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Unusual One Syllable Names

Lennie
By Lennie
Updated Thu May 25 2023
For people who like short names that are also a little unusual.
  1. Anse

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "cove"

    • Description:

      Name of Faulkner's great emotional villain in As I Lay Dying, Anse is not ordinarily used as a first name. It literally means cove in French, though the element ans means God in Old German and is found in names such as Ansel and Anselm.
  2. Aud

    • Origin:

      Norwegian

    • Meaning:

      "deserted, empty"

    • Description:

      This minimalist name is frequently heard in Norway, but has little chance of acceptance in the US.
  3. Bard

    • Origin:

      Irish variation of Baird, Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "minstrel, poet"

    • Description:

      Great Irish middle name choice for Shakespeare lovers.
  4. Bing

    • Origin:

      German

    • Meaning:

      "kettle-shaped hollow"

    • Description:

      When Kate Hudson named her second son Bingham and announced that she would be calling him Bing, it put this zingy nickname name out on the table. Before that, there was only one, further nicknamed Der Bingle -- and he was really Harry Lillis Crosby.
  5. Bird

    • Origin:

      Nature name

    • Description:

      A name that's unusual in that changing the i to a y -- as in Byrd -- makes it more masculine.
  6. Bligh

    • Origin:

      English variation of Blythe

    • Description:

      Too tightly associated with the real-life villainous Captain Bligh of The Mutiny on the Bounty.
  7. Boyne

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "white cow"

    • Description:

      The famous Battle of the Boyne, in Ireland, vanquished the Catholic king.
  8. Briggs

    • Origin:

      English variation of Bridges

    • Description:

      Having only entered the US Top 1000 in 2012, Briggs is yet another ends-in-s surname name for boys currently on the rise, along the lines of Brooks and Hayes.
  9. Bast
    • Coe

      • Origin:

        English surname

      • Meaning:

        "jackdaw"

      • Description:

        In keeping with other short names like PO/POE and BO, Coe is a surname that could easily move into first place. It has a sports hero factor as well, in Olympic runner Sebastian Coe--who later became a Member of Parliament.
    • Daw

      • Description:

        Daw is a masculine name with varied origins across multiple cultures. In English contexts, it likely originated as a nickname referring to the bird (a type of crow), possibly denoting someone with dark features or clever characteristics. In Myanmar (Burma), Daw is actually an honorific title for respected women, similar to 'Madam.' The name also appears in Welsh and Cornish traditions. As a given name, Daw is extremely rare, making it an uncommon choice with ancient roots. Its brevity gives it a stark, strong quality—simple yet distinctive. The name's short, clear sound works well internationally, being easy to pronounce across languages. For parents seeking an ultra-minimalist name with natural connections and cross-cultural presence, Daw offers a rare option.

    • Dice

      • Origin:

        Word name

      • Description:

        Strictly for a Vegas baby.
    • Dand
      • Elm

        • Origin:

          English, German, Norse, Danish tree name

        • Meaning:

          "red, brown"

        • Description:

          Strong, straight, and leafy, one of the new tree names used mostly as middles.
      • Flann

        • Origin:

          Irish

        • Meaning:

          "ruddy, red-haired"

        • Description:

          Friendly, cheerful Irish name that originated as a nickname for a redhead. Potential problem: reminiscent of the Spanish custard.
      • Fauve
        • Frens
          • Hoyt

            • Origin:

              English

            • Meaning:

              "long stick"

            • Description:

              Distinctive though somewhat abrupt, most prominently borne by country singer Hoyt Axton.
          • Ish
            • Jex

              • Origin:

                English surname derived from Jacques

              • Description:

                Decidedly offbeat name that combines jauntiness with that uber-cool X, and would certainly set your son up for life outside the mainstream.