Sometimes, life’s too short to pronounce a long and lengthy name, which is why so many parents like to consider one syllable boy names for their new arrival or a one syllable girl name if they're having a daughter.
Not only are these short but sweet names much quicker to say compared to longer baby names, they’re often much easier for little ones to pronounce and learn to spell as they get older.
You may also want to consider a shorter first name if your baby has a longer surname or middle name as a shorter one syllable name can compliment a longer sounding name perfectly.
Whether you’re looking for a traditional or popular one syllable boy name or something a little more rare and cool names, we’ve got you covered with our pick of the top 200 one syllable boy names for your bundle of joy.
Popular one syllable boy names
If you’re looking for a name people will recognise or one that’s climbing in popularity then one of these more popular boy names using one syllable might be just what you’re looking for.
Jake - Derived from Jacob, meaning "supplanter" or "holder of the heel."
Joel - Means "Yahweh is God" or "the Lord is God."
Beau - French for "handsome" or "beautiful."
Josh - Short for Joshua, meaning "God is salvation" or "Yahweh is salvation."
Jude - Derived from Judah, meaning "praise" or "thanks."
Rex - Latin for "king" or "ruler."
Dax - Of French origin, meaning "water."
Finn - Of Irish origin, meaning "fair" or "white."
Kirk - Scottish for "church."
Kit - Short for Christopher, meaning "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."
Noel - French for "Christmas" or "born on Christmas Day."
Kyle - Scottish for "narrow strait" or "channel."
Seth - Hebrew for "appointed" or "placed."
Seb - Short for Sebastian, meaning "venerable" or "revered."
Max - Short for Maximilian, meaning "greatest" or "largest."
Mitch - Short for Mitchell, meaning "who is like God?"
Rafe - Short for Raphael, meaning "God has healed."
Reid - Scottish for "red."
Ross - Scottish for "headland" or "promontory."
Reign - English word name, meaning "rule" or "sovereign power."
Kai - Hawaiian for "sea" or "ocean."
Ash - English word name, referring to the ash tree.
Wolf - Germanic for "wolf."
Hart - English for "stag" or "male deer."
Ted - Short for Theodore, meaning "gift of God."
Dash - English word name, meaning "to run quickly."
Scout - English word name, meaning "to observe" or "to watch."
Bear - English word name, referring to the animal.
Blue - English word name, referring to the color.
Gene - Short for Eugene, meaning "well-born" or "noble."
Troy - Greek for "foot soldier" or "defender."
Sal - Short for Salvador, meaning "savior."
Steel - English word name, referring to the metal.
Kris - Short for Kristopher, meaning "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."
Tig - Short for Tiger, referring to the animal.
Blaine - Scottish for "yellow" or "blonde."
Bo - Short for Beau, meaning "handsome" or "beautiful."
Brad - Short for Bradley, meaning "broad clearing" or "broad meadow."
Chance - English word name, meaning "fortune" or "luck."
Claude - French for "lame" or "limping."
Dwayne - Irish for "dark" or "swarthy."
Lance - English word name, meaning "spear" or "warrior."
Lex - Short for Alexander, meaning "defender of the people."
Van - Dutch for "of" or "from."
Charles - Germanic for "free man" or "warrior."
Will - Short for William, meaning "resolute protector."
Quinn - Irish for "counsel" or "intelligence."
Lloyd - Welsh for "gray" or "holy."
George - Greek for "farmer" or "earthworker."
James - Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows.
Cool one syllable boy names
On the search for something cool for you little dude? We think these one syllable boy names ooze coolness and will suit your cool baby boy.
Jay - A bird or victory; also a diminutive of names like Jason or James.
Ace - English word name, meaning "highest quality" or "first-rate."
Jax - A modern-sounding name with no widely recognized specific meaning.
Dex - Short for Dexter, meaning "right-handed" or "skillful."
Cal - Short for Calvin, meaning "bald" or "little bald one."
Drew - A short form of Andrew, meaning "manly" or "strong."
Kane - Irish for "warrior" or "tribute."
Ralph - Germanic for "wolf counsel" or "wise wolf."
Buzz - A nickname or word name with no specific meaning.
Doug - Short for Douglas, meaning "dark river" or "dark stream."
Knox - Scottish for "round hill" or "small hill."
