230+ One Syllable Boy Names
- Hawk
Origin:
Nature nameMeaning:
"hawk, a bird"Description:
Animal names are on the rise, especially more of the aggressive Hawk-Fox-Wolf variety than cute little Bunnys or Robins, and Hawk is a prime example.Hawk is more commonly heard as a surname, represented by uber-skateboarder Tony Hawk, a pioneer of modern vertical skateboarding. Variations include Hawke, as in actor Ethan, Hawks, as in Golden Age movie director Howard, Hawking, as in scientist Stephen, and Hawkins, as in musicians Coleman, Screamin' Jay and Sophie B, and was recently given to his baby boy by quarterback Tony Romo. There have been characters named or nicknamed Hawk in The Revenant, The Path and Robert B. Parker's Spenser novels. Hawk ranks at Number 699 on Nameberry.
- Lou
Origin:
Diminutive of Louis or Lewis, French and GermanMeaning:
"renowned warrior"Description:
Lou, all by itself, is become fashionable for girls, which usually makes a name LESS fashionable for boys. But Lou, like Bill or Jim, is rarely used on its own for boys anyway. (You wouldn't name a boy Frederick Lou the way that girls are named Mary Lou or, in the case of Keri Russell's new baby, Willa Lou.) Long form Louis is getting cool again and, with the Lewis spelling, is the Number 2 name in Scotland.
- Tom
Origin:
Diminutive of ThomasMeaning:
"twin"Description:
Just like Sam and Ben, Tom could be revived as a simple, well liked name on its own. Tom, just Tom, is one of the Top 100 Boy Names in France
- Ridge
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"an elevated body part or structure"Description:
Ridge may be the quintessential daytime drama name, but it's still better than most. This is one word name rising rapidly through the ranks, reentering the US Top 1000 in 2015 for the first time since 1989.
- Slate
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
One of the more unusual of the current crop of strong, single-syllable boys' names, evoking the images of both old-fashioned blackboards and modern stepping-stones and countertops.
- Joe
Origin:
Diminutive of JosephMeaning:
"Jehovah increases"Description:
Joe is still the ultimate good-guy name, not at all diminished by its longevity or popularity or its everyman rep as Regular Joe, Cowboy Joe, G.I. Joe, Joe Exotic, Joe Blow, Joe Millionaire, Average Joe — and now President Joe (Biden).
- Will
Origin:
Diminutive of WilliamMeaning:
"resolute protector"Description:
Will has definitely replaced Bill, not only as a nickname for William but as a stand-alone name as well, partly thanks to England's Prince William, also known as Wills.
- Zeus
Origin:
Greek mythology nameDescription:
The supreme Olympian god represents a mighty image for a little fella to live up to, but more and more parents are beginning to consider it seriously. The Roman equivalent Jupiter has also come down to earth. And Zeus wasn't just the supreme god, he was also the god of the sky, thunder, lightning, and fate, among other weighty responsibilities.
- Leaf
Origin:
Nature nameDescription:
The nature boy version of the Scandinavian Leif, which actually means "heir". In the creative-naming Phoenix family, Leaf is the former name of the actor we know as Joaquin.
- Floyd
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"gray-haired"Description:
Floyd was a Top 100 name from the 1880s to the 1940s that somehow developed an almost comical hayseed persona along with a touch of retro jazz cool; it's beginning to appeal to parents with a strong taste for the quirky.
- Kent
Origin:
English surname and place-nameMeaning:
"edge"Description:
Kent is a no-nonsense, brief, brisk one-syllable name, almost as curt as Kurt.
- Zeb
Origin:
Diminutive of Zebediah or ZebulonDescription:
Short and to-the-point, it turns an ancient biblical name into a friendly cowboy.
- Dex
Origin:
Diminutive of DexterMeaning:
"dyer; right-handed"Description:
Dex, the nickname for Dexter that is sometimes used on its own, has lots of energy and dynamism. It was chosen by comedian Dana Carvey for his now grown son. With the growing popularity of Dexter, we may be seeing more of Dex.
- Ken
Origin:
Diminutive of Kenneth; JapaneseMeaning:
"born of fire or handsome; healthy and strong"Description:
In many minds this one belongs to Barbie, but with such positive meanings and international connections, can Ken make the transition to usability again?
- Shea
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"the stately, dauntless one"Description:
A common surname in Ireland that projects a complex image for a short-one-syllable name, combining spirit and substance.
- Zayd
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"increase, growth"Description:
Zayd (or its most common variant Zaid), an old and still well used Arabic name, was a enslaved man whom Muhammad adopted as his son.
- Pim
Origin:
Dutch diminutive of Willem or WilliamMeaning:
"resolute protection"Description:
The short, cute Pim is a Top 100 boys' name in The Netherlands though little-known outside that country. But in a family overrun with Williams, Pim could make an original nickname setting a modern child apart from father Will and grandpa Bill.
- Vince
Origin:
Short form of Vincent, LatinMeaning:
"conquering"Description:
Vince is not a short form that often stands alone on the birth certificate, the way Jack or even Joe does, but it has certain credibility as the name always used for football great Vince Lombardi. And as a diminutive for Vincent, it's a far sight better than Vinnie or Vinny or even Vin.
- Ted
Origin:
Diminutive of Theodore or EdwardMeaning:
"gift of god; rich guard"Description:
Like Ed, Eddie and Teddy, Ted is rarely used as an independent name – in the US, at least. In the UK, Eddie ranks just outside the Top 200, Teddy ranks just outside the Top 30, and Ted is a Top 200 pick.
With Theodore rising, Ted may have new life among parents who don't want to use the short form Theo. And TV's Ted Lasso makes it a quintessential nice guy name.
- Croix
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"cross"Description:
Pronounced "crwa", this unusual name was chosen by Cedric the Entertainer for his son.