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Longer boy names can be elegant and interesting. Dominick and Jefferson are great name ideas but they might be too long and too hard to pronounce, especially by kids.
Maybe your family’s last name is long and you’re searching for a shorter first name for your baby boy, to balance things out. Perhaps you’re looking for a sleek and chic middle name to go well with your child’s first name. Either way, you’re not alone in this search.
As research shows, every month, over 12,000 people search for one-syllable boy names on Google. I’ve put together a list of some of the most beautiful and unique syllable names that sound good and are very catchy.
Jump to a specific section
- 1. Abe
- 2. Ben
- 3. Buck
- 4. Carl
- 5. Kent
- 6. Luke
- 7. Jake
- 8. Chris
- 9. Dean
- 10. Max
- 11. Vin
- 12. Rhett
- 13. Drew
- 14. Finn
- 15. Knox
- 16. Flynn
- 17. Pierce
- 18. Niles
- 19. Hugh
- 20. James
- 21. Duke
- 22. Cole
- 23. Hank
- 24. Heath
- 25. Joel
- 26. Zack
- 27. Keith
- 28. Mike
- 29. Rick
- 30. Scott
- 31. Troy
- 32. Wade
- 33. Will
- 34. Tag
- 35. Blake
- 36. Frank
- 37. Beck
- 38. Blair
- 39. Brett
- 40. Dash
- 41. Cruz
- 42. Chad
- 43. Chase
- 44. Charles
- 45. Dale
- 46. Earl
- 47. Glen
- 48. Fritz
- 49. Joe
- 50. Jay
- 51. Lance
- FAQs
- Bottom Line

1. Abe
This is a powerful one-syllable boy name that suggests a strong personality. The long version is Abraham and it is commonly used by parents in many English-speaking countries.
Meaning of Abe
Father of Nations
Origin of Abe
Hebrew
Pronunciation of Abe
ah – b eh
Variations of Abe
Abraham, Abram, Abel, Avram, Ibrahim
Abe Trends
In the early 1900s, this name was very popular, with around 400 occurrences per one million newborn babies. In 2016, out of a million newborns, 108 were given the name Abe.
Fun Fact
The full name Abraham appears in the Old Testament. Abraham is a patriarch who becomes the pastor of the Hebrew nation.
Nickname
Abey, Abie, Bram
Famous People Named Abe
Abraham (Abe) Lincoln (U.S. President), Abe Vigoda (actor)
2. Ben
Ben can come from either Benedict or Benjamin.
Meaning of Ben
“Behold, a son!,” child of good fortune
Origin of Ben
Hebrew
Pronunciation of Ben
b EH n
Variations of Ben
Benedict, Benjamin, Benson
Ben Trends
Since 1880, almost 81,000 baby boys have been given the name Ben, in the United States. Ben is a pretty popular name.
Fun Fact
Ben can also be perceived as a name that has Italian roots from the word “bene” which means “well.”
Nickname
Benny, Benjie, Bennie
Famous People Named Ben
Ben Stiller (actor), Ben Affleck (actor)
3. Buck
This is a cute name for a baby boy.
Meaning of Buck
meadow of deer, cowboy
Origin of Buck
Old English
Pronunciation of Buck
b UH k
Variations of Buck
Buckminster, Buckleigh, Buckner
Buck Trends
This name was highly popular in 1919. Since then, its popularity has lowered but it still remains a great choice for your little one.
Fun Fact
Buck can mean multiple things but it is also a reference to a male goat.
Nickname
Bucky
Famous People Named Buck
Buck Jones (actor), Buck Baker (NASCAR driver), Buck Owens (singer)
4. Carl
To me, Carl sounds strong, manly, elegant, and aristocratic.
Meaning of Carl
Manly, free man
Origin of Carl
German
Pronunciation of Carl
k ah r l
Variations of Carl
Carling, Carly, Carlsen, Karl, Carlos, Charles, Carlisle
Carl Trends
Carl is a very popular name in the US. In 1956, over 8,300 newborns were given this name. Since 1880, more than 500,000 baby boys have been named Carl.
Fun Fact
This name first appeared in the Old West Norse. Many Swedish kings have Carl as their first name.
