Are you looking for cool short names for boys? Naming your baby boy is one of the most fun parts of pregnancy, but can also be overwhelming trying to find the best name for him. If you’ve decided on a short name for your baby boy, that will help you even more in narrowing down the name, as it rules out a lot of other longer names.
Short boy names are often chosen because they are easy to pronounce and remember and can also have a strong and powerful connotation. Additionally, some parents prefer short names because they feel that a longer name may be too formal or cumbersome for a child. Some examples of short boy names include Max, Alex, and Ben.
In addition, there are just some really cool short boy names out there to choose from! In this article, we highlight 1 and 2 syllable names. So, while some may appear longer in their spelling, the pronunciation is still shorter.
In my family, we chose short names for our boys. We have a long last name so we felt strong, unique, and short first names would fit well with the theme of the family and the long last name. It worked out great for us and I think it could be great for you, too!
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Cool short names for boys
When choosing a short boy name, there are several things to consider:
- Meaning: Look for a name that has a meaning that is important to you or that you think will have significance for your child.
- Pronunciation: Make sure that the name is easy to pronounce and that it sounds good with your surname.
- Popularity: Consider whether the name is common or unique. Some people prefer a name that is not too common, while others prefer a name that is well-established.
- Family history: Think about whether you want to continue a family tradition or choose a name that is new to your family.
- Personal preference: Ultimately, the most important factor in choosing a name is what you and your partner like. Take the time to discuss different options and go with the name that you both feel good about.
When choosing our boys names we did a mix of personal preference for our first son, a family name for our middle, and a unique name for our last.
And the key was that they all were four letters so they sound good together and they all go well with our last name. Their middle names is where we played around with longer names.
Naming your boy tips:
Say your last name is Johnston and you want a short name with a longer middle name. Maybe something like:
- Dash Michael Johnston
- Ace Matthew Johnston
- Milo Alexander Johnston
Even a longer first name that you plan on using a nickname with, like:
- Nicholas (Nick) Anthony Johnston
- Harrison (Harry) Matthew Johnston
Short names for boys
A boy names
- Ash
- Ace
- Asher
- Aiden
- Anders
- Alex
- Alan
- Adam
- Al
- Arie
- Asa
- Axel
- Aven
- Alec
- Axl
- Abe
- Arden
- Arbor
- Axel
- Arlo
- Abel
- Amos
- Abram
- Aries
- Avi
- Adler
- Aman
- Atlas
- Andy
- Andre
B boy names
- Beck
- Brent
- Blaine
- Ben
- Briggs
- Brock
- Bach
- Bowen
- Beau
- Blaze or Blaise
- Blake
- Brad
- Baker
- Banks
- Boone
- Brant
- Buck
- Boden
- Bryn
- Birch
- Brady
- Bates
- Brent
- Brooks
- Brody
- Bryce
- Brian
- Bryan
- Briar
- Bear
- Bronx
- Brad
C boy names
- Cash
- Chet
- Chance
- Colin
- Corey
- Cole
- Chip
- Case
- Chad
- Carl
- Colby
- Chase
- Chris
- Cyrus
- Clark
- Cruz
- Colt
- Cade
- Cayden
- Caleb
- Cove
- Chevy
- Crew
- Cohen
- Coby
- Clyde
- Corbin
- Creek
- Casen
- Charles
- Cosmo
- Chuck
- Cody
- Cade
- Carlo
- Creed
- Cain
- Cree
- Cary
- Carlo
- Clint
- Cutler
- Camry
- Covey
- Caleb
- Carter
- Carson
- Cree
D boy names
- Dale
- Dex
- Derek
