It’s easy to understand the appeal of short boy names as sound bold and get right to the point. These, mostly, one-syllable names pack a punch in a small package. To us, short names for boys mean appellations with four letters or fewer. So many long names end up shortened or discarded in favor of a nickname and if you’d prefer that not to be the case, going with a shorter option is the ideal choice for you.
What’s more is that short names sound cool, casual, effortless, and punchy. The “cool” factor could be why single-syllable and short appellations are trending among new parents today. Another factor that might be drawing you to a short name is that you have a long or complicated surname. No need to burden your child with a moniker that’s a mouthful. Let’s take a look at over 100 short boy names!
Short Boy Names That Start with A
- Ace – A name of Latin origin, meaning “one” or “unity”
- Axel – A Scandinavian form of Absalom, meaning “father of peace”
- Ari – A name of Hebrew origin, from Ariel, meaning “lion of God”
- Ash – A name of English origin, meaning “ash tree”
- Ali – A name of Arabic origin, meaning “supreme” and “exalted:
Short Boy Names That Start with B
- Beau – A name of French origin, meaning “handsome”
- Bas – Sometimes spelled, Baz, a form of Sebastian, meaning “from Sebastia”
- Ben – A standalone name from Hebrew, meaning “son of”
- Bix – A modern name inspired by jazz great, Bix Beiderbecke
- Bing – A name of German origin, meaning “kettle-shaped hollow”
Short Boy Names That Start with C
- Cy – A diminutive form of Cyrus, from Persian, meaning “sun”
- Cal – A diminutive form of Calvin, meaning “devoted to God”
- Cam – A shortened form of Cameron, from Scottish, meaning “crooked nose”
- Cas – A shortened form of Casper, from Persian, meaning “imperial”
- Colt – A rustic nature name, meaning “young horse”
Short Boy Names That Start with D
- Dax – A place name of French origin
- Dom – A short form of Dominic or Domino, meaning “belonging to the Lord”
- Dov – A name of Hebrew origin, meaning “bear”
- Dale – A unisex name of English origin, meaning “valley”
- Duke – A name of English origin, meaning “noble rank”
Short Boy Names That Start with E
- Ed – A diminutive form of Edward, meaning “wealthy”
- Eli – A name of Hebrew origin, meaning “ascended”
- Ezra – Another name of Hebrew origin, meaning “help”
- Evan – A unisex, Welsh variation of John, meaning “the Lord is gracious”
- Enzo – An Italian form of Henry, Vincenzo, and Lorenzo, meaning “estate ruler”
Short Boy Names That Start with F
- Fox – An energetic animal name or surname
- Fitz – A name of Scottish origin, meaning “son of”
- Faas – A Dutch short form of Bonifass, meaning “fortunate”
- Faro – A word name from Italian, meaning “lighthouse”
- Fei – A name of Chinese origin, meaning “to dance on air”
Short Boy Names That Start with G
- Gil – A name of Hebrew origin, meaning “happiness”
- Gus – A short form of August, meaning “magnificent”
- Guy – A name of French origin, meaning “guide”
- Gene – A form of Eugene, from Greek, meaning “noble”
- Gael – A name of Breton origin, meaning “Gaelic”
Short Boy Names That Start with H
- Hal – A form of Harold, of Scandinavian origin, meaning “army ruler”
- Haim – A form of Chaim, from Hebrew, meaning “happiness”
- Haco – A name of Celtic or Cornish origin, meaning “flame”
- Hale – An English habitational name for “someone living in a hollow”
- Heli – A Latinized form of Eli, meaning “ascended”
Short Boy Names That Start with I
- Ian – A Scottish variation of John, meaning “God is gracious”
- Ike – A diminutive form of Isaac, meaning “laughter”
- Ira – A name of Hebrew origin, meaning “watchful one”
- Irv – A name of Scottish origin, meaning “handsome” and “fair of face”
- Ivo – One of our favorite names that’s popular in Europe that has never been popular in the US, from German, meaning “yew wood” or “archer”
Short Boy Names That Start with J
- Jad – A name of Arabic origin, meaning “serious”
- Jed – A short form of Jedidiah, meaning “beloved of the Lord”
- Jax – A modern invented name, related to Jack/John, meaning “God is gracious”
- Jeb – A diminutive form of Jebidiah, from Hebrew, meaning “beloved friend”
- Jon – A form of John, also meaning “God is gracious”
Short Boy Names That Start with K
- Kurt – A name of German origin, meaning “polite”
- Ken – A short form of Kenneth, meaning “born of fire”
- Kit – An English short form of Christopher, meaning “bearer of Christ”
- Kip – An American short form of Christopher, also meaning “bearer of Christ”
- Kent – An English surname and topographical name, meaning “edge”
RELATED: 175 One Syllable Boy Names
Short Boy Names That Start with L
- Lee – An English topographical name, meaning “pasture”
- Leo – A name of Latin origin, meaning “lion”
- Lev – A name of Hebrew or Russian origin, meaning “heart” or “lion”
- Lex – A diminutive form of Alexander, from Greek, meaning “defending men”
- Leif – A name of Scandinavian origin, meaning “heir”
Short Boy Names That Start with M
- Mac – A name of Scottish or Irish origin, meaning “son of”
- Max – A name of Latin origin, meaning “greatest”