Nickname
Car, Carlitto
Famous People Named Carl
Carl Lewis (athlete), Carl Sagan (astronomer), Carl Frampton (boxer)

5. Kent
Kent is a name worthy of a true gentleman.
Meaning of Kent
high land, coastal land, border, bright white, dignified
Origin of Kent
Old English
Pronunciation of Kent
k EH n t
Variations of Kent
Ken, Kentleigh
Kent Trends
Since 1880, more than 66,200 baby boys were named Kent in the US. It was a very popular name in the 1960s.
Fun Fact
Kent is also a US city in Washington that offers very diverse cultural opportunities.
Nickname
Kenny
Famous People Named Kent
Kent James (singer), Kent Graham (former football quarterback)
6. Luke
Luke is a manly yet cute name for your baby boy.
Meaning of Luke
laidback, the one that brings light
Origin of Luke
Greek, French, Latin, English
Pronunciation of Luke
l ew k
Variations of Luke
Luca, Lucas, Lucien, Luciano, Lucius
Luke Trends
Since 1916, this name has constantly increased in popularity. The peak was reached in 2005. That year, almost 10,000 newborns were named Luke.
Fun Fact
In England and Wales, Luke is a very popular baby boy name, being situated in the 21st place while in the U.S., you will find it on the 43rd place as the most popular one-syllable boy name.
Nickname
Luc
Famous People Named Luke
Luke Babbitt (basketball player), Luke Bryan (country music singer)
7. Jake
Jock or Jake was used in England as a replacement for John.
Meaning of Jake
God is gracious
Origin of Jake
Hebrew
Pronunciation of Jake
J AI K
Variations of Jake
Jacob, Jakob, Jayme, Jacobson, Yakov, Iago
Jake Trends
In 2004, almost 4,500 baby boys were named Jake. Since 1880, more than 111,600 newborns have been given this name.
Fun Fact
In the 1980s, there was a movie called “Sixteen Candles.” In it, there was a character named Jake Ryan and many girls had a crush on him.
Nickname
Jacee, Jake
Famous People Named Jake
Jake Gyllenhaal (actor), Jake Peavy (baseball pitcher)
8. Chris
There are many versions of this name that are adjusted to many languages and countries.
Meaning of Chris
Christ-bearer
Origin of Chris
Greek
Pronunciation of Chris
k r ih s
Variations of Chris
Christian, Christopher, Christos, Cristobal, Christoph
Chris Trends
Since 1880, more than 141,000 baby boys were named Chris. The peak of its popularity was reached in 1961 when almost 7,200 newborns were given this name.
Fun Fact
Many times, people misspell Chris and they write Cris instead.
Nickname
Kit, Cristy
Famous People Named Chris
Chris Pratt (actor), Chris Rock (comedian)
9. Dean
There are many famous people and actors named Dean.
Meaning of Dean
from the valley
Origin of Dean
English
Pronunciation of Dean
d ee n
Variations of Dean
Deen, Dene, Deyne
Dean Trends
The greatest number of occurrences was in 1961 when almost 5,000 boys were named Dean. Since 1880, around 164,500 baby boys were given this name.
Fun Fact
In Greek, Dean derives from “dekanos” which means dignitary or monk who’s in charge of a group of ten people.
Nickname
Dino
Famous People Named Dean
Dean Martin (actor), Dean Geyer (singer)

10. Max
This is a Latin name but some people say it also has German origins.
Meaning of Max
Greatest, a wise leader’s son
Origin of Max
Latin, Gaelic
Pronunciation of Max
m ae k s
Variations of Max
Maxim, Maximillian, Maxwell, Maxfield
Max Trends
This was a highly popular name in 2011 when almost 4,000 baby boys were named Max. Since 1880, over 130,000 newborns were given this name.
Fun Fact
The fact that this name was spread so much across Europe is due to the numerous martyrs and bishops who were named Maximus.
Nickname
Mac, Maxy
Famous People Named Max
Max Crumm (singer), Max Scherzer (baseball pitcher)
11. Vin
Vin sounds like a strong and manly name but it is also short and cute.
Meaning of Vin
Conquering
Origin of Vin
English, Italian
Pronunciation of Vin
v ee n
Variations of Vin
Vincent, Vicenzo, Vincenzo,
Vin Trends
Vin and Vincent were very popular in the 1960s. In 1963, more than 6,100 baby boys were given this name while since 1880, over 318,000 newborns were named Vin or Vincent.
