Short stuff: One syllable baby names for boys
Sometimes, all you need is a short word — a single-syllable name to use as your baby’s first name, as just a part of his first name, or as a middle name. You might be trying to match a sound, or give his full name a certain rhythm that needs just one more sound.
Here, in alphabetical order, we present you with 100 short and to-the-point baby names suitable for a baby boy.
ALSO SEE: 100 one-syllable girl baby names | 100 two-syllable boy baby names
Sortable table of 100 1-syllable boy baby names
| Name | Number of letters |
|---|---|
| Art | 3 letters |
| Beau | 4 letters |
| Blaine | 6 letters |
| Blake | 5 letters |
| Boone | 5 letters |
| Brant | 5 letters |
| Brock | 5 letters |
| Brooks | 6 letters |
| Bruce | 5 letters |
| Cade | 4 letters |
| Cale | 4 letters |
| Chad | 4 letters |
| Chance | 6 letters |
| Chase | 5 letters |
| Chet | 4 letters |
| Clark | 5 letters |
| Cole | 4 letters |
| Craig | 5 letters |
| Cruz | 4 letters |
| Dale | 4 letters |
| Dane | 4 letters |
| Drake | 5 letters |
| Drew | 4 letters |
| Finn | 4 letters |
| Flynn | 5 letters |
| Ford | 4 letters |
| Gabe | 4 letters |
| Gage | 4 letters |
| Glenn | 5 letters |
| Grant | 5 letters |
| Greg | 4 letters |
| Grey | 4 letters |
| Guy | 3 letters |
| Hank | 4 letters |
| Hans | 4 letters |
| Heath | 5 letters |
| Holt | 4 letters |
| Jace | 4 letters |
| Jack | 4 letters |
| Jake | 4 letters |
| James | 5 letters |
| Jay | 3 letters |
| John | 4 letters |
| Jude | 4 letters |
| Kai | 3 letters |
| Kane | 4 letters |
| Keith | 5 letters |
| Kemp | 4 letters |
| Kent | 4 letters |
| Kip | 3 letters |
| Knox | 4 letters |
| Kurt | 4 letters |
| Lance | 5 letters |
| Lane | 4 letters |
| Lloyd | 5 letters |
| Luke | 4 letters |
| Mark | 4 letters |
| Mac | 3 letters |
| Max | 3 letters |
| Nash | 4 letters |
| Nate | 4 letters |
| Neil | 4 letters |
| Owen | 4 letters |
| Paul | 4 letters |
| Penn | 4 letters |
| Pierce | 6 letters |
| Quinn | 5 letters |
| Reed | 4 letters |
| Rhett | 5 letters |
| Rhys | 4 letters |
| Ron | 3 letters |
| Ross | 4 letters |
| Russ | 4 letters |
| Rye | 3 letters |
| Sam | 3 letters |
| Saul | 4 letters |
| Scott | 5 letters |
| Seth | 4 letters |
| Shane | 5 letters |
| Tad | 3 letters |
| Tate | 4 letters |
| Teague | 6 letters |
| Tim | 3 letters |
| Todd | 4 letters |
| Tom | 3 letters |
| Trace | 5 letters |
| Trent | 5 letters |
| Troy | 4 letters |
| Ty | 2 letters |
| Van | 3 letters |
| Vance | 5 letters |
| Vaughn | 6 letters |
| Vince | 5 letters |
| Wade | 4 letters |
| Wayne | 5 letters |
| Wes | 3 letters |
| West | 4 letters |
| Wynn | 4 letters |
| Zach | 4 letters |
| Zane | 4 letters |
ALSO SEE: 100 two-syllable boy baby names | 100 one-syllable girl baby names
Our top 20 one-syllable baby boy names
The top 20 (in alphabetical order)
- Boone
- Cade
- Dane
- Flynn
- Ford
- Gage
- Grey
- Heath
- Holt
- Jace
- Kai
- Kemp
- Lane
- Nash
- Penn
- Rhett
- Teague
- Trent
- Vaughn
- Wynn
Old-school baby name advice
Back in 1937, here’s what the magazine Literary Digest had to say about choosing one-syllable names for baby boys.
If the surname (last name) has one syllable, avoid a one-syllable first name. Example: Montgomery Smith rather than John Smith.
With a two-syllable last name, use either a one-syllable name or three-syllable first name. John Hinton or Christopher Hinton, rather than Arthur Hinton.
When the last name has three syllables, either use a one- or two-syllable name. George Doughtery, but not Alexander Dougherty. Avoid overlapping consonants, such as with James Stephens.
