250 Short Names For Boys And Their Meanings | Diapers (2023)

Whether you just found out you're pregnant or the birth of your little one is just around the corner, you're probably wondering about baby names. Some of the most powerful and unique baby boy names are short ones that offer beautiful meanings and snappy sounds. For some inspiration, we've included 250 short names for boys, from popular and simple nicknames to unique and international options.

Popular short names for boys

Short names for boys seem to be in vogue these days, with many mini nicknames dominating the list of the most popular names in the United States in recent years. Even some short international baby names like Liam and Luca are popular, so you have plenty of options.

1.Liam.As the Irish short form of William, Liam is the mostpopular boy nameIn recent years. This is a great choice if you like a classic name but want to give it a fun and short twist.

2.Something.The second most popular short name for boys is Noah, a Hebrew nickname meaning "rest, rest." It started gaining popularity in the 1970s and took off in the 1990s.

3.Jack.Sweet, short and sweet, Jack is one of those classic names that never goes out of style. While it is a diminutive of John (meaning "Yahweh is gracious"), you can also associate Jack withFrench name for boysJacques, which means "may God protect".

4.Lewi.As a Hebrew name, Levi means 'connected, attached', which is a very cute meaning for your little boy who is sure to be attached to you!

5.Oven.Owen is originally a Welsh given name that connects to the Latin nickname Eugenius (aka Eugene). It is a perfect short name for a boy as it means ‘well born’.

6.Jan.A true classic, John is a name that has been around for centuries and is still in the top ten. It is a Hebrew name that means "Yahweh is gracious" in reference to the Hebrew god.

7.Lew.Leo was originally Agender-neutral namepopular at the turn of the century. It returned 100 years later and began gaining popularity again in the early 2000s. It comes from the Greek word for "lion".8.Luke.As the English form of the Latin name Lucas, Luke means "from Lucania", a historical region in southern Italy. This is one of the more popular short guy names since the 70s.

9.Ezra.The Hebrew and biblical name Ezra has been around for a long time, but it wasn't until 2010 that it really started making waves. While it has always been a short name for boys, it became a gender-neutral name in 2018.

10.Luca.If you like the short boy name Luke but prefer an international twist, consider the cute Luca. It 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 it is one of the trendiest names in the United States.

Short unique names for boys

Unusual baby namesgive your little one a little bit of individuality to stand out from the crowd. There are plenty of short unique baby boy names you can choose from that are both rare and cool, such as Shaw or Ever.

11.Alva.You may not know anyone named Alva as it fell off the records in the 1960s. It used to be quite a common name for both girls and boys and was Thomas Edison's middle name. It is a variant of Alvah, which means "his highness" in Hebrew.

12.Cree. Cree is uncommon as a given nickname as it comes from the 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.

13.Whenever.This might top our list of unique short boy names because it's very rare. It is an English name that simply comes from a wordwhenever, although it comes from an Old English wordAnyway.

14.Hayes.If you like the ideanames as names, you might consider Hayes. Former President Rutherford B. Hayes bore this name, derived from an Old English word meaning "fence, fence".

15.Lorn.Lorn is short andunique name for a boywhich had a brief moment of popularity in the United States in the 1960s. It is derived from the Scottish place name Lorne, and since it was the title of Canada's first Governor General, it has been a popular name in Canada for quite some time.

16.Nash.Despite its growing popularity in recent years, Nash is still a unique name. Derived from a Middle English expressionwatch out for ashes, which means "under the ash tree". If you're a fan of the folk-rock band Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, you might like this option!

17.Rian.The name Ryan is definitely a popular and classic short 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 looking for a classic name with a rare twist, try Rian or even Rían.

18.Shower.As an English and Scottish surname, Shaw has two options when it comes to meaning. It either comes from an Old English wordchickensmeaning "thickness" or a Gaelic nameA fairywhich means "wolf".

19.Vere.Both a Norman surname and derived from the Gaulish word Vere means "alder" as in tree, so it's a lovely option forthe name of a child of nature.