Fun Fact
There were many saints called Vincentius that is a Latin name. The name was brought to English-speaking countries by the French.
Nickname
Vince, Vinnie
Famous People Named Vin
Vin Diesel (actor), Vincent van Gogh (painter)
12. Rhett
Rhett is used as a first name in English-speaking countries but, in Holland, there’s the surname de Raedt which is one of the origins of Rhett.
Meaning of Rhett
Advice, counsel, stream, enthusiastic
Origin of Rhett
English, Welsh
Pronunciation of Rhett
r EH t
Variations of Rhett
Reece, Riece, Rhette, Rett
Rhett Trends
In 2012, 517 families named their children Rhett. Since 1880, almost 11,000 baby boys were given this name. It’s not a common name which is why it’s a great choice due to its uniqueness.
Fun Fact
One of the most famous movie characters is Rhett Butler who was seen in the movie Gone with the Wind.
Nickname
Rhett
Famous People Named Rhett
Rhett Akins (country singer), Rhett Bernstein (soccer player)
13. Drew
This is a beautiful neutral name that can be given to both boys and girls.
Meaning of Drew
Courageous, manly
Origin of Drew
Greek, English
Pronunciation of Drew
d r OO
Variations of Drew
Andrew, Andros, Andy, Andreas
Drew Trends
In 1985, 2,269 families named their newborns Drew. Since 1880, over 68,500 baby boys were given this name.
Fun Fact
In the New Testament, the first Apostle was Andrew. The name also means strong and warrior.
Nickname
Drewy, Drewee
Famous People Named Drew
Drew Seeley (TV actor), Drew Lynch (comedian), Drew Brees (football player)
14. Finn
This name has tremendous charm and energy.
Meaning of Finn
Fair-haired, thunder
Origin of Finn
Irish, Old Norse
Pronunciation of Finn
f IH n
Variations of Finn
Finnian, Finley
Finn Trends
In 2012, 1,205 baby boys were named Finn. Since 1880, around 8,200 newborns have been given this name.
Fun Fact
The name appears in the Irish mythology, being a warrior who had mystical supernatural powers.
Nickname
Finny
Famous People Named Finn
Finn Wittrock (actor), Fin Russell (Rugby player)

15. Knox
This is truly a unique and exotic name.
Meaning of Knox
from the hills
Origin of Knox
Old English
Pronunciation of Knox
n AA k s
Variations of Knox
Knoll
Knox Trends
Since 1880, 2,371 baby boys have been given this name. In 2012, over 800 families have named their sons Knox.
Fun Fact
In Scotland, this is a very popular name for boys. It dates back to the 13th century.
Nickname
Knoxie
Famous People Named Knox
John Knox (Reformation priest), Knox Leon Jolie-Pitt (one of the children of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie)
16. Flynn
This is another neutral name that goes for both men and women.
Meaning of Flynn
the son of a man with red hair
Origin of Flynn
Irish
Pronunciation of Flynn
f l ih n
Variations of Flynn
Flyn, Flin, Flinn
Flynn Trends
The name’s highest popularity level was reached in 2012 when, in the U.S., 338 newborns were named Flynn.
Fun Fact
It is an old Irish unisex name and, in Gaelic, it means “reddish.”
Nickname
Flynny
Famous People Named Flynn
Flynn Adam (singer), Flynn Gower (vocalist and guitarist)
17. Pierce
To me, Pierce sounds like a name given to someone with a fearless personality.
Meaning of Pierce
Stone, rock
Origin of Pierce
Latin, English
Pronunciation of Pierce
p EE er s
Variations of Pierce
Peder, Peter, Pierre, Pietro, Pears
Pierce Trends
Since 1880, over 11,000 baby boys have been given this name. Around 2012, approximately 560 newborns were named Pierce.
Fun Fact
Pierce has variations in almost every country. In Greece, it comes from petros which means rock.
Nickname
Piercy
Famous People Named Pierce
Pierce Brosnan (actor), Pierce Pettis (singer and songwriter)
18. Niles
Niles sounds very elegant and British.
