Short Boy Names
663 namesBoy
Short boys' names have a crisp, direct quality that makes them easy to say, spell, and remember. Many of them are classics with long histories. John has been one of the most used names in English for centuries, and Luke comes from the Greek name of the gospel writer. Adam, Noah, and Levi are Hebrew names from the Bible, and Eli was a priest who raised a young prophet at Shiloh.
Other names here come from different languages. Liam began as an Irish short form of a Germanic name meaning resolute protector, and Ryan comes from an Irish surname. Owen and Evan are Welsh, and Ian is the Scottish form of that name. Jose and Luis are Spanish forms of classic names, and Leo is Latin for lion. Jack began as a medieval nickname and has long been a favorite in its own right.
Short names pair well with long surnames, creating a pleasing balance. They also rarely shorten further, so the name you choose is likely the one your son will use every day. If your surname is also short, consider a longer middle name to give the full name more rhythm and presence.
Most popular right now
Top 300 of 663 names
Sorted by current popularity. US rank uses 2025 data for the name's most common sex; the trend compares births with five years earlier. Tap a column heading to re-sort.
| Name | Meaning | Origin | US rank 2025 | 5-yr trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noah | rest, comfort | Hebrew | 2 | ↑ +10% |
| Liam | resolute protector | Irish | 1 | → +5% |
| John | Yahweh is gracious | Hebrew | 23 | → -3% |
| Ryan | little king | Irish | 99 | ↓ -34% |
| Jack | Yahweh is gracious | English | 15 | → -2% |
| Luke | man from Lucania | Greek | 33 | ↓ -11% |
| Owen | possibly well born | Welsh | 31 | ↓ -17% |
| Levi | joined, attached | Hebrew | 12 | ↑ +6% |
| Evan | Yahweh is gracious | Welsh | 153 | ↓ -29% |
| Jose | he will add | Spanish | 95 | → -5% |
| Eli | ascended, uplifted | Hebrew | 104 | ↓ -35% |
| Ian | God is gracious | Scottish | 83 | ↓ -8% |
| Leo | lion | Latin | 19 | ↑ +13% |
| Adam | man; possibly earth | Hebrew | 101 | ↓ -7% |
| Ezra | help | Hebrew | 20 | ↑ +19% |
| Luis | famous warrior | Spanish | 144 | ↓ -8% |
| Juan | God is gracious | Spanish | 159 | ↓ -8% |
| Jace | modern short form of Jason | American (modern coinage) | 114 | ↓ -19% |
| Luca | from Lucania; form of Luke | Italian | 14 | ↑ +81% |
| Cole | from an English surname | English | 182 | ↓ -28% |
| Alex | defender of men | Greek | 232 | ↓ -29% |
| Kai | sea (Hawaiian) | Hawaiian | 93 | → -3% |
| Axel | father of peace | Scandinavian | 79 | ↓ -11% |
| Eric | ever ruler | Old Norse | 273 | ↓ -34% |
| Max | greatest | Latin | 180 | ↓ -18% |
| Ivan | God is gracious | Russian | 163 | ↓ -8% |
| Joel | Yahweh is God | Hebrew | 219 | ↓ -11% |
| Kyle | narrow strait | Scottish | 509 | ↓ -44% |
| Sean | God is gracious | Irish | 489 | ↓ -37% |
| Alan | uncertain; possibly little rock or handsome | Breton | 191 | → -3% |
| Jude | praised | Hebrew | 155 | → -2% |
| Beau | handsome | French | 60 | ↑ +54% |
| Gael | — | Breton | 86 | ↑ +18% |
| Amir | prince, commander | Arabic | 105 | → +4% |