- Dion
- Darby
- Dante
- Dylan
- Dallas
- Dax
- Dane
- Davis
- Dixon
- David
- Dash
- Dean
- Drake
- Dune
- Duke
- Drew
- Draco
- Dario
- Don
- Davy
- Desi
- Dirk
- Dell
E boy names
- Elias
- Ezra
- Evan
- Edwin
- Eamon
- Eros
- Evren
- Ezio
- Eli
- Erik
- Enzo
- Eric
- Elon
- Ender
- Elliot
- Elon
- Elm
- Eder
- Edson
- Evans
- Elis
- Elvis
- Erickson
- Efron
- Elio
- Everette (nickname: rett)
- Emrys
- Eugene
- Easton
- Ewan
F boy names
- Finn
- Ford
- Flynn
- Faber
- Floris
- Farren
- Fort
- Felix
- Fox
- Frank
- Fuller
- Felix
- Flynn
- Fallon
- Forest
- Fitz
- Fletch
- Flint
- Fleeet
- Frisco
- Fraizer
- Franco
- Fowler
- Forbes
- Fineas
- Fagan
- Forney
- Foster
- Fisher
- Falcon
- Fane
- Foley
- Fort
- Foster
G boy names
- Grant
- Gabe
- Gage
- Grady
- Gunnar
- Gentry
- Gino
- Glen
- Grey
- Guy
- Graham
- Gavin
- Greer
- Garrett
- Gabe
- Galin
- Griff
- Griffen
- Grove
- Gaines
- Garin
- Glover
- Glenn
- Gordy
- Gaetan
- Garth
- Gunter
- Gaine
- Gib
- Gillson
- Gazer
H names for boys
- Hank
- Hans
- Holt
- Hugo
- Hux
- Heath
- Hiller
- Harlan
- Hart
- Hank
- Hawk
- Hayes
- Heath
- Huck
- Harris
- Hud
- Hudson
- Hugh
- Howe
- Henry
- Harry
- Hans
- Halen
- Hyde
- Haze
- Harlo
- Hurst
- Hardy
- Haider
- Harley
- Hawk
- Hanson
- Hayden
- Hill
- Holmes
- Halver
- Hernlee
I names for boys
- Ian
- Ike
- Isaac
- Ivan
- Innes
- Iggy
- Ira
- Israel
- Isa
- Irvin
- Indy
J names for boys
- James
- Jules
- Jack
- Jax
- Judd
- Jake
- Jensen
- Jasper
- Jacob
- John
- Joseph
- Justin
- Jason
- Jude
- Joel
- Judah
- Julien
- Joey
- Jesse
- Jett
- Jeremy
- Judd
- Jed
- Jamie
- Jared
- Jeff
- Josh
- Joshua
- Jaden
- Jody
- Joss
- Jose
- Jace
- Jackson
- Jade
- Jagger
- Jones
- Jovan
- Jesse
K names for boys
- Kai
- King
- Kale
- Keane
- Keys
- Karter
- Kevin
- Kyle
- Kaleb
- Kori
- Kent
- Knight
- Kaiser
- Kye
- Kody
- Kenzie
- Knox
- Kyler
- Kaden
- Kirk
- Kobe
- Kane
- Kade
- Kylo
- Keanu
- Kit
- Koen
- Kato
- Keon
- Kyler
- Kenan
- Kalen
- Kirby
- Kayne
- Kendal
- Kory
- Kiko
- Karlo
- Kale
- Kohl
- Kord
- Kenzo
- King
- Kelso
- Kash
- Kavi
L names for boys
- Liam
- Lucas
- Lux
- Lee
- Levi
- Lance
- Leni
- Leroy
- Lev
- Lux
- Lyle
- Leif
- Lumi
- Lane
- Lee
- Loki
- Leo
- Luke
- Locke
- Link
- Lark
- Leto
- Logan
- Lander
- Luca
- Leon
- Lane
- Layne
- Lawson
- Lewis
- Lowe
- Lee
- Lonnie
- Lex
- Lars
- Leon
- Larson
- Leone
- Leven
- Ladd
- Lowry
- Luke
- Lando
- Leno
- Lake
- Layne
- Ladd
- Lander
- Leland
M names for boys
- Matt
- Mike
- Myles
- Miller
- Mack
- Miles
- Mac
- Milo
- Murphy
- Mylo
- Max
- Mark
- Marco
- Mario
- Major
- Mills
- Moore
- Marcus
- Matthew
- McCoy
- Mars
- Mayer
- Mabrey
- Maksim
- Mycah
- Marty
- Mick
- Milt
- Michael
- Midas
- MacGuire (Mac)
- Mitch
- Myer
- Mayes
- Mayor
- Munroe
- Murry
- Marsten
- Marzo
- Micah
- Mateo
N names for boys
- Noah
- Nick
- Nate
- Niles
- Nixon
- Nelson
- Nathan
- Nader
- Neo
- Navi
- Nolan
- Nicky
- Norrie
- Niran
- Nuri
- Neal
- Nash
- Nico
- Noel
- Nevin
- Nero
- Nasr
- Navon
- Novah
- Ned
- Neil
- Night
- Nace
- Navy
- North
O names for boys
- Owen
- Odin
- Oscar
- Omri
- Ordell
- Omar
- Otis
- Olin
- Orwin
- Oak
- Oaks
- Oakley
P names for boys
- Pierce
- Perry
- Pratt
- Prewitt
- Parks
- Prosper
- Pierre
- Percy
- Payne
- Pax
- Patton
- Peter
- Pete
- Platt
- Paden
- Pacey
- Payce
- Parke
- Pilot
- Pat
Q names for boys
- Quinn
- Quincy
- Quade
- Quent
- Quint
- Quinlan
- Quimby
- Quill
- Quest
R names for boys
- Riley
- River
- Ryan
- Rogan
- Rod
- Ryan
- Rick
- Ross
- Regan
- Rowan
- Rhys
- Reece
- Rio
- Rome
- Rohan
- Ravi
- Riker
- Rye
- Rocco
- Ridge
- Roman
- Rory
- Radley
- Rainer
- Reeve
- Rudd
- Reeves