Meaning of Niles
Son of Nile, smooth, champion, victorious
Origin of Niles
English, Gaelic, Greek, Irish
Pronunciation of Niles
N AA Y L Z
Variations of Niles
Nial, Neal, Niels, Nikolas, Nigel
Niles Trends
In the U.S., this was a pretty popular name in the 1950s. It is not that common which can be an advantage for your child.
Fun Fact
In the Scandinavian area, Niles could mean “the son of Nile.” There’s also a well-known river that has the same name and it is the longest in the world.
Nickname
Ni, Neely
Famous People Named Niles
Niles Paul (football player), Niles Fitch (actor)
19. Hugh
It sounds German but it is also similar to Hue, from the Old French.
Meaning of Hugh
Bright soul
Origin of Hugh
German
Pronunciation of Hugh
hew-gh
Variations of Hugh
Hew, Huet, Ugo, Hughes
Hugh Trends
Hugh was a popular name in 1916, in the United States. Since 1880, almost 80,000 baby boys received this name.
Fun Fact
Hugh was a popular name among French nobility, especially in the 10th century.
Nickname
Huey, Hughie
Famous People Named Hugh
Hugh Jackman (actor), Hugh Hefner (editor)

20. James
James is a melodic and timeless name that’s also very popular in all the English-speaking countries.
Meaning of James
Substitute
Origin of James
Hebrew (from Iacobus)
Pronunciation of James
j AI m z
Variations of James
Jaime, Jaymes, Shamus, Jimbo, Jame, Jamison
James Trends
In 1947, nearly 95,000 baby boys were named James. Since 1880, more than 5 million newborns have been given this name.
Fun Fact
In the last 100 years, almost 3% of all newborn baby boys were named James.
Nickname
Jamie, Jimmy, Jim, Jamesy
Famous People Named James
James Corden (comedian), James Franco (actor)
21. Duke
This name is also a title of nobility.
Meaning of Duke
Nobleman, leader
Origin of Duke
Latin, Celtic
Pronunciation of Duke
d oo k
Variations of Duke
Marmadook, Marmaduke, Duk
Duke Trends
Duke was a pretty popular name in the 1950s. Since 1880, over 2,100 baby boys have been given this name.
Fun Fact
There’s also a university named Duke, located in North Carolina. Its football mascot is a blue devil.
Nickname
Duky, Dukey, Dukie
Famous People Named Duke
Duke Ellington (pianist), Duke Deuce (rapper), Duke Snider (baseball player)
22. Cole
At first, Cole was a diminutive derived from the name Nicholas.
Meaning of Cole
victory, victorious
Origin of Cole
English, Greek
Pronunciation of Cole
k OH l
Variations of Cole
Nicolas, Nikos, Nikita, Nixon, Claus, Nicolson, Colin
Cole Trends
In 2002, more than 6,000 families have named their sons Cole. Since 1880, over 114,000 newborns received the name Cole.
Fun Fact
There’s a belief that Cole is a surname, and later first name, that comes from Cola which was an English nickname that would translate into swarthy or coal-black.
Nickname
Coley
Famous People Named Cole
Cole Aldrich (basketball player), Cole Hauser (actor)
23. Hank
Hank is an appropriate name for a boy who will become a strong man.
Meaning of Hank
house ruler
Origin of Hank
English, German
Pronunciation of Hank
h AE nk
Variations of Hank
Harry, Henry, Hawkins, Henderson
Hank Trends
In 2012, 342 baby boys were named Hank. Since 1880, almost 6,000 families decided to give their sons the name Hank.
Fun Fact
Hank was first the short version of Hankin which was a diminutive of the name John, in medieval times.
Nickname
Hankie
Famous People Named Hank
Hank Aaron (baseball player), Hank Williams (country singer)
24. Heath
This is a male’s name that comes from the Old English period.
Meaning of Heath
Heathland, shrub
Origin of Heath
English
Pronunciation of Heath
h ee th
Variations of Heath
Heathcliff, Heafcliff
Heath Trends
This was a popular name in the 1970s. Since 1880, nearly 26,000 baby boys have been named Heath.
Fun Fact
Heath is also the name of a chocolate bar as well as a popular and delicious toffee.
