known as a term of endearment for grandmothers in German-speaking countries, Oma has occasionally been used as a given name in the United States, particularly in communities with German heritage. The name peaked in limited popularity in the early 1900s but has since become quite rare as a first name. Oma also appears in Japanese, meaning 'horse,' and in some African languages with various meanings. The name's brevity and soft sounds give it a gentle quality, though its strong association with grandmotherhood in German culture may influence how the name is perceived.

  14. 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.
  15. 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.
  16. Rob

    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Robert

    • Meaning:

      "bright fame"

    • Description:

      Rob has claimed Bob's turf.
  17. Nik

    • Description:

      Nik is a short, masculine name that serves as a diminutive form of Nicholas or Nikolas, which derive from the Greek name Nikolaos, meaning 'victory of the people.' This concise variant maintains the strength of its longer counterparts while offering a more modern, streamlined appeal. Popular in Eastern European countries and increasingly used internationally, Nik provides a contemporary alternative that's easy to pronounce and spell across cultures. The name conveys a sense of reliability and straightforwardness while maintaining a friendly, approachable quality. In recent years, Nik has gained popularity as parents increasingly seek shorter names that work well in our fast-paced, global society.

  18. Tor

    • Origin:

      Variation of Thor, also Hebrew for "Turtledove"

    • Meaning:

      "Turtledove"

    • Description:

      An interesting and attractive bicultural choice--the Hebrew version is used for babies born in spring, when turtledoves arrive--especially as a middle.
  19. Noe

    • Origin:

      Greek, Georgian, and Latin variation of Noah, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "rest, repose"

    • Description:

      The Old Testament Noah has been so popular for so long that variations are becoming popular too. Noe is a streamlined form used in Greek and Latin Bibles, and in Georgia too. Spelled as more often as Noé, it is also popular across France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Spain.
  20. 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.