Choosing a baby name for a child means considering a ton of factors that you never knew you’d have to mull. Finding the perfect name that matches your personality and style can definitely be a chore. If you have a long or hard to pronounce surname or if its simply a mouthful, a short first name might be a smart choice for your baby. Perhaps you’re just a succinct individual who likes to get to the point, a short baby name is the answer to your baby name woes. Short names often sound casual and effortless and make it seem like you didn’t agonize over finding the ideal name.
With no more than five letters or two syllables, we’ve found the perfect brief baby names for you. Here are 25 short and sweet baby names that are crisp, economic, and get straight to the point.
25. Dean
Time-tested, Dean is an English baby name with Greek origins and has plenty of charm. The name Dean means “valley” or “monk.”
24. Britt
Britt is a variant of Brigit and is a popular name in Sweden. The name means “high goddess.” We prefer the name Britt over Brittany.
23. Kai
Kai is a boy’s name with Hawaiin origins which means “sea.” Actress Jennifer Connelly chose the name for her son and we think it sounds both cool and sweet.
22. Eva
Eva is a classic, sophisticated name that has Hebrew origins and means “life.” Sculptor Eva Hesse and actor Eva Green are two famous examples of wonderful Evas.
21. Levi
Levi is another timeless name that has Hebrew origins. The name Levi means “attached.” Actor Matthew McConaughy gave the name to his son in 2008.
20. Olive
Olive is a no-fuss name for girls that’s a stunner. The name Olive comes from Latin and, of course, refers to the olive tree. Drew Barrymore is the proud mom of an Olive.
19. Slade
Slade is a cool and stylish name for boys. The name has English origins and means “from the valley.”
18. Rue
The girl’s name Rue is popular in many languages. The name comes from Greek and means “regret” it also refers to the rue plant which is known as the “herb-of-grace.” It’s been prized for its medicinal purposes for centuries.
17. Zane
Spelled Zane or Zayn this incredible, Arabic name is a variation of John and means “God is gracious. Musician Zayn Malik is a famous example with the name.
16. Maeve
Maeve is a mysterious name that has Irish origins. It means “she who intoxicates.” This stylish name is prominent in Irish mythology and would be an excellent choice to impart a touch of magic.
15. Pax
Angelina Jolie famously gave this name to her son that she adopted from Vietnam. The Latin name means “peace.” Pax is easy and breezy and we like the name for both boys and girls.
14. Zoe
The name Zoe has a storied history that began in the third century when the Alexandrian Jews translated Eve, which means “life,” to the Greek equivalent Zoe. Zoe enjoys popularity around the world in the US, it was the 40th most popular name for girls in 2018.
13. Ari
The name Ari is a shortened form of Ariel that has roots in Hebrew and means “lion of God.” This simple yet elegant name will never go out of style.
12. River
Another great unisex name, River is inspired by nature and flows beautifully. Kelly Clarkson gave the name to her daughter which only increased the name’s appeal.
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11. Ash
Most parents use the nickname Ash as shortened forms of Ashley or Asher. We love the name Ash all on its own. The English name means “ash tree.”
10. Isa
Isa is a popular name with roots in both German and Persian. Much easier than Isabella or Isadora, Isa sounds hip and fun while remaining timeless. Isa means “strong-willed.”
9. Kit
Kit is a name that began as a nickname for Christopher. It shares the same meaning “bearer of Christ” and comes from Latin and Greek. Jodie Foster named her son Kit.
8. Rowan
Rowan is traditionally a girl’s name and in Scottland, it’s associated with a tree that has red berries that are said to ward off witches. Rowan is a beautiful name that means “little redhead.” Brooke Shields chose it for her daughter in 2003.
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7. Price
Price is a Welsh name that means “son of Rhys.” Rhys is also a great, short name! Price is a strong name for boys that we’d love to see take off in the US.
6. Sia
The pop star, Sia really helped fuel this name’s popularity outside of Scandanavia. Sia comes from Old Norse and means “victory.” It is, indeed, a winning name for little girls.
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5. Marco
Marco is the popular Spanish and Italian form of Mark that comes from the Latin name Marcus. Marcus is related to mythical Mars and means “warlike.” Actor Jill Hennessy gave the name to her son.
4. April
The Springtime name April is a classic name for girls. If it’s too bland for you can always go with the French form Avril. The name has Latin origins and means “to open.”
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3. Gage
Gage is a French boy’s name that means “oath” or “pledge.” Gage Golightly is a female actor with the name. She was born in 1993. We think the name has a strong crossover appeal and works as a unisex name.
2. Kiera
Kiera is an Irish name with a fantastic meaning: “little dark one.” The original Irish spelling is Ciara and belonged to St. Ciara. Actor Keira Knightley also spells the name differently. However you choose to spell it, this name sounds wonderful.
1. Rocky
Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr. named their son Rocky, letting parents know that this name is cool again. They followed Madonna’s lead after she named her son Rocco. Both names are very good for boys. The name means “rest” and has Italian origins.
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Baby Name Generator
No baby name sounding good? Want a quick way to generate unique baby name ideas? Try our baby name generator below!
Set your terms (sex of the baby, number of letters, popularity, etc.) and then get a list of names that meet your criteria. Maybe the perfect name is just waiting to be generated for you.