Nickname
Heathy
Famous People Named Heath
Heath Ledger (actor), Heath Miller (football player)

25. Joel
Many people seem to believe that this is a Spanish name but it has Hebrew origins.
Meaning of Joel
God is the Lord
Origin of Joel
Hebrew
Pronunciation of Joel
j OH eh L
Variations of Joel
Joelle, Jolson, Jole
Joel Trends
Joel was a name that US families liked a lot in the 1980s. Since 1880, more than 215,600 baby boys have been given this name.
Fun Fact
The Bible’s 29th Book is named Joel.
Nickname
Jo, Joe, Jojo, Joey
Famous People Named Joel
Joel McHale (actor), Joel Madden (singer)
26. Zack
Zack is the short version of Zachary which is a Biblical name.
Meaning of Zack
Renowned by God
Origin of Zack
Hebrew
Pronunciation of Zack
z ae k
Variations of Zack
Zachary, Zacharias, Zacharie
Zack Trends
Since 1880, nearly 3,000 baby boys have been named Zack. It was a very popular name in 2008.
Fun Fact
Another version of Zach is Isaac which means “laughter.”
Nickname
Zach, Zakie
Famous People Named Zack
Zach Galifianakis (actor), Zac Efron (actor), Zack Ryder (wrestler)
27. Keith
Keith is a very appealing name, one that vibrates positive vibes.
Meaning of Keith
from the battleground, descendant of warrior, forest
Origin of Keith
Scottish, Irish, Welsh
Pronunciation of Keith
k EE th
Variations of Keith
Keath, Keeth
Keith Trends
Keith was highly popular in 1957 when more than 12,400 newborns were given that name. Since 1880, over 430,600 baby boys have been named Keith.
Fun Fact
In the old German language, Keith would’ve come from Kit which means offspring.
Nickname
Kee-Kee
Famous People Named Keith
Keith Urban (musician), Keith David (actor)
28. Mike
Mike could seem too common for you but it remains a strong and beautiful name.
Meaning of Mike
Who is like God?
Origin of Mike
Hebrew
Pronunciation of Mike
m AY k
Variations of Mike
Michael, Miguel, Mitchell
Mike Trends
In 1960, over 12,000 baby boys were named Mike. Since 1880, more than 203,000 newborns have been given this name.
Fun Fact
The one that founded Little Caesar’s Pizza was named Mike Ilitch.
Nickname
Mikey, Micky
Famous People Named Mike
Mike Tyson (boxer), Mike Myers (actor)
29. Rick
Rick comes from either Frederick or Richard, both of which are strong names that sound almost bossy.
Meaning of Rick
Brave ruler, noble one, famous one
Origin of Rick
Latin, German, English
Pronunciation of Rick
r ih k
Variations of Rick
Broderick, Broddy, Richard, Dick, Patrick, Richardson
Rick Trends
In 1958, almost 5,500 newborns were named Rick. Since 1880, nearly 80,000 baby boys have been given this name.
Fun Fact
Rick is a popular name that has come up numerous times in many well-known TV shows such as The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones (Rickon).
Nickname
Ricky, Rocco
Famous People Named Rick
Rick Springfield (singer), Rick Hoffman (actor)

30. Scott
Scott is a name that inspires a lot of strong personality.
Meaning of Scott
a person from Scotland
Origin of Scott
Old English
Pronunciation of Scott
s k AH t
Variations of Scott
Escott, Scot
Scott Trends
In 1971, over 30,800 individuals were named Scott. Since 1880, more than 767,000 newborns have been named Scott.
Fun Fact
Francis Scott Key was an American poet who wrote the poem called “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Nickname
Scotty, Scooter
Famous People Named Scott
Scott Disick (TV personality), Scott Bakula (actor)
31. Troy
Troy is a beautiful and unique yet powerful name.
Meaning of Troy
foot soldier, water
Origin of Troy
Greek
Pronunciation of Troy
t r OH y
Variations of Troy
Trey, Trace, True, Tripp
Troy Trends
Since 1880, more than 204,500 newborns have been named Troy. In 1970, no less than 8,442 baby boys were given this name.
Fun Fact
In Greece, there was an ancient city called Troy. That was the place where the Trojan wars took place.