20.York.If your family has English roots, the short boy name York could be a cute option. It is the name of a town in northern England, derived from the words for "yew", "boar" and "village".

More short unique baby boy names

Stay unique with these short, unique baby boy names that are sure to make your little one stand out from the crowd:

Choosing a baby name can be fun, but also overwhelming. Watch this video for exciting facts that can help you find the perfect name for your baby!

Short and simple names for boys

Short baby names tend to be super cute. These simple baby boy names are the classic nicknames you probably grew up with, often short forms of traditional titles like Alex for Alexander or Matt for Matthew. Short and snappy, they give the cute yet simple form a classic name.

31.Alex.A short form of Alexander, Alex is a popular name for guys. As a Greek name, Alexander means "defender of man". You may know this name from Alexander the Great, the 4th century BC Macedonian king.

32.Alana.Common and simple, Alan has long been a staple in the United States, peaking in popularity in the 1950s. It comes from the Brittany region of France and means "little stone" or "handsome".

33.Ben.You really can't go wrong with the name Ben, which is a common staple in many European countries as well as the United States and Australia. It is a short form of Benjamin and Benedict, meaning "son of the right hand" and "blessed" respectively.

34.Kyle.Popular in the late 80s and early 90s, Kyle is an excellent short name for those who want something simple yet cool. Derived from several Scottish place names, derived from a Gaelic wordnarrow, which means "channel, strait".

35.Kurt.You might think Kurt is short for Curtis, but it's actually the German form of Conrad, so it means "brave advice." One of the famous bearers of this name was the late musician Kurt Cobain.

36.Lou.The short boy name Lou gives you a bit of everything: a cute, classic and timeless nickname. It comes from the French name Louis, which is combined with the German nickname Ludwig, which means "famous battle".

37.Mat.Though a short and simple boy name, Matt has a significant meaning. As a shortened form of Matthew, it is derived from the Hebrew name meaning "gift of Yahweh", referring to the Hebrew god.

38.Ryan.As mentioned above with short unique boy names, Ryan is quite a common nickname. Although the Irish version of Rian offers some rarity, Ryan is still an Irish name and means 'little king'.

39.Tony'ego.If you're looking for a simple boy name with a lot of meaning, consider Tony, a short form of Anthony which is derived from the Roman family name Antonius. You may remember the Roman Emperor Mark Anthony, also known for his relationship with Cleopatra.

40.Zach.For a bit of nostalgia, consider the name Zack, popularThe name of a sitcom from the 90sthanks to Zack Morris from the showSaved by the Bell.Zack is a short form of Zachary, which is combined with a Hebrew nameZachariaswhich means "Yahweh remembers".

More short and simple boy names

A simple name never goes out of style, and there are many popular and attractive short names for boys. Here are some others to consider:

Classic short names for boys

Old-fashioned names for boysthey only get prettier when they get shorter! Imagine your little one as Otto or Rudy, or maybe Jody or Lyle.

51.Bert. Could it be cuter than a baby named Bert? This classic moniker is a short form of Albert, a Germanic name meaning ‘noble’ and ‘bright’.

52.Pion.Although the name Bob died out in the 1980s, it is still one of the most classic names in the United States. It is short for Robert, a Germanic name meaning "bright fame".

53.Cary'ego.You might like this name if you are a fan of the late actor Cary Grant who contributed to the popularity of the nickname starting in the 1940s. This short boys name comes from the Irish Ciardha, which means ‘black’.

54.Count.A truly classic name, Earl peaked in popularity in the late 19th century and only died out in the 2000s. It comes from an Old English word meaning "nobleman, warrior".

55.Facet.It is the Norman French form of the name Wido, a historical Germanic name meaning "wood". Guy was a common name until the late 16th century when the infamous Guy Fawkes tried to destroy the British Parliament. It gained popularity again in the 19th century after being used as the names of characters in several novels.