Zak - Short for Zachary, meaning "the Lord remembers."
Reed - English word name, referring to the plant.
Nate - Short for Nathan or Nathaniel, meaning "gift of God."
Zeb - Short for Zebedee or Zebulon, with uncertain meanings.
Pax - Latin for "peace."
Rye - A type of grain; also a short form of the name Riley.
Reece - Welsh for "enthusiastic" or "ardent."
Rock - English word name, referring to a large stone.
Ren - Japanese for "water lily" or "lotus."
Ryle - An alternate spelling of Riley, meaning "courageous" or "valiant."
Raze - English word name, meaning "to destroy" or "level to the ground."
Zane - Of unknown origin, possibly a variant of John, meaning "God is gracious."
Flynn - Irish for "son of the red-haired one" or "ruddy."
Tate - Old English for "cheerful" or "happy."
Wade - English for "ford" or "river crossing."
Sage - English word name, meaning "wise" or "prudent."
Stone - English word name, referring to a solid mineral substance.
Gray - English word name, referring to the color.
Cruz - Spanish for "cross."
Oak - English word name, referring to the tree.
Ty - Short for Tyler or Tyrone, meaning "tile maker" or "land of Eoghan."
Blaze - English word name, meaning "fire" or "flame."
Smith - English occupational name for a blacksmith or metalworker.
Cas - Short for Casimir, meaning "proclaimer of peace."
Kier - Scottish for "dark-haired" or "dark-skinned."
Len - Short for Leonard or Lenny, meaning "lion strength."
Xen - Greek for "foreigner" or "stranger."
Yale - Welsh for "fertile upland" or "height."
Blake - Old English for "pale" or "fair-haired."
Clark - English for "scribe" or "secretary."
Miles - Latin for "soldier" or "merciful."
Pip - English diminutive of Philip, meaning "lover of horses."
Vaughn - Welsh for "small" or "little."
Trent - English for "gushing water" or "torrent."
Moss - English word name, referring to a type of plant.
Jens - Scandinavian form of John, meaning "God is gracious."
Gage - Old French for "pledge" or "oath."
Franz - German form of Francis, meaning "free man."
Cade - Old English for "round" or "barrel."
Traditional one syllable boy names
These names have truly stood the test of time and will make a traditional and timeless choice for your baby boy. Some of these one syllable names can also work as shortened or nicknames if you prefer a short name.
Jack - Diminutive of John, meaning "God is gracious."
Clive - Old English for "cliff" or "slope."
John - Hebrew for "God is gracious."
Joe - Diminutive of Joseph, meaning "he will add" or "God increases."
Greg - Short for Gregory, meaning "watchful" or "vigilant."
Hugh - Germanic for "mind" or "spirit."
Jeff - Short for Jeffrey or Jefferson, meaning "peaceful gift" or "son of Jeffrey."
Jim - Diminutive of James, meaning "supplanter" or "one who follows."
Grant - Old English for "large" or "tall."
Jon - Short for Jonathan, meaning "gift of God."
Kurt - German for "courteous" or "polite."
Ed - Short for Edward, meaning "wealthy guardian" or "prosperous guard."
Karl - German for "man" or "free man."
Ben - Short for Benjamin, meaning "son of the right hand" or "son of the south."
Mike - Short for Michael, meaning "who is like God?"
Sam - Short for Samuel, meaning "heard by God" or "name of God."
Luke - Greek for "from Lucania" or "light."
Lee - English for "meadow" or "clearing."
Mark - Latin for "warlike" or "dedicated to Mars."
Sean - Irish form of John, meaning "God is gracious."
Pete - Short for Peter, meaning "rock" or "stone."
Ray - English for "wise protector" or "counselor."
Rick - Short for Richard, meaning "strong ruler" or "brave ruler."
Russ - Short for Russell, meaning "little red one" or "fox-colored."
Rob - Short for Robert, meaning "bright fame" or "famous one."
Ron - Short for Ronald, meaning "ruler's counselor" or "advice."
Dean - Old English for "valley" or "dweller in the valley."
Frank - Germanic for "free" or "free man."
Steve - Short for Steven or Stephen, meaning "crown" or "garland."
Gus - Short for Augustus, meaning "majestic" or "venerable."
Scott - Scottish for "from Scotland" or "painted warrior."