Nickname
Ty
Famous People Named Troy
Troy Donahue (actor), Troy Nolan (football player)
32. Wade
This is an English name that’s very dignified.
Meaning of Wade
Traveler
Origin of Wade
English
Pronunciation of Wade
w ai d
Variations of Wade
Wayde, Wadell, Wadsworth
Wade Trends
This was a more popular name in the 1970s. Since 1880, around 65,400 newborns were given this name.
Fun Fact
Alanis Morissette, the famous singer, has a twin brother whose name is Wade and he is a musician as well.
Nickname
Wadley
Famous People Named Wade
Wade Miley (baseball player), Wade Davis (author)
33. Will
This short name can come from either William or Willow.
Meaning of Will
with gilded helmet, valiant protector
Origin of Will
English
Pronunciation of Will
w IH l
Variations of Will
William, Willow, Wilkes, Wilson, Willmar
Will Trends
Will or William is one of the most popular baby boy names out there. Since 1880, over 4 million individuals have been given this name.
Fun Fact
In 2018, there was a movie, “Dumplin’,” in which the main character, although a girl, was called Will which was short from Willowdean.
Nickname
Willie
Famous People Named Will
Will Smith (actor), Will Allen (football player)
34. Tag
This name has numerous meanings although it seems short and simple.
Meaning of Tag
son of the priest, handsome
Origin of Tag
Scottish, Irish
Pronunciation of Tag
t eh g
Variations of Tag
Taggart
Tag Trends
Tag isn’t that common so, being a unique kind of name, will benefit your son.
Fun Fact
There was a movie called Tag that was made in 2018.
Nickname
Taggie
Famous People Named Tag
I couldn’t find any famous people named Tag so, your son could be the first!

35. Blake
This is a unisex name.
Meaning of Blake
fair-haired, white
Origin of Blake
Italian, Old English
Pronunciation of Blake
b l AI k
Variations of Blake
Blanchard, Blanco, Blayk
Blake Trends
In 2012, 6,008 baby boys were named Blake. Since 1880, over 150,600 newborns have been given this name.
Fun Fact
Blake resembles a Chinese word that means water.
Nickname
Blakely
Famous People Named Blake
Blake Shelton (country singer), Blake Anderson (comedian)
36. Frank
Perhaps Frank is not as popular anymore as it was in the 1920s but it still remains a great choice as a one-syllable boy name.
Meaning of Frank
free man, truthful
Origin of Frank
French, English
Pronunciation of Frank
f r ae nk
Variations of Frank
Franklin, Francklyn
Frank Trends
Since 1880, more than 900,000 baby boys have been named Frank. This was a highly popular name between 1918 and 1929.
Fun Fact
In eastern Mediterranean countries, people used to use a variation of this name to denote the Crusaders.
Nickname
Frankie
Famous People Named Frank
Frank Sinatra (singer), Frank Zappa (guitarist)
37. Beck
Beck can be a standalone name or the short version for longer names like Beckett.
Meaning of Beck
brook, from the brook
Origin of Beck
English, Swedish
Pronunciation of Beck
b eh k
Variations of Beck
Bek, Beckham, Beckett, Becker
Beck Trends
Not many people name their sons Beck but they do use Beckham or Beckett. In 2012, almost 500 newborns were named Beckham. In the same year, over 1,000 baby boys were named Beckett.
Fun Fact
Beck can be a unisex name which is why, in the Disney Fairies series, there’s a fairy who has this name.
Nickname
Beck
Famous People Named Beck
Beck Hansen (singer), Beck Bennett (actor)
38. Blair
This name has a nice ring to it.
Meaning of Blair
field, plain
Origin of Blair
Gaelic, Scottish
Pronunciation of Blair
BLehR
Variations of Blair
Blare, Blaire, Blayr
Blair Trends
Since 1880, over 12,600 baby boys have been named Blair.
Fun Fact
At first, this was a boy’s name but more and more parents name their baby girls Blair. So, it became a sort of unisex name although, in England, it remains a name that’s almost entirely used for boys.
Nickname
Blair
Famous People Named Blair
Blair Redford (actor), Blair Evans (Olympic swimmer)
39. Brett
This was initially a French name that referred to Bretons, people who lived in the French area with the same name.
