250 Short Boy Names and Their Meanings

Whether you just learned you’re pregnant or your little one’s arrival is around the corner, you’re probably curious about short baby names. Short baby boy names can be some of the most powerful and unique, offering beautiful meanings and snappy sounds. For inspiration, we’ve gathered 250 short names that range from popular and simple to unique and international.

Popular Short Boy Names

Short boy names are all the buzz lately, with many of these little names topping the most popular lists in the U. S. over the past few years. Even some short baby names are trending, such as Liam and Luca, so you have plenty of options.

1. Liam. As the Irish short form of William, Liam is the most popular boy name in recent years. It’s a great choice if you like a classic name but want to put a fun and short spin on it.

2. Noah. The second-most popular short name for boys is Noah, a Hebrew moniker that means “rest, repose. ” It started gaining popularity in the 1970s and took off in the 1990s.

3. Jack. Cute, short, and sweet, Jack is one of those classic names that never go out of style. Though it’s a diminutive of John (meaning “Yahweh is gracious”), you can also link Jack to the French boys’ name Jacques, meaning “may God protect.”

4. Levi. As a Hebrew name, Levi means “joined, attached,” which is a very cute meaning for your little boy, who will surely be attached to you!

5. Owen. Owen is originally a Welsh name that connects to the Latin moniker Eugenius (a. k. a. Eugene). It’s the perfect short baby name as it means “well-born.”

6. John. A true classic, John is a name that's been around for centuries and still makes it in the top 10. It’s a Hebrew name that means “Yahweh is gracious” in reference to God.

7. Leo. Leo was originally a gender-neutral name popular at the turn of the century. It made a comeback 100 years later and started rising in popularity again in the early 2000s. It derives from a Greek word meaning “lion.”

8. Luke. As the English form of the Latin name Lucas, Luke means “from Lucania,” a historical region in Southern Italy. It’s been one of the more popular short names for boys since the 1970s.

9. Ezra. The Hebrew and biblical name Ezra has been around for a long time, but it wasn’t until the 2010s that it really started to make waves. Though it’s always been a short baby name for boys, it became a gender-neutral name in 2018.

10. Luca. If you like the short baby name Luke but prefer an international twist, consider cute Luca. This is the Romanian and Italian form of Lucas, so it also means “from Lucania.” Interestingly, the name Luca is starting to lose popularity in Italy but is one of the trendiest names in the United States.

Choosing a baby name can be fun yet also overwhelming. For even more ideas, check out our Baby Name Generator.

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Short Unique Boy Names

Unique baby names offer your little one a bit of individuality to help them stand out from the crowd. There are plenty of short unique baby names you could choose from that are both rare and cool, such as Shaw or Ever.

1. Alva. You might not know anyone with the name Alva, as it dropped off the records in the 1960s. It used to be quite a popular name for both girls and boys and was the middle name of Thomas Edison. It’s a variant of Alvah, which means “his highness” in Hebrew.

2. Cree. Cree is rare as a given moniker, as it comes from an indigenous tribe of the same name spanning the borders of Canada and the United States. It’s a unisex name and a great option for short names for boys.

3. Ever. This might top our list of unique short names for boys, as it’s very rare. It’s an English name that simply comes from the word ever, though derived from the Old English word æfre .

4. Hayes. If you like the idea of last names as given names, you might consider Hayes. Former president Rutherford B. Hayes bore this name, and it comes from an Old English word meaning “fence, enclosure.”

5. Lorn. Lorn is a short unique baby name that had a brief moment of popularity in the United States in the 1960s. It comes from the Scottish place name Lorne, and because it was the title of the first governor-general of Canada, it’s been a common given name in Canada for quite some time.

6. Nash. Despite rising in popularity in recent years, Nash is still a unique name. It comes from the Middle English phrase atten ash, meaning “at the ash tree. ” If you’re a fan of the folk-rock band Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, you might like this option!

7. Rian. The name Ryan is definitely a common and classic short baby name for boys, but Rian—the Irish form of the name—is unique, only used in the United States since the late 1970s. So, if you're hunting for a classic name with a rare twist, try Rian or even Rían.

8. Shaw. As an English and Scottish surname, Shaw has two options when it comes to meaning. It either derives from the Old English word sceaga meaning “thicket” or the Gaelic name Sitheach meaning “wolf.”

9. Vere. Both a Norman surname and derived from a Gaulish word, Vere means “alder,” as in the tree, so it’s a cute option for a nature baby name.

10. York. If your family has English roots, the short baby name York could be a cute option. It’s the name of a city in northern England derived from words meaning “yew,” “boar,” and “village.”

Choosing a baby name can be fun yet also overwhelming. Watch this video for some exciting facts that could help you find the perfect baby name!

