Monosyllab list

  1. Drew
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Andrew
    • Meaning:

      "strong and manly"
    • Description:

      Drew is an elegant formerly male-only alternative to Andy that joined the stylishly upscale Paige-Brooke-Blair sorority, thanks largely to Drew Barrymore. Barrymore comes by her first name legitimately: it was the maiden name of her paternal great-grandmother, Georgiana 'Georgie' Drew Barrymore, one of many esteemed actors in her family history.
  2. Dusk
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "twilight; darkening"
    • Description:

      Influencer Nara Smith called out Dusk as one of the names she likes but won't be using, which is probably the reason you're here. Dusk is a totally unique baby name, given to fewer than five children last year.
  3. Dusk
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "twilight; darkening"
  4. Elle
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "she"
    • Description:

      Combine the charming heroine of the movie Legally Blonde with supermodel Elle Macpherson and the trend toward all names beginning with "el"—Ellie, Ella, Eleanor—and you have one hit name.
  5. Elm
    • Origin:

      Nature name
    • Description:

      For tree huggers.
  6. Eyre
    • Origin:

      Literary name and Old Norse
    • Meaning:

      "gravel bank river"
    • Description:

      This lovely name -- Eyre sounds just like air -- is best-known as the surname of eponymous Bronte heroine Jane, and would make an appealing and distinctive middle name for the child of fans of that book. While the surname Eyre is found mainly in England, its origins are Norse and it's thought to derive from Norse settlers. Still, the status of the classic books means Eyre deserves to stand proudly among English baby names.
  7. Fae
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Faye
    • Description:

      Now that Faye is back on the Top 1000 after a decades-long absence, its spelling variations are being revived as well. Fae was given to nearly as many baby girls last year as Fay and may be especially attractive as a middle name option.
  8. Faye
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "fairy"
    • Description:

      Does Fay really need that e at the end? We vote no, but modern parents disagree: The Faye spelling was used for nearly 300 girls in 2014, vaulting the name back onto the Top 1000 after a 35-year absence, nearly ten times as many babies as received the Fay spelling.
  9. Fern
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "plant name"
    • Description:

      Of all the botanicals, Fern has been one of the slowest to move back from the front parlor into the nursery, despite the appealing girl character in the children's classic Charlotte's Web. Fern was most popular from the turn of the last century through the 1940s, reaching a high of #152 in 1916. We can certainly see her rejoining the long list of popular greenery names.
  10. Fife
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "place name"
    • Description:

      Musical choice that might work great in the middle. Alternative in all its forms, Fife and sister name Fifer are Scottish names for girls that can make a new twist on Piper.
  11. Fitz
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "son of"
    • Description:

      Any number of Fitz names -- Fitzgerald, Fitzpatrick, Fitzroy, Fitzwilliam -- have been used as Christian names, in fact Fitzwilliam was the given name of the dashing Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice. Fitz can be a short form of any of them and is often, like Mac, a nickname drawn from a surname.
  12. Fleur
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "flower"
    • Description:

      Fleur is a generic, delicate flower name that emigrated into the English-speaking world when John Galsworthy bestowed it on one of the Forsytes in his celebrated saga. More recently, there was Fleur Delacour, a French witch and the Beauxbatons champion for the Triwizard Tournament in Harry Potter.
  13. Frost
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "freezing"
    • Description:

      Frost is a name parents are beginning to warm to, appreciating its icy simplicity and connection with the venerable poet Robert. Frost, along with Winter, Snow, and January, are also perfect names for winter babies.
  14. Frost
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "freezing"
    • Description:

      Long heard as a last name, as in venerable poet Robert, U.K. talk show host David, British actress Sadie and old Jack Frost, Frost has suddenly entered the scene as a possible first, along with other seasonal weather names like Winter and Snow.
  15. Gem
    • Grant
      • Origin:

        Scottish from French
      • Meaning:

        "large"
      • Description:

        One-time beach-boy compadre of Glenn, Greg, and Gary that originated as a nickname for a tall person, Grant has become a no-nonsense, career-oriented grown-up and one that is seeing new appreciation. It was chosen for his son by actor Morris Chestnut. It has cultural cred via artist Grant Wood, whose best known painting is 'American Gothic.'
    • Grey
      • Origin:

        Color name
      • Description:

        Grey is the more common spelling in Britain and Australia. This color name has a softness and ambiguity which makes it equally lovely for a boy or a girl.
    • Grey
      • Origin:

        Color name
      • Description:

        The girls have Violet and Scarlet and Ruby and Rose, but for the boys there's a much more limited palette of color names. Grey/Gray is one exception, which could make for a soft and evocative—if slightly somber—choice, especially in the middle. Kaitlin Olson and Rob McElhenney named their son Leo Grey.
    • Grove
      • Origin:

        Nature name
      • Meaning:

        "grove of trees"
      • Description:

        Fresh, evocative choice.
    • Grove
      • Origin:

        Nature name
      • Meaning:

        "grove of trees"
      • Description:

        If you find Grover too fusty and furry, this is a much cooler-sounding alternative.