| Zion | a hill in Jerusalem | Hebrew | 142 | → -2% |
| Jake | short form of Jacob | English | 457 | ↓ -34% |
| Mark | probably dedicated to Mars | Latin | 245 | ↓ -9% |
| Cody | from an Irish surname | Irish | 318 | ↓ -5% |
| Abel | breath | Hebrew | 231 | ↓ -28% |
| Paul | small, humble | Latin | 262 | ↓ -6% |
| Omar | long-lived; flourishing | Arabic | 260 | → -4% |
| Dean | valley; church official | English | 125 | ↑ +33% |
| Milo | possibly 'merciful' or 'dear' | Germanic | 119 | ↑ +7% |
| Enzo | short form of Lorenzo or Vincenzo | Italian | 72 | ↑ +105% |
| Finn | fair, white | Irish | 206 | ↓ -21% |
| Seth | appointed | Hebrew | 581 | ↓ -27% |
| Zane | — | English | 324 | ↓ -23% |
| King | king | English | 405 | ↓ -65% |
| Gage | pledge | English | 973 | ↓ -63% |
| Theo | short for Theodore, gift of God | Greek | 82 | ↑ +77% |
| Luka | from Lucania | Slavic | 85 | ↑ +65% |
| Leon | lion | Greek | 138 | ↑ +34% |
| Lane | narrow path | English | 250 | → +1% |
| Cash | money; also an English surname | English | 287 | ↓ -9% |
| Jax | short for Jackson, son of Jack | American (modern coinage) | 342 | ↓ -32% |
| Ace | one who excels; the top card | English | 164 | ↑ +17% |
| Jett | jet, a black gemstone | English | 169 | ↑ +79% |
| Knox | round hill | Scottish | 196 | ↑ +20% |
| Ali | exalted, high | Arabic | 306 | ↑ +10% |
| Reid | red, red-haired | Scottish | 293 | ↑ +10% |
| Andy | short for Andrew, manly | English | 565 | ↓ -31% |
| Colt | young horse | English | 285 | ↓ -30% |
| Troy | from the ancient city of Troy | Greek | 533 | ↓ -22% |
| Erik | ever ruler | Old Norse | 546 | ↓ -22% |
| Jase | to heal; short form of Jason | English | 717 | ↓ -41% |
| Arlo | — | English | 148 | ↑ +44% |
| Cruz | cross | Spanish | 331 | ↓ -7% |
| Tate | from an Old English personal name | English | 194 | ↑ +107% |
| Cade | from an English surname; round, lumpy | English | 248 | ↑ +69% |
| Nash | at the ash tree | English | 255 | ↓ -10% |
| Iker | visitation | Basque | 390 | → +1% |
| Nico | short form of Nicholas, 'victory of the people' | Italian | 174 | ↑ +98% |
| Kash | variant of Cash, an English surname | American (modern coinage) | 286 | ↓ -14% |
| Reed | red-haired | English | 419 | ↑ +16% |
| Aden | little fire | Irish | 1,008 | ↓ -43% |
| Adan | man, earth | Spanish | 482 | → -1% |
| Jay | jay bird; short for J-names | English | 392 | → +0% |
| Kade | variant of Cade, an English surname | English | 349 | ↑ +10% |
| Raul | counsel wolf | Spanish | 634 | ↓ -13% |
| Hugo | mind, heart, spirit | Germanic | 378 | ↑ +18% |
| Wade | at the river ford | Old English | 344 | → +0% |
| Kane | battle; descendant of Cathán | Irish | 451 | ↓ -28% |
| Kobe | from the Japanese city of Kobe | Japanese | 519 | ↓ -62% |
| Saul | asked for, prayed for | Hebrew | 557 | ↑ +10% |
| Trey | third | English | 890 | ↓ -27% |
| Zayn | beauty, grace | Arabic | 253 | ↑ +30% |
| Rhys | enthusiasm, ardor | Welsh | 412 | ↑ +9% |
| Crew | group working together | English | 256 | ↑ +14% |
| Odin | fury, inspiration | Old Norse | 502 | ↓ -39% |
| Niko | victory of the people | Greek | 325 | ↑ +20% |
| Tony | short form of Anthony | English | 784 | ↓ -24% |