Tom - Short for Thomas, meaning "twin."
Fred - Short for Frederick, meaning "peaceful ruler" or "ruler of peace."
Paul - Latin for "small" or "humble."
Vince - Short for Vincent, meaning "conquering" or "victorious."
Bob - Short for Robert, meaning "bright fame" or "famous one."
Kurt - German for "courteous" or "polite."
Earl - Old English for "nobleman" or "chief."
Sid - Short for Sidney, meaning "wide island" or "wide meadow."
Griff - Short for Griffith, meaning "strong lord" or "warrior."
Pete - Short for Peter, meaning "rock" or "stone."
Bruce - Scottish for "thick brush" or "woods."
Clint - English for "settlement on the hill" or "slope."
Dom - Short for Dominic, meaning "belonging to the Lord" or "of the Lord."
Guy - Old Germanic for "guide" or "leader."
Neil - Irish for "passionate" or "champion."
Todd - Old English for "fox" or "clever."
Phil - Short for Philip, meaning "lover of horses."
Heath - English for "heathland" or "wasteland."
Chuck - Diminutive of Charles, meaning "free man" or "warrior."
Rare one syllable boy names
For a one syllable boy name that will stand out in the playground then consider these unique and rare name options for you little boy.
Jace - Modern name with no widely recognized specific meaning.
Chase - English word name, meaning "to hunt" or "to pursue."
Joss - Diminutive of Jocelyn, meaning "a Gaut" or "member of the Germanic tribe."
Walt - Short for Walter, meaning "ruler of the army."
Jett - English word name, meaning "jet black" or "black gemstone."
Cash - English word name, referring to money or wealth.
Jules - French for "youthful" or "downy-bearded."
Kent - English for "edge" or "coastal land."
Kade - English for "round" or "barrel."
Kye - Scottish for "straight" or "narrow."
Lorne - Scottish for "fox" or "fierce."
Lance - English word name, meaning "a weapon" or "spear."
Zeke - Short for Ezekiel, meaning "God strengthens."
Pierce - English for "rock" or "stone."
Ned - Short for Edward, meaning "wealthy guardian" or "prosperous guard."
Nye - English for "new" or "newcomer."
Gabe - Short for Gabriel, meaning "God is my strength."
Penn - English for "enclosure" or "hill."
Royce - English for "royal" or "kingly."
Red - English word name, referring to the color.
Wells - English for "spring" or "stream."
Cole - English for "charcoal" or "black."
Mac - Scottish for "son of" or "descendant."
Clark - English for "scribe" or "secretary."
Lars - Scandinavian for "crowned with laurel" or "victorious."
Moss - English word name, referring to a type of plant.
Brock - Old English for "badger" or "to break."
Sven - Scandinavian for "young man" or "lad."
Zeus - Greek god of the sky and thunder.
Sol - Spanish for "sun."
Lyle - English for "island" or "pleasant."
Saint - English word name, referring to a holy person.
Locke - Old English for "forest" or "enclosure."
Duke - English for "leader" or "commander."
Tide - English word name, referring to the flow of the sea.
Shea - Irish for "admirable" or "hawk-like."
Quay - English word name, referring to a wharf or dock.
Bing - Chinese for "ice" or "bright."
Vern - Short for Vernon, meaning "alder tree" or "spring-like."
Bjorn - Scandinavian for "bear."
Flint - English for "hard rock" or "flint stone."
Ford - English for "river crossing" or "ford."
Gleb - Slavic for "peace" or "tranquility."
Saul - Hebrew for "asked for" or "prayed for."
Sky - English word name, referring to the sky or heavens.
Wes - Short for Wesley, meaning "western meadow" or "western clearing."
Quince - English word name, referring to a fruit.
Mitt - Short for Mitchell or Milton, meaning "from the mill town" or "mill settlement."
Juan - Spanish form of John, meaning "God is gracious."
Beck - English for "brook" or "stream."
Lorna White is the Senior Digital Writer for Mother&Baby. After running the Yours magazine website, specialising in content about caring for kids and grandchildren, Lorna brought her expertise to Mother&Baby in 2020. She has a keen interest in a range of topics from potty training and nutrition to baby names and early development and has a wide range of experienced medical experts and professionals at her fingertips. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her two young sisters, dog walking and enjoying the outdoors with her family.