- Moe – An English form of Moses, meaning “delivered”
- Mads – A Danish form of Matthew, meaning “gift of God”
- Mori – A name of Japanese origin, meaning “forest”
Short Boy Names That Start with N
- Nat – An English short form of Nathan, from Hebrew, meaning “given”
- Neo – A name of Latin origin, meaning “new”
- Ned – An English diminutive form of Edward, meaning “wealthy guardian”
- Noe – A Greek form of the Hebrew root that brings us Noah, meaning “rest”
- Nev – A diminutive form of the Hebrew name Yaniv, meaning “he will prosper”
Short Boy Names That Start with O
- Oz – A name of Hebrew origin, meaning “powerful”
- Ode – A Medieval, English form of Otto, meaning “wealthy”
- Olin – A name of Swedish origin, meaning “to inherit”
- Omar – A Semitic name, meaning “thriving” or “eloquent”
- Otto – A name of German origin, meaning “wealthy”
Short Boy Names That Start with P
- Per – A Scandi form of Peter, meaning “rock”
- Pim – A Dutch, shortened form of Willem, meaning “resolute protector”
- Po – A unisex Italian river name belonging to the longest one in Italy
- Pax – A name of Latin origin, meaning “peace”
- Paz – A name of Hebrew or Spanish origin, meaning “gold” or “peace”
Short Boy Names That Start with Q
- Qara – A name of Azerbaijani origin, meaning “black”
- Quao – A name of West African naming tradition, meaning “born on Thursday”
- Quay – A name of French origin, meaning “wharf”
- Quon – A name of Chinese origin, meaning “bright”
- Quinn – A unisex name of Irish origin, meaning “descendent of Conn”
Short Boy Names That Start with R
- Rex – A name of Latin origin, meaning “king”
- Ren – A diminutive of Rene or a Japanese name meaning “lotus”
- Rio – A name of Spanish origin, meaning “river”
- Roy – A unisex name of Scottish origin, meaning “red”
- Rye – A name of English origin, meaning “cavalryman” or “messenger”
Short Boy Names That Start with S
- Seb – A name of Egyptian origin, meaning “god of earth”
- Sid – A short form of Sidney, from French, meaning “Saint-Denis”
- Sol – A unisex Spanish name, meaning “sun”
- Saad – A name of Aramaic origin, meaning “help”
- Sean – An Irish form of John, meaning “God is gracious”
Short Boy Names That Start with T
- Tal – A name of Hebrew origin, meaning “rain” or “dew”
- Tau – A name of Indigenous Australian origin, meaning “twilight”
- Teo – A Spanish short form of Teodoro, meaning “gift of God”
- Tor – A name of Hebrew origin, meaning “turtledove”
- Teun – A Dutch diminutive form of Anthony, meaning “from Antium”
Short Boy Names That Start with U
- Uzi – A name of Hebrew origin, meaning “Jehovah is my strength”
- Uri – A name of Hebrew origin, meaning “my flame, my light”
- Udo – A name of Igbo origin, meaning “peace”
- Ulvi – A name of Turkish, Azerbaijani origin, meaning “exalted”
- Ulf – A Scandinavian nature name, meaning “wolf”
Short Boy Names That Start with V
- Van – A name of Dutch origin that means “of”
- Vin – A name of Latin origin, a form of Vincent, meaning “conquering”
- Vic – A short form of Victor, from Latin, meaning “conqueror”
- Vale – A topographical name, meaning “valley”
- Vern – A diminutive form of Vernon, from English, meaning “from the place of alders”
Short Boy Names That Start with W
- Wes – A name of English origin, meaning “western meadow”
- Wyn – A name of Welsh origin, meaning “fair” and “blessed”
- Will – A short form of William, meaning “resolute protector”
- Win – A winning short form of several names that start with Win-
- Wim – A short, Dutch form of Willem, meaning “resolute protector”
Short Boy Names That Start with X
- Xael – A name used by Spanish-speaking families, meaning unknown, possibly “of the sea”
- Xan – A diminutive form of Alexander, meaning “defending men”
- Xen – A Japanese form of Buddhism
- Xavi – A Catalan diminutive of Xavier, meaning “bright” and “new house”
- Xun – A name of Chinese origin, meaning “snow”
Short Boy Names That Start with Y
- Yves – A popular name in France that has never crossed the Atlantic, meaning “yew wood” and pronounced “eve”
- Yael – A unisex name of Hebrew origin, meaning “to ascend”
- Yari – A Spanish name from Hebrew, meaning “gold”
- York – A name of English origin, meaning “from the yew estate”
- Yoni – A name of Hebrew origin, meaning “gift of Jehovah”
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Short Boy Names That Start with Z
- Zeb – A name from Hebrew, related to Zebediah or Zebulon, meaning “gift of Jehovah”
- Zac – A short form of the name Zachary, meaning “the Lord has remembered”
- Zan – A diminutive form of Alexander, meaning “defending men”
- Zen – A name of Japanese origin, meaning “meditation”
- Zeus – A name from Greek mythology, it refers to the supreme Olympian deity, known as the “sky father”
There you go! Know you know over 100 short boy names that get right to the point. If you’re not a fan of frivolous names, you’ve got plenty to consider. Short names read as bold and handsome so you’re off to a great start while trying to land on the right one. Happy baby name hunting!
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Baby Name Generator
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