| Asa | healer, physician | Hebrew | 483 | ↑ +8% |
| Otto | wealth | Germanic | 277 | ↑ +57% |
| Alec | defender of men | Scottish | 977 | ↓ -50% |
| Kian | ancient, enduring | Irish | 401 | ↑ +21% |
| Roy | red; often linked to king | Scottish | 525 | ↑ +17% |
| Sam | God has heard; short for Samuel | Hebrew | 647 | ↑ +6% |
| Hank | short for Henry; home ruler | English | 413 | ↑ +26% |
| Dane | a Dane, from Denmark | English | 821 | ↑ +10% |
| Dax | uncertain; possibly from a French town | French | 692 | ↓ -38% |
| Joe | he will add; short for Joseph | English | 994 | ↓ -32% |
| Gary | from an English surname; possibly spear | English | 1,073 | ↓ -30% |
| Noe | rest, comfort | Spanish | 755 | ↓ -10% |
| Ares | — | Greek | 290 | ↑ +150% |
| Case | from an English surname | English | 733 | ↓ -26% |
| Koa | brave, warrior; koa tree | Hawaiian | 269 | ↑ +169% |
| Onyx | claw, fingernail; the gemstone | Greek | 365 | ↑ +97% |
| Zain | beauty, grace | Arabic | 567 | ↑ +8% |
| Carl | free man | German | 1,134 | ↓ -35% |
| Toby | God is good | English | 979 | ↑ +36% |
| Lee | wood, clearing, meadow | English | 727 | ↑ +17% |
| Aldo | old, elder | Italian | 960 | ↓ -19% |
| Mack | son of | Scottish | 463 | ↑ +15% |
| Cory | — | Irish | 1,245 | ↓ -35% |
| Neil | uncertain; possibly 'champion' or 'cloud' | Irish | 851 | ↓ -11% |
| Jon | Yahweh is gracious (via John) | English | 951 | ↓ -14% |
| Clay | clay | English | 573 | ↑ +24% |
| Marc | possibly from Mars (form of Mark) | French | 1,237 | ↓ -11% |
| Ray | counsel protector; ray of light | English | 792 | ↓ -7% |
| Rex | king | Latin | 859 | ↓ -26% |
| Aron | variant of Aaron | Hebrew | 711 | ↑ +10% |
| Koda | friend | Native American | 411 | ↑ +66% |
| Ben | son of the right hand | Hebrew | 843 | ↓ -7% |
| Ford | river crossing | English | 474 | → -1% |
| Chad | uncertain; possibly 'battle' | Old English | 1,701 | ↓ -36% |
| Kody | variant of Cody; helper | Irish | 1,070 | ↓ -13% |
| Rene | reborn | French | 1,092 | ↓ -9% |
| Duke | leader; the noble title | English | 695 | ↓ -8% |
| Amos | carried, borne by God | Hebrew | 730 | → -0% |
| Rudy | famous wolf; pet form of Rudolph | German | 739 | ↑ +32% |
| Kole | variant of Cole; charcoal, or from Nicholas | American (modern coinage) | 1,247 | ↓ -40% |
| Zeke | God strengthens | Hebrew | 803 | ↓ -19% |
| Zaid | growth, abundance | Arabic | 677 | → +3% |
| Will | will, desire and protection | English | 1,195 | ↓ -28% |
| Rey | king | Spanish | 908 | → +2% |
| Grey | grey, the color | English | 1,014 | ↓ -26% |
| Van | from; short form of names like Vance | Dutch | 972 | ↓ -9% |
| Kylo | modern; from a Star Wars character | American (modern coinage) | 402 | ↑ +20% |
| Otis | wealth | English | 652 | → +2% |
| Hugh | heart, mind, spirit | Germanic | 732 | ↑ +11% |
| Musa | Arabic form of Moses | Arabic | 470 | ↑ +100% |
| Lian | uncertain; varies by language | Chinese | 428 | ↑ +157% |
| Avi | my father | Hebrew | 832 | ↑ +22% |
| Rome | the city of Rome | Latin | 452 | ↑ +213% |
| Emir | prince, commander | Arabic | 551 | ↑ +33% |
| Cain | acquired | Hebrew | 1,142 | ↓ -27% |