Meaning of Brett
native of Brittany, Breton
Origin of Brett
Irish, English
Pronunciation of Brett
bh rh eh t
Variations of Brett
Bret, Britt, Bhrett, Bretlin, Brente
Brett Trends
Since 1880, there were over 155,000 baby boys who have been named Brett. It was a very popular name in the 1980s.
Fun Fact
Bretons were a Celtic tribe living in a region in France.
Nickname
Brett
Famous People Named Brett
Brett Dalton (actor), Brett Young (singer)

40. Dash
Dash is a dashing name, for sure.
Meaning of Dash
from the ash
Origin of Dash
English
Pronunciation of Dash
d-AE-sh
Variations of Dash
Dashiell, Dasher
Dash Trends
In 2014, this name made it to the list of the first 1000 most popular names in the U.S.
Fun Fact
Usually, Dash is a nickname for a boy’s longer name like Dashiell but it can also be a standalone name for a girl.
Nickname
Dash, Dashy
Famous People Named Dash
Dash Mihok (actor)
41. Cruz
This means cross in Spanish and it refers to the holy crucifix.
Meaning of Cruz
the Cross of Christ, grace, kindness, beauty
Origin of Cruz
Greek, Spanish
Pronunciation of Cruz
k-r-OO-z
Variations of Cruz
Craig, Cyrus
Cruz Trends
Since 1880, more than 16,000 newborns have been named Cruz. In 2012, more than 1,200 baby boys were given this name.
Fun Fact
For the Spanish, this is a unisex name.
Nickname
Cruzer
Famous People Named Cruz
Cruz Martinez (musician), Cruz Bustamante (politician)
42. Chad
In Old English, this word meant “battle.”
Meaning of Chad
from the town of the warrior
Origin of Chad
English,
Pronunciation of Chad
ch-AE-d
Variations of Chad
Chadwick, Chadrick
Chad Trends
Since 1880, more than 237,000 newborns have been named Chad. In 1972, almost 13,400 baby boys were given this name.
Fun Fact
Chad is also the name of an African country.
Nickname
Chaddie
Famous People Named Chad
Chad Michael Murray (actor), Chad Johnson (football player)
43. Chase
With this name, it won’t be any wonder that your little one will chase you around the house.
Meaning of Chase
hunter
Origin of Chase
French, English
Pronunciation of Chase
CH-AI-S
Variations of Chase
Chace, Chasen
Trends
This is one of the most popular names in the United States. In 2009, over 7,300 families decided to give their newborn sons the name Chase.
Fun Fact
There are many pro athletes with this name, especially football players and basketball players.
Nickname
Chy, Chase
Famous People Named Chase
Chase Hampton (actor), Chase Elliott (NASCAR driver)
44. Charles
This is the English version of Karl which is a German name.
Meaning of Charles
manly, free man
Origin of Charles
Old English, German
Pronunciation of Charles
ch-AH-r-l-s
Variations of Charles
Charlemagne, Charlot, Karol, Charls
Charles Trends
Since 1880, more than 2 million baby boys have been named Charles. It was a highly popular name in the 1940s.
Fun Fact
Laura Ingalls Wilder (the author)’s father was Charles Philip Ingalls and she included him as one of her characters in one of her book series.
Nickname
Charley, Chaz, Chip, Chuck
Famous People Named Charles
Prince Charles of Wales, Charles Darwin (naturalist), Charlie Chaplin (actor)

45. Dale
Believe it or not, this is a unisex name.
Meaning of Dale
valley
Origin of Dale
German
Pronunciation of Dale
DAY-uhl
Variations of Dale
Dal, Dallin, Dallon, Dalton
Dale Trends
Since 1880, more than 275,000 newborns have been given this name. In 1958, nearly 8,500 families chose to name their sons Dale.
Fun Fact
In the movie and book The Hobbit, Smaug, the dragon, destroys a city called Dale.
Nickname
Daley
Famous People Named Dale
Dale Evans (singer), Dale Brown (novelist)
46. Earl
This name is also an English aristocratic title.
Meaning of Earl
Nobleman
Origin of Earl
Old English
Pronunciation of Earl
Er-L
Variations of Earl
Airle, Earland, Earald, Errol
Earl Trends
Since 1880, more than 286,000 newborns have been named Earl. It was a popular name in the 1920s.
