Short Baby Names

Names with 1-2 syllables and no more than 5 letters. They punch above their weight — easy to call across a playground, hard to shorten further, and they balance well with longer surnames. These are the names that feel complete on their own.

15,584 names — click any name for full meaning, origin, and analysis

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#2

Emma

strength

English
#5

Mia

mine, beloved

Italian
#9

Ava

like a bird, birdlike

English
#10

Sofia

divine wisdom

Spanish
#13

Luna

moon

Latin
#19

Hazel

hazel tree

English
#20

Chloe

new growth, spring

English
#21

Ellie

bright, shining light

English
#22

Nora

bright, shining light

Irish
#24

Lily

lily flower, purity

English
#25

Emily

from the Aemilius family

English
#26

Aria

noble

Italian
#29

Zoe

alive, living

Greek
#30

Ella

goddess

English
#31

Avery

elf power

English
#33

Mila

gracious, dear, beloved

Slavic
#34

Lucy

light, illumination

English
#35

Isla

island

Scottish
#36

Ivy

ivy plant

English
#37

Layla

night, dark beauty

Arabic
#39

Nova

Star that suddenly increases dramatically in br...

English
#40

Grace

grace, divine favor

English
#42

Riley

courageous, valiant

Irish
#44

Naomi

beautiful, lovely

English
#45

Elena

bright, shining light

Italian
#51

Maya

water

Indian
#53

Leah

weary, delicate, languid

Hebrew
#57

Sadie

princess, noblewoman

English
#59

Zoey

eternal life, divine vitality

Greek
#62

Alice

noble natured

English
#63

Ruby

red, ruby-colored

English
#69

Ayla

deer, gazelle

Turkish
#70

Emery

industrious, brave

American
#71

Iris

rainbow

Greek
#72

Eden

delight, pleasure

Hebrew
#74

Maria

drop of the sea, star of the sea

Spanish
#75

Maeve

she who intoxicates, intoxicating woman

Irish
#76

Daisy

flower name

English
#78

Clara

famous, illustrious

English
#83

Lyla

night

English
#84

Jade

stone of the side, healing stone

English
#88

Josie

may God increase

English
#94

Anna

grace, favor

English
#95

Sarah

lady, queen

Hebrew
#96

Quinn

descendant of Conn

Irish
#97

Lydia

woman from Lydia

English
#98

Lucia

born at dawn or daylight

Italian
#102

Cora

maiden

English
#109

Bella

beautiful

Italian
#112

Alaia

sublime, high, exalted

Arabic
#115

Rose

rose flower, the plant

English
#116

Julia

of the Julian family (Gens Julia)

English
#118

Eliza

my God is abundance

English
#120

Eva

life, living one

English
#121

Amara

grace, eternal

African
#125

Rylee

courageous, valiant

American
#132

Mary

rebellion

English
#135

Alina

noble

Russian
#136

Amira

speech, utterance

Arabic
#137

Ember

ember, smoldering remnant

English
#143

Alana

awakening, offering

Irish
#145

Sage

wise, knowing

English
#146

Remi

oarsman

French
#152

June

young, vital

English
#155

Elsie

my God is abundance

Scottish
#159

Piper

flute player, pipe player

English
#160

Freya

goddess of love, fertility, and magic

Norse
#162

Arya

swift, agile

Indian
#169

Amaya

night rain

Japanese
#170

Olive

olive tree

English
#172

Ruth

vision of beauty

English
#178

Alani

precious, dear one

Hawaiian
#179

Lilah

dark beauty

Hebrew
#180

Kaia

the sea

Greek
#186

Myla

soldier

American
#187

Sara

lady, queen

Hebrew
#188

Lia

weary

Italian
#189

Kylie

boomerang

Australian
#190

Reese

ardor, enthusiasm, fire

Welsh
#192

Annie

merciful, gracious

English
#193

Ada

island

English
#202

Haven

shelter, sanctuary

American
#203

Gemma

jewel, bud

English
#204

Ana

grace, favor

Spanish
#205

Tatum

cheerful settlement

American
#207

Lila

night

English
#208

Molly

bitter

English
#210

Blake

dark, black-haired

American
#213

Wren

small bird (the wren)

English
#214

River

flowing body of water

American
#218

Blair

battlefield, clearing

Scottish
#222

Mabel

lovable, dear

English
#223

Norah

honor, honorable

Irish
#225

Alora

my dream

American
#226

Vera

truth, genuine

Russian
#228

Amy

the loved one

English
#230

Nyla

cloud

Arabic
#232

Khloe

young green plant, fresh growth of spring

American
#234

Zara

princess

Arabic
#238

Kiara

bright, clear

Italian
#243

Diana

goddess of the hunt and moon

English
#249

Faith

faith, trust, belief

English
#252

Elise

consecrated to God

French
#253

Noa

motion, wandering

Hebrew
#259

Lilly

lily flower, purity

English
#263

Lena

from Magdala, woman of the tower

Greek
#265

Aspen

trembling tree

English
#266

Rowan

little red one

Irish
#267

Leila

angel of the night

Arabic
#268

Gia

short form of Giovanna or Gianna

Italian
#269

Jane

God is gracious

English
#270

Talia

blooming, thriving

Hebrew
#272

Lola

sorrows

Spanish
#277

Zuri

beautiful, good, fine

East African
#280

Selah

to praise; to exalt

American
#284

Evie

life; living; breath

English
#285

Amora

blackberry

Latin American
#286

Rory

red king; red-haired ruler

Irish
#290

Leia

weary; tired

American
#295

Kali

time, death, transformation

Hindu
#296

Amari

grace, mercy

African
#300

Ariel

altar of God, hearth of God

Hebrew
#303

Tessa

English
#306

Danna

From Denmark

American
#307

Amina

Honest, truthful

Arabic
#311

Rosie

English
#317

Hope

Wish fulfilled

English
#321

Nina

grace (diminutive of Anna)

Russian
#327

Malia

variant of Mary (beloved, bitter)

Hawaiian
#330

Emory

powerful laborer, work ruler

American
#336

Kayla

beautiful, graceful

American
#337

Navy

fleet of ships

American
#338

Poppy

poppy flower

English
#344

Esme

loved, valued

English
#345

Heidi

short form of Adelheid (noble natured)

German
#346

Aisha

she who lives, alive, living

Arabic
#348

Thea

goddess, divine

Greek
#358

Laura

symbol of victory and honor

English
#362

Alaya

dwelling, abode

Arabic
#363

Raya

flag, banner

Hebrew
#364

Elora

foreign riches, bright one

English
#366

Mya

mine (term of endearment)

English
#368

Dream

sleeping vision, aspiration

American
#371

Laila

night, dark beauty

Arabic
#372

Sunny

cheerful, bright like the sun

English
#374

Lana

little one, darling

Slavic
#375

Paige

young servant, page boy

English
#376

Itzel

goddess of the moon and weaving

Mexican
#380

Mira

ocean, sea

Slavic
#384

Brynn

hill, mound

Welsh
#386

Aylin

moon path

Turkish
#387

Miley

smiley, cheerful (derived from nickname)

American
#388

Raven

the raven, large black crow

American
#391

Logan

little hollow, low-lying meadow

Scottish
#394

Anya

prayer, God has favored

Russian
#403

Jayla

modern coinage blending Jay and Kayla

American
#404

Ivory

of elephant tusk color

English
#405

Anaya

caring, without superior

Hebrew
#406

Fiona

fair, white, pure

Scottish
#418

Liana

vine, to bind

Italian
#419

Holly

holly tree

English
#423

Willa

will helmet

English
#424

Helen

bright, shining one

Greek
#425

Emely

rival, eager

Spanish
#430

Salem

peace, safety

Hebrew
#433

Reign

to rule as monarch

American
#434

Elisa

pledged to God

Spanish
#442

Joy

happiness, delight, rejoicing

English
#445

Sarai

princess (original form of Sarah)

Hebrew
#448

Saige

to heal, to save

American
#449

Opal

precious stone

English
#451

Nylah

champion, one who attains

African-American
#452

Demi

half, partial

American
#453

Emmy

entire, all-encompassing

English
#455

Kira

sunlight, beam of light

Persian
#459

Maia

mother, great one

Greek
#466

Anahi

immovable, steadfast

Latin American
#472

Alma

young woman, maiden

Latin
#473

Macie

from Macey (Normandy place name)

English
#479

Elle

she, her

French
#480

Skye

winged island

Scottish
#481

Lyra

lyre, musical instrument

English
#483

Rylie

courageous, valiant

American
#484

Paris

from the Parisii Celtic tribe

American
#488

Leona

brave, courageous (lion-like)

English
#491

Kora

maiden, young woman

English
#495

Cali

beautiful

American
#499

Angel

messenger

Spanish
#502

April

to open (spring)

English
#505

Hanna

grace, favor

Hebrew
#512

Halo

divine radiance

American
#513

Nadia

hope

Russian
#523

Briar

thorny shrub, bramble

American
#526

Imani

belief, trust in God

Swahili
#528

Edith

prosperous in war

English
#530

Mae

goddess of spring

English
#534

Ari

eagle

Jewish
#535

Kate

pure, clear

English
#539

Faye

faith, trust

English
#541

Amber

ambergris, waxy substance

English

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why choose a short baby name?

Short names travel well. One and two syllable names are easy to say in any language, don't get truncated into nicknames, and pair cleanly with longer surnames. Liam, Ava, Kai, and Zoe all follow this logic.

What are the most popular short baby names?

Ava, Mia, Zoe, and Ivy for girls. Liam, Noah, Eli, and Kai for boys. Most of the top 25 names are short — parents have been gravitating toward concise names for 20 years.

Do short names limit nickname options?

Yes, and that's often the point. A parent who names their child Emma or Finn is opting out of nickname culture. If flexibility matters, a 2-3 syllable name gives you more to work with.

Looking for something more specific?

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