| Koen | bold counsel | Dutch | 623 | ↑ +176% |
| Jair | he shines, he enlightens | Hebrew | 1,193 | ↓ -32% |
| Kase | modern variant of Case | American (modern coinage) | 1,115 | ↓ -30% |
| Mike | who is like God? | English | 1,234 | → -3% |
| Ayan | uncertain; varies by language | — | 762 | ↑ +37% |
| Bode | uncertain; possibly messenger | German | 748 | ↑ +24% |
| Mac | son | Scottish | 696 | ↑ +65% |
| Isai | Spanish form of Jesse; gift | Spanish | 1,139 | ↑ +16% |
| Zayd | growth, increase | Arabic | 633 | ↑ +47% |
| Kye | variant of Kai or Kyle | American (modern coinage) | 1,369 | ↓ -52% |
| Zyon | variant of Zion | Hebrew | 947 | ↑ +42% |
| Dash | dash, quick movement | English | 1,056 | ↓ -29% |
| Krew | crew | American (modern coinage) | 601 | ↑ +34% |
| Coen | bold counsel | Dutch | 1,376 | ↓ -42% |
| Leif | heir, descendant | Old Norse | 917 | → +5% |
| Axl | father of peace; variant of Axel | American (modern coinage) | 1,123 | ↓ -40% |
| Ean | variant of Ian; Yahweh is gracious | Scottish | 1,797 | ↓ -29% |
| Kale | short for Caleb; Hawaiian form of Charles | English | 7,419 | ↓ -56% |
| Deon | variant of Dion | American (modern coinage) | 1,383 | ↓ -12% |
| Todd | fox | English | 1,618 | ↓ -15% |
| Ozzy | short for Oswald or Osborne | English | 549 | ↑ +184% |
| Jai | victory | Sanskrit | 1,460 | ↓ -25% |
| Cal | short for Calvin, Callum or Caleb | English | 543 | ↑ +136% |
| Ross | headland | Scottish | 1,465 | ↓ -10% |
| Dion | short form of Dionysius | Greek | 1,268 | ↓ -33% |
| Yair | he will shine | Hebrew | 1,450 | ↑ +16% |
| Zev | wolf | Hebrew | 866 | ↑ +11% |
| Keon | uncertain; modern coinage | American (modern coinage) | 1,578 | ↓ -21% |
| Fox | fox | English | 1,411 | ↓ -47% |
| Dale | valley | English | 1,410 | → -2% |
| Taj | crown | Persian | 1,667 | ↓ -41% |
| Wes | short form of Wesley; west meadow | English | 716 | ↑ +74% |
| Mylo | — | Germanic | 737 | ↑ +24% |
| Gino | short for names like Luigi | Italian | 1,218 | ↑ +8% |
| Elio | sun (from Helios) | Italian | 388 | ↑ +342% |
| Lyle | the island | French | 1,047 | → +2% |
| Sami | elevated, sublime | Arabic | 1,114 | ↑ +41% |
| Zack | short for Zachary; God has remembered | Hebrew | 1,435 | ↓ -9% |
| Beck | stream, brook | English | 913 | ↑ +32% |
| Gian | short form of Giovanni; God is gracious | Italian | 956 | ↑ +54% |
| Bear | bear | English | 853 | ↑ +14% |
| Meir | one who shines | Hebrew | 948 | ↑ +12% |
| Jaxx | modern variant of Jax | American (modern coinage) | 1,102 | ↓ -24% |
| Nick | short for Nicholas; victory of the people | English | 1,447 | → +2% |
| Cale | short for Caleb; also a surname | English | 2,722 | ↑ +15% |
| Amar | immortal | Sanskrit | 1,388 | ↓ -8% |
| Karl | free man | German | 1,593 | → +3% |
| Gray | gray; gray-haired | English | 1,418 | ↓ -15% |
| Khai | — | Vietnamese | 1,179 | ↑ +21% |
| Kael | — | American (modern coinage) | 903 | ↑ +265% |
| Gus | short form of Augustus or Gustav | English | 1,331 | ↓ -12% |
| Josh | short form of Joshua; God is salvation | English | 1,703 | → +2% |
| Coby | short for Jacob; supplanter | English | 1,874 | ↓ -38% |
