baby girl

70+ One-Syllable Girl Names that are Actually Cool

Nov 17, 2024

70+ One-Syllable Girl Names that are Actually Cool

AHEAD: The ultimate list of one-syllable baby names for girls.

There are surprisingly few choices for single-syllable names for girls.

Below, I’ve rounded up every one-syllable name that’s even the slightest bit cool.

baby girl

Cool one-syllable girl names

baby girl of color beach chair

These cool one-syllable names for girls are underused.

Beck

  • Name meaning: Small stream.
  • Popularity: This interesting “B” name is not in the top 1000.

Belle

  • Name meaning: Beautiful.
  • Popularity: This name isn’t ranking.

Elle

  • Name meaning: She.
  • Popularity: #441

Hart

  • Name meaning: Brave.
  • Popularity: This one syllable “H” name is not in the top 1000.

James

  • Name meaning: Supplanter.
  • Popularity: James isn’t ranking for girls. It ranks #4 for boys. James is an awesome middle name for a girl!

Jaye

  • Name meaning: Victory.
  • Popularity: This J name isn’t ranking.

Jules

  • Name meaning: Youthful.
  • Popularity: This traditionally French boys’ name is not ranking for girls in the U.S.

Lane or Layne

  • Name meaning: Pathway.
  • Popularity: Layne ranks #968 for girls. For boys, Lane ranks #254 and Layne ranks #649.

Paige

  • Name meaning: Helper.
  • Popularity: #354

Rae or Rai

  • Name meaning: Female sheep.
  • Popularity: This short girls’ name is not ranking in the top 1000.

Cool one syllable girl names

If you like these cool one-syllable girl names you might also like these twin girl names.

Nature-inspired one-syllable girl names

baby girl sitting grassy field

These one-syllable girl names are inspired by the earth, sky, and sea.

Blair or Blaire 🔥

  • Name meaning: Field or plain.
  • Popularity: Blair ranks #239 and Blaire is #516.

Brie or Bree

  • Name meaning: Marshland.
  • Popularity: Neither spelling of this 4-letter name is in the top 1000.

Brooke

  • Name meaning: Small stream.
  • Popularity: #298

Brynn

  • Name meaning: Hill.
  • Popularity: #413

Eve

  • Name meaning: Life.
  • Popularity: #600

Jewel

  • Name meaning: Precious stone.
  • Popularity: This pretty one-syllable baby name isn’t ranking.

Liv

  • Name meaning: Life.
  • Popularity: #702

May or Mae

  • Name meaning: Bitter or pearl. The 5th month. Another name for Hawthorn, a small thorny tree with white or pink flowers.
  • Popularity: The “M” name May isn’t ranking but Mae ranks #506.

Pearl

  • Name meaning: Gem.
  • Popularity: #805

Rayne or Rain

  • Name meaning: Precipitation.
  • Popularity: Rayne ranks #857 and Rain isn’t ranking.

Cool one syllable girl names

Shay or Shea

  • Name meaning: A small tropical African tree. Its nuts give us shea butter!
  • Popularity: Shay ranks #997 and Shea isn’t ranking.

Skye or Sky

  • Name meaning: The atmosphere above.
  • Popularity: The “S” name Skye ranks #446 and Sky ranks #783.

Wren 