- Reno
- Rock
- Rayce
- Ronan
- Ramsey
- Rand
- Raines
- Rad
- Ro
- Red
- Ridley
- Raine
- Romeo
- Royce
- Ryder
- Rylee
- Remi
- Rhett
- Roland
- Resse
S names for boys
- Sam
- Sale
- Sage
- Sean
- Storm
- Shawn
- Skylar
- Simon
- Smith
- Shalom
- Story
- Shai
- Sloan
- Shiloh
- Sterling
- Stetson
- Skye
- Shep
- Seager
- Saint
- Stone
- Steel
- Sagan
- Slate
- Serge
- Skylen
- Shannan
- Shia
- Scott
- Saddler
- Samson
- Slater
- Sasha
- Shepherd
- Stockard
- Saunders
- Sawyer
- Seth
- Sam
- Santos
- Shane
- Sonny
- Sylas
- Scout
- Shay
- Sidney
- Spencer
- Sorley
- Stadler
- Sutton
T names for boys
- Theo
- Trent
- Todd
- Teagan
- Tripp
- Trace
- Thomas
- Trey
- Taran
- Tyler
- Tegan
- Tracey
- Tristan
- Tucker
- Thorpe
- Teague
- Topper
- Tait
- Terrel
- Tatum
- Turner
- Thaine
- Thanos
- Teagan
- Truman
- Tanner
- Tidus
- Ted
- Teddy
- Taj
- Thames
- Tommy
- Teddie
- Trevor
- Tavin
- Thore
- Thad
- Travis
- Tyson
- Taylor
- Topher
- Trip
- Tristan
- Trenton
- Tony
- Troy
- Trevor
- Talon
U names for boys
- Ugo
- Uri
- Umi
- Ulrich
- Upton
- Usher
- Utah
V names for boys
- Victor
- Vince
- Viggo
- Vance
- Van
- Vaughn
- Vincent
- Valen
- Vane
- Vallen
- Vlad
- Virgo
- Vito
- Vinny
W names for boys
- Wyatt
- Wes
- Wesley
- Wylie
- Wilson
- Wayne
- Wolfe
- Willis
- Walker
- Witt
- Weston
- Winter
- Waylon
- Wade
- Westcott
- Warren
- Wells
- Wilder
- Will
- Wilmer
- Walden
- West
- Walt
- Wren
- Wills
X names for boys
- Xander
- Xavi
- Xavier
- Xyler
- Xia
- Xain
Y names for boys
- York
- Yuri
- Yash
- Yasir
- Yance
- Yates
Z names for boys
- Zion
- Zane
- Zayne
- Zaine
- Zaid
- Zeke
- Zac
- Zev
- Zani
- Zoltan
- Zeph
- Zarren
- Zeth
Picking a short boy name
Settling on a boy name can be a difficult decision, but there are a few strategies that can help:
Make a list:
Write down all the names that you and your partner like, and then narrow down the list by eliminating the names that you don’t both agree on.
Consider the meaning:
Look up the meanings of the names on your list and see if any of them have special significance or significance to you or your family.
Try it out:
Say the name out loud and see how it sounds with your last name.
Consider the nickname:
Think about what nickname the name might have and if you would be comfortable with it. If you choose a long name, for example, with the hopes of the nickname being used.
Consider the initials:
Some people like to consider the initials of the name to make sure it does not spell something unpleasant or unintended.
Take your time:
Don’t feel pressured to make a decision right away. Take your time and consider different options until you are both completely happy with your choice.
Consider the future:
Think about how the name will suit your child as he grows older and becomes an adult. But, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. I’ve found that my children have all grown into their names, even the child with the unique name.
Ultimately, the most important thing is that both you and your partner feel good about the name, so take the time to discuss different options and make the decision together.
Related reading:
Long boy names – not sure if you prefer short or long boy names? Have a look at this list of long names to decide.
Pin for later reading
Mom to Littles is a passion project of long-time stay-at-home mother of three boys. Nell loves to write about baby names, pregnancy advice, best baby products, and self-care for new moms. You’ll find MomtoLittles.com to be a place for real talk and a warm hug from a friend for the mom of little children.
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