| Kace | modern coinage | American (modern coinage) | 1,016 | ↓ -24% |
| Kyro | modern name of uncertain origin | American (modern coinage) | 611 | ↑ +72% |
| Jad | serious, earnest | Arabic | 1,355 | ↓ -36% |
| Kyan | — | American (modern coinage) | 2,029 | ↓ -39% |
| Boaz | uncertain; possibly 'swiftness' | Hebrew | 891 | ↑ +51% |
| Eddy | pet form of Edward or Edmund | English | 1,605 | ↑ +6% |
| Tzvi | deer, gazelle | Hebrew | 1,079 | ↑ +13% |
| Jet | jet, the black gemstone | English | 1,246 | ↑ +17% |
| Zen | meditation | Japanese | 1,144 | ↑ +16% |
| Guy | uncertain; possibly 'wood' or 'wide' | French | 1,637 | ↓ -21% |
| Syed | lord, master | Arabic | 1,221 | ↑ +24% |
| Cian | ancient, enduring | Irish | 1,310 | ↑ +25% |
| Maxx | greatest (variant of Max) | American (modern coinage) | 1,761 | → -1% |
| Veer | brave, hero | Sanskrit | 942 | ↑ +45% |
| Cael | — | Irish | 1,945 | ↑ +55% |
| Lev | lion; also heart | Russian | 1,001 | ↑ +28% |
| Emil | rival (from Aemilius) | German | 1,269 | → +2% |
| Coy | shy, quiet | English | 1,451 | → -3% |
| Kent | from the English county | English | 1,659 | ↓ -16% |
| Ewan | uncertain; possibly born of the yew | Scottish | 1,479 | ↑ +8% |
| Teo | short for Teodoro or Mateo; gift of God | Spanish | 794 | ↑ +146% |
| Kolt | variant of Colt, young horse | American (modern coinage) | 1,414 | ↓ -36% |
| Tahj | crown | Persian | 1,544 | ↓ -39% |
| Crue | uncertain; modern word-style name | American (modern coinage) | 797 | ↑ +90% |
| Kruz | variant of Cruz, cross | Spanish | 1,216 | ↓ -11% |
| Rico | short for Ricardo or Enrico | Spanish | 1,805 | ↓ -26% |
| Neo | new | Greek | 1,066 | ↑ +13% |
| Yoel | God is God | Hebrew | 1,643 | ↓ -31% |
| Kain | variant of Kane or Cain | Irish | 1,738 | ↓ -12% |
| Xavi | short form of Xavier; new house | Catalan | 1,545 | ↑ +87% |
| Oren | pine tree | Hebrew | 1,184 | ↑ +37% |
| Alek | short for Alexander, defender | Greek | 2,604 | ↓ -54% |
| Roan | red; from Irish Ruadhán or roan horse | Irish | 1,309 | ↑ +14% |
| Ash | ash tree | English | 1,177 | → -4% |
| Ely | variant of Eli; or English place name | Hebrew | 2,653 | → +2% |
| Hans | short form of Johannes; God is gracious | German | 1,325 | ↑ +25% |
| Kyng | king, respelled | American (modern coinage) | 1,684 | ↓ -62% |
| Zeus | sky, bright | Greek | 1,351 | ↓ -12% |
| Dev | god, deity | Sanskrit | 1,427 | ↑ +29% |
| Chaz | short for Charles, free man | English | 4,568 | ↓ -71% |
| Elon | oak tree | Hebrew | 1,780 | ↓ -52% |
| Jrue | modern name of uncertain origin | American (modern coinage) | 817 | ↑ +153% |
| Elan | tree in Hebrew; vigor in French | Hebrew | 2,490 | ↓ -29% |
| Koby | short form of Jacob; supplanter | Hebrew | 2,174 | ↓ -35% |
| Neal | uncertain; possibly champion or cloud | Irish | 1,914 | ↓ -21% |
| Ajay | unconquerable | Sanskrit | 2,230 | ↓ -26% |
| Nate | short for Nathan or Nathaniel; gift | English | 1,748 | ↑ +18% |
| Jan | form of John; God is gracious | Dutch | 2,731 | ↓ -32% |
| Ilan | tree | Hebrew | 1,445 | ↓ -6% |
| Don | short for Donald; world ruler | Scottish | 1,795 | → -1% |
| Earl | nobleman, warrior | English | 2,236 | ↓ -7% |
| Dov | bear | Hebrew | 1,453 | ↑ +7% |