56.Jody.While slightly more common as a girl's name, Jody is a unisex nickname that functions as a variant of Judy (for girls) or a diminutive of Joseph (for boys). Its popularity among both sexes reigned from the 1940s to the 1990s. If you use this classic short name for boys from Joseph, it means "he will add" in Hebrew.

57.Lyle.Short and simple, Lyle was quite a classic name for boys in the early 20th century and is now making a comeback. The name comes from a Norman French wordislandwhich means "island".

58.Mort.Mort is one of the more cute and classic names for guys, short form for Morton or Mortimer. Both are English surnames, with Morton meaning "moor town" and Mortimer derived from Old French meaning "calm water".

59.Otto.If you're looking for a classic short boy name with Nordic connections, Otto is a great option. It is a common name in places such as northern Germany, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden and means "wealth, fortune".

60.Rudy.A diminutive of Rudolph, Rudy has kept its classic name in the United States and is still used today. Rudolf is derived from the Germanic elements for "fame" and "wolf".

More classic short names for boys

Channel your child's inner grandpa with these classic and traditional short boy names that will take you back to the old days!

Cute and short baby names

While short, unique baby boy names or popular nicknames can also be cute, we've reserved the most adorable options for this section. If you want a name that will melt your heart, choose from our favorite cute and short baby boy names.

71.Alfie.Sweet Alfie may be the cutest short boy on this list! As a diminutive of Alfred, this name means "council of elves" in Old English. Notable bearers of this name include the founder of the Nobel Peace Prize, Alfred Nobel, and the late director Alfred Hitchcock.

72.Bear.As a modern English name, Bear is new to the baby naming scene. Of course, it means "bear", although the word comes from an Old English word meaning "brown".

73.Cory.A variant of Corey, the short name for boys Cory just sounds cute! It is derived from the Old Norse name Kóri, which has an unknown meaning.

74.z.You can use this baby boy name as a short form of Desmond, an Irish nickname meaning "South Munster", an area in Ireland. Other cute short options include Desi or Dezi.

75.Jimi.The name Jimmy has several short variants, including the spelling Jimi. The most famous bearer of this name is probably the late musician Jimi Hendrix. This short guy's name comes from James, which connects to Jacob, which means 'may God protect'.

76.Maks.In short form, Max offers a cute variation of the boys' names Maximilian and Maxwell. Both were Roman surnames derived from a Latin wordmaxwhich means "biggest".

77.Carol.Noel is a cute and classic short name for boys that has been used for decades and is still popular today. It is the English form of the name Noël, which means "Christmas" in French. If you're a fan of Oasis, you might think of musician Noel Gallagher.

78.Olly.Oliver is a cute name on its own, but its diminutive Olly makes it even prettier. Oliver is either from a Germanic name meaning "elf" and "army, warrior", or an Old Norse name meaning "descendant of an ancestor".

79.Pip.If you like the classic name Philip but want a cuter version, try the really cute diminutive Pipa. As a unisex name, Pip is also a diminutive of Philippa, and both Philip and Philippa connect to a Greek name meaning 'friend of horses'.

80.Remy.This unisex name started gaining popularity in the United States in 2010. It is the English form of the French name Rémy, which is derived from the Latin word meaning "rower, oarsman".

More cute and short baby names

We couldn't leave out cute meanings like "beloved" and "little king", so here are some even more cute and short boy names:

Strong yet simple names for boys

Even simple nicknames can bestrong names for boysas long as they have a strong sound or meaning. You'll find plenty of mini options to make your little boy feel strong.

91.Cabbage.Cole was around in the late 90s and early 2000s. It is also believed to be a common surname, derived from the name Nicholas, a Greek nickname meaning "victory of the people".

92.Cy.If you're looking for a really simple baby boy name, consider Cy, a short form of Cyrus or Cyril. For a strong and powerful interpretation, go with the meaning of Cyril which is "lord".

93.Dom.The cute boy name Dom is a short form of Dominic, meaning ‘lord’. In the Late Latin era, it was traditional for parents to name boys born on a Sunday the name Dominic.