Short and Simple Boy Names

Short baby names seem to be extra cute. These simple boy names are those classic monikers that you probably grew up with, often short forms for traditional titles like Alex for Alexander or Matt for Matthew. Short and snappy, they give a cute yet simple spin to a classic name.

1. Alex. The short form of Alexander, Alex is a common name for guys. As a Greek name, Alexander means “defending man. ” You might recognize the name from Alexander the Great, the king of Macedon in the fourth century BCE.

2. Alan. Common and simple, Alan has been a staple in the United States for a long time, hitting its popularity peak in the 1950s. It comes from the Brittany region of France and means “little rock” or “handsome.”

3. Ben. You really can’t go wrong with the name Ben, which is a common staple in many countries across Europe, plus the United States and Australia. It’s the short form of Benjamin and Benedict, which mean “son of the right hand” and “blessed,” respectively.

4. Kyle. Popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Kyle is an excellent short baby name for those wanting something simple yet cool. It comes from several Scottish place names, deriving from the Gaelic word caol , meaning “channel, strait.”

5. Kurt. You might think that Kurt is short for Curtis, but it’s actually the German form of Conrad, so it means “brave counsel. ” One famous bearer of the name was the late musician Kurt Cobain.

6. Lou. The short baby boy name Lou gives you a little bit of everything: a cute, classic, and timeless moniker. It comes from the French name Louis, which connects to the German moniker Ludwig, meaning “famous battle.”

7. Matt. Though a short and simple boy name, Matt has a significant meaning. As the short form of Matthew, it derives from a Hebrew name meaning “gift of God.”

8. Ryan. As mentioned above with short unique boy names, Ryan is quite a common moniker. Though the Irish version Rian offers a bit of rarity, Ryan is still an Irish name on its own and means “little king.”

9. Tony. If you’re looking for a simple boy name with a lot of meaning, consider Tony, the short form of Anthony, which derives from the Roman family name Antonius. You might recall the Roman emperor Mark Anthony, also known for his relationship with Cleopatra.

10. Zack. For a bit of nostalgia, consider the name Zack, a popular 1990s sitcom name thanks to Zack Morris from the series Saved by the Bell. Zack is the short form of Zachary, which connects to the Hebrew name Zekharyah, meaning “God remembers.”

Classic Short Names for Boys

Old-fashioned boy names only get cuter as they get shorter! Imagine your little one as Otto or Rudy, or maybe Jody or Lyle.

1. Bert. Does it get any cuter than a baby named Bert? This classic moniker is the short form of Albert, a Germanic name meaning “noble” and “bright.”

2. Bob. Though the name Bob fizzled out in the 1980s, it’s still one of the most classic names in the United States. It’s short for Robert, a Germanic name meaning “bright fame.”

3. Cary. You might like this name if you’re a fan of the late actor Cary Grant, who contributed to the moniker’s popularity starting in the 1940s. This short baby boy name derives from Irish Ciardha, which means “black.”

4. Earl. A truly classic name, Earl peaked in popularity in the late nineteenth century and only fizzled out in the 2000s. It derives from an Old English word meaning “nobleman, warrior.”

5. Guy. This is the Norman French form of the name Wido, a historic Germanic name meaning “wood. ” Guy was a popular name until the end of the sixteenth century when the infamous Guy Fawkes attempted to destroy the British Parliament. It rose again in popularity in the nineteenth century, after it was used for character names in several novels.

6. Jody. Though slightly more common as a girls’ name, Jody is a unisex moniker that works as a variant of Judy (for girls) or a diminutive of Joseph (for boys). Its popularity for both genders reigned from the 1940s through the 1990s. If you’re using this classic short baby name from Joseph, then it means “he will add” in Hebrew.

7. Lyle. Short and simple, Lyle was quite a classic name for boys at the start of the twentieth century and is currently regaining its popularity. The name derives from the Norman French word l'isle , meaning “island.”

8. Mort. Mort is one of the more adorable and classic guy names, a short form for Morton or Mortimer. Both are English surnames, with Morton meaning “moor town” and Mortimer deriving from Old French and meaning “still water.”

9. Otto. If you’re looking for a classic short baby name with Nordic ties, Otto is an excellent option. It’s a common name in places like northern Germany, Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden and means “wealth, fortune.”

10. Rudy. A diminutive of Rudolf, Rudy has held its own as a classic name in the United States and is still used today. Rudolf comes from Germanic elements meaning “fame” and “wolf.”

The Bottom Line

Naming your new arrival is a big decision, and we hope this list of short baby names sparks some inspiration. Short names make great nicknames, middle names, or can stand alone as fun, catchy choices. Soon enough, your little Ace or adorable Elmo will be ready to explore their tiny world!