| Rami | archer; also exalted | Arabic | 1,106 | ↑ +58% |
| Fred | peace; short for Frederick | English | 1,936 | → -4% |
| Anas | friendliness, companionship | Arabic | 1,292 | ↑ +16% |
| Kurt | short form of Konrad; bold counsel | German | 2,271 | ↓ -34% |
| Noam | pleasantness | Hebrew | 1,273 | ↑ +52% |
| Umar | life, long-lived | Arabic | 1,164 | ↑ +78% |
| Dan | he judged | Hebrew | 1,962 | ↓ -9% |
| Lyam | variant of Liam | French | 1,086 | ↑ +31% |
| Eder | beautiful, handsome | Basque | 1,734 | ↑ +7% |
| Adin | delicate, gentle | Hebrew | 2,766 | ↑ +12% |
| Link | ridge, rising ground; also a chain link | English | 1,579 | ↓ -37% |
| Tyce | modern variant of Ty or Tyson | American (modern coinage) | 2,255 | ↓ -34% |
| Said | happy, fortunate | Arabic | 1,596 | ↑ +34% |
| Izan | uncertain; often linked to Ethan | Spanish | 884 | ↑ +80% |
| Davi | Portuguese form of David, 'beloved' | Portuguese | 1,493 | ↑ +17% |
| Loki | uncertain; Norse trickster god | Old Norse | 1,858 | ↓ -37% |
| Ansh | portion, part | Sanskrit | 2,109 | ↓ -28% |
| Neel | blue | Sanskrit | 1,581 | ↑ +30% |
| Eren | saint, holy person | Turkish | 882 | ↑ +358% |
| Hadi | guide, leader | Arabic | 1,342 | ↑ +71% |
| Glen | valley | Scottish | 2,026 | ↑ +37% |
| Ved | sacred knowledge | Sanskrit | 1,131 | ↑ +61% |
| Obed | servant, worshipper | Hebrew | 2,072 | ↑ +6% |
| Cam | short form of Cameron, crooked nose | Scottish | 1,395 | ↑ +44% |
| Saif | sword | Arabic | 1,320 | ↑ +82% |
| Rafe | short form of Ralph, counsel wolf | English | 1,165 | ↑ +156% |
| Thor | thunder | Old Norse | 2,875 | ↓ -49% |
| Axle | variant of Axel, father of peace | Scandinavian | 1,709 | ↓ -26% |
| Niam | modern name, meaning uncertain | American (modern coinage) | 1,441 | ↓ -11% |
| Zyan | modern name, meaning uncertain | American (modern coinage) | 1,546 | ↑ +30% |
| Lars | from Laurentum; form of Lawrence | Scandinavian | 1,897 | → 0% |
| Amin | trustworthy, faithful | Arabic | 1,603 | ↑ +26% |
| Tye | from an English surname, 'enclosure' | English | 3,306 | ↓ -26% |
| Kirk | church | Scottish | 2,551 | ↓ -22% |
| Vito | life | Italian | 1,507 | ↑ +27% |
| Brad | short form of Bradley, 'broad clearing' | English | 4,267 | ↓ -42% |
| Olin | from an English surname, meaning uncertain | English | 1,849 | → -3% |
| Kory | uncertain; from an Irish surname | Irish | 3,352 | ↓ -33% |
| Taha | opening letters of a Quran chapter | Arabic | 1,598 | ↑ +49% |
| Sire | father, lord | English | 1,475 | ↓ -21% |
| Eros | love; Greek god of love | Greek | 1,324 | ↑ +25% |
| Nile | from the river Nile | Greek | 1,848 | → 0% |
| West | west; from an English surname | English | 1,255 | ↑ +96% |
| Yash | fame, glory | Sanskrit | 2,675 | → +2% |
| Luc | from Lucania; French form of Luke | French | 3,483 | ↓ -35% |
| Judd | medieval pet form of Jordan, flowing down | English | 1,704 | ↓ -7% |
| Krue | variant of Crew | American (modern coinage) | 937 | ↑ +132% |
| Lex | short form of Alexander, defender | Greek | 2,322 | ↓ -28% |
| Fynn | variant of Finn, fair | Irish | 2,192 | ↓ -44% |
This page shows the most popular names in this list.