94.Dre.Another cute but powerful short form, Dre comes from Andre, which is derived from Andrew, which means "masculine, masculine". The famous bearer of this name is the American rapper and producer Dr. Dre, whose real name is Andre Young.

95.Eric.Eric is a classic Norse name with a powerful meaning: ‘always ruler’. Many kings bore this name in the Norse region, so your little Erik will have strong royal ties.

96.Grier.For a strong and unique short name for boys, consider Grier, a rare Scottish surname derived from the more common nickname Gregor. Grier means "alert, alert".

97.Kai.This short and strong nickname is one of the more popularHawaiian names for boys. Kai means "sea" and the power of the sea cannot be defeated!

98.Leona.Leon can be the perfect choice for a short name for boys. It means "lion", which gives it a sense of strength while remaining quite cute!

99.Sal.You can use Sal as a short form of any name starting withSal, although it is most often associated with Salvador, one of the prettiestSpanish names for boys. Salvador is the Spanish, Portuguese and Catalan form of the Late Latin nameSaviorwhich means "savior".

100.Ty.Your little Ty will be in good company with all the names Tyler, Tyson, Tyrone and other names beginning withTy. You have your choice of meanings, but the strongest comes from Tyrone, which means "inciter" like someone with a big personality!

Stronger yet simple names for boys

Stay strong with shorter baby boy names that have powerful meanings like 'ruler', 'wisdom' and 'counsel'.

Short cool names for boys

Whether you are looking forcool middle name for boysor a trendy yet short name, we've rounded up some of the coolest mini options for you to consider. Fun sounds like Ace and Wes make great names, as do Dane, Bret and Kev.

111.As.It's not much cooler than Ace, a short boy name derived from an Old English word that means "top rank".

112.Ash.Ash is usually a short form of the name Ashley, a gender-neutral nickname. It refers either to the ash tree or to the word ashes, as in fire residue.

113.Axel.While this name may bring to mind Axel Rose, a member of the band Guns N' Roses, it just so happens to be the Medieval Danish form of the name Absalom. It is a Hebrew name meaning "my father is peace".

114.Blue.Cool names can be anything these days, so why not use a color for your boy's short nickname? Despite the fact that iconic American musicians Beyoncé and Jay-Z named their first daughter Blue, it's still quite a rare choice.

115.Bret.It's definitely a short guy name that exudes those cool vibes. It means "Breton", like someone from the French region of Brittany.

116.Dane.Dane is another naturally cool-sounding name. It either refers to someone from Denmark or refers to the name Dean which means "valley".

117.Fitz.Norman-French wordFitzmeaning "son", so is traditionally paired with the father's name, such as Fitzroy ("Roy's son") or Fitzwilliam ("William's son"). Sam Fitz just sounds cool!

118.Koby.Koby is simply a variation of Coby, used briefly in the late 1990s and early 2000s, possibly influenced by the late basketball player Kobe Bryant, who spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers. From Jakub Koba, it means "may God protect".

119.Ste.Steve is the more common short form of Stephen, but Ste gives you a much cooler option. As a Greek name, it means "wreath, crown" and "that which surrounds".

120.Wes.This is a winner for short cool boy names. As a short form of Wesley, Wes has a hip sound and means "west meadow".

More short cool names for boys

With short boy names making such cool nicknames for guys, we had to keep the list!

International short names for boys

International namesthey also offer some short names for boys to consider. This may be a good category for you if you want to honor your family's heritage.

131.Arek.This short name for boys is Polish and is a diminutive of Arkadiusz. Referring to the Greek name Arkadios, it means "from Arcadia", like someone from that region of Greece.

132.Bryn.With this particular spelling, Bryn is usually a guy's short name. But adding a secondN, you get Brynn, a spelling more common among girls. As a Welsh name, Bryn means 'hill, mound'.