Fun Fact
There’s a song called Goodbye Earl by Dixie Chicks.
Nickname
Earlie
Famous People Named Earl
Earl Bascom (painter), James Earl Jones (actor)
47. Glen
Glen was originally spelled Glenn, in Scotland.
Meaning of Glen
from the wooded valley
Origin of Glen
Irish, Scottish
Pronunciation of Glen
g-l-EN
Variations of Glen
Glendon, Glenard, Glennis
Glen Trends
This was a popular name in the 1950s. Since 1880, nearly 123,500 newborns have been given this name.
Fun Fact
In The Walking Dead (the novel and TV series), there’s a major character named Glenn Rhee.
Nickname
Glennie, Glenny
Famous People Named Glen
Glenn Miller (musician), Glenn Beck (TV host)
48. Fritz
This name has Germanic roots and it is derived from Friedrich.
Meaning of Fritz
peace or peaceful ruler
Origin of Fritz
German
Pronunciation of Fritz
ph rh ee ts
Variations of Fritz
Frederick, Fred, Freddie, Fritts
Fritz Trends
This was a pretty popular name in the 1950s. Since 1880, around 4,500 baby boys have been named Fritz, in the United States.
Fun Fact
There’s an expression containing this word: on the fritz, which means that something is not functioning well (but don’t let this influence your choice of baby names).
Nickname
Fritzy
Famous People Named Fritz
Fritz Lang (film director), Fritz Haber (Nobel Prize winner)
49. Joe
This name is short and sweet and it will be easy for your little one to pronounce it as a toddler.
Meaning of Joe
God will increase, he shall add
Origin of Joe
Hebrew, English
Pronunciation of Joe
j-oh
Variations of Joe
Joseph, Giuseppe, Josep, Jose
Joe Trends
Since 1880, over 448,000 baby boys have been named Joe. In 1936, around 8,000 parents gave their sons the name Joe.
Fun Fact
Joe is used in numerous expressions such as “the average Joe,” “regular Joe,” and “Joe blow.” All these sayings have only increased the name’s popularity.
Nickname
Jojo, Joey, Jo
Famous People Named Joe
Joe Cocker (musician), Joe DiMaggio (baseball player)

50. Jay
You can either name your son Jason or James and call him Jay but this name can also be a standalone one.
Meaning of Jay
a type of bird, supplanter
Origin of Jay
Hebrew, English, French, Latin
Pronunciation of Jay
j-uh-y, JHey
Variations of Jay
James, Jason, Jameson, Jaime, Shamus
Jay Trends
Since 1880, almost 184,500 newborns have been named Jay. In 1960, over 5,300 baby boys were given this name.
Fun Fact
In the well-known novel The Great Gatsby, the main character is named Jay.
Nickname
Jay
Famous People Named Jay
Jay Asher (novelist), Jay Cutler (football player)
51. Lance
Lance comes from Lancelot who was one of the Round Table’s Knights.
Meaning of Lance
land, romantic, lancer
Origin of Lance
English, French, German
Pronunciation of Lance
l-ae-n-s
Variations of Lance
Lancelot, Launce
Lance Trends
Since 1880, over 100,000 baby boys have been named Lance.
Fun Fact
A lance used to be a medieval pole weapon.
Nickname
Lan
Famous People Named Lance
Lance Armstrong (cyclist), Lance Moore (football player)
FAQs
Here are some of the rarest short boy names and their meanings: – Arn – eagle; – Boyce – wood; – Ceel – male; – Hale – retreat; – Teague – poet; – Zed – justice.
– Ace; – Cruz; – Brooks; – Cole; – Jace; – Tripp; etc.
– Gene – Amy Schumer’s son; – Hal – Benedict Cumberbatch’s son; – Ode – Jena Malone’s son; – Psalm – Kim Kardashian’s son; – Sir – Beyonce’s son.
Bottom Line
So, if it’s time to think about baby boy names, why not choose one that’s short and simple yet interesting and unique, instead of a common or classic one. Make sure to pick a name that represents something that’s meaningful to you. All the names listed above are viable options. BTW, if you still haven’t found something that sticks out, check the following 51 Amazing Boy Names Starting with J and the 41 Best 3 Syllable Boy Names.
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