133.Elmo.Besides being the name of a beloved Sesame Street character, Elmo is one of the cutestItalian names for boys. It refers to the name Erasmus and means "beloved".

134.Emil.As a Roman family name, Emil means "rival". You can find Emil in many European languages, including Romanian, Slovenian, Danish, German and Hungarian.

135.Edu.Another cute short name for little boys, Edu is derived from Eduardo, the Spanish and Portuguese form of Edward and means ‘wealth, fortune’ and ‘guardian’.

136.Gael.The name Gael is most common in Spanish-speaking countries, as well as in France and the United States. It's an ethnolinguistic term for Gaelic speakers, so it works well if you're looking for short ones as wellIrish names for boys.

137.Hugo.Short and sweet, Hugo is the Latinized form of the name Hugh, which has a cute meaning of ‘heart, mind, spirit’. It is a common name in Spanish and Portuguese as well as in several other languages ​​such as German, Swedish and French.

138.Joon.If you are looking forKorean names for boys, you might like Joon, which is an alternate spelling of Jun. The name has several potential meanings, including "talented", "handsome", "king" and "ruler".

139.Omar.Omar is a popular Arabic baby boy name and means ‘populous, flourishing’ as it is derived from this wordumarmeaning "life". 140. Roch. This cute name is the French and Polish version of Rocco, a German name meaning ‘rest’.

More international short names for boys

Picking a short name for boys is common across many cultures, and you'll find even more mini nicknames from languages ​​like German, Norwegian, and Irish.

Biblical short names for boys

Thoughbiblical namestend to be long, there are several short options. Also, many of these longer titles tend to have great nicknames like Gabe for Gabriel or Jed for Jedediah. Either way, biblical nicknames make for some really cute and powerful short names for boys.

151.Abe.This cute baby boy name definitely stands out on its own, but Abe is also a short form of Abraham, meaning ‘father of many’. Abraham plays an important role in the Bible, regarded by Jews as the founder of the Hebrews and by Muslims as the founder of the Arabs.

152.Eben.Eben gives you a lovely option for the short version of Ebenezer, the name given to the monument built by Samuel in the Old Testament. It's a Hebrew name meaning "stone of help."

153.Eli.Your little Eli will have a very cute short baby boy name that means "ascension" or "my God" in Hebrew. In the books of Samuel, Eli was the high priest of the Israelites.

154.Gabe'a.You can use Gabe as a short form of Gabriel, a Hebrew name meaning "God is my mighty one." In Hebrew tradition, Gabriel is an archangel and is often depicted as a messenger.

155.Josh.In the Bible, Joshua was the companion of Moses and went with him to Mount Sinai. Josh is a shortened form of the name, so it also means "Yahweh (God) is salvation."

156.Rating.For a truly classic, simple and short name for boys, you might consider Mark, a short form of Marcus. The Gospel of Mark is one of the four New Testament gospels.

157.Mech.Moss is a very cute medieval form of Moses, an important character in the Old Testament. The name means either "son" in Egyptian or "save" in Hebrew.

158.Pete'a.It is a classic boy name and a short form of Peter, meaning ‘stone’ in Greek. Peter was the most prominent of the apostles and is considered by many to be the first pope.

159.The same.As a short form of Samuel, Sam means "name of God" or "God heard". In the Old Testament, Samuel was the last of the ruling judges.

160.Saul.Saul, meaning "requested, prayed for," is another prominent name in the Bible because he was the first king of Israel.

More biblical short names for boys

You will find even more biblical names for boys, many are short and others are a short form of longer names.

Even more short, cool, unique and simple baby boy names

With short baby boy names offering so much fun and charm, we've added even more options so you've got 250 cute, unique, traditional, classic, common, strong and international names to consider.

bottom line

No matter what you decide to name your new arrival, it will be a good choice, but we hope this list of short names for boys can help inspire you. Short names are excellent options for nicknames, middle names, or just as fun, snappy nicknames. Before you know it, little Ace or cute Elmo will be here and ready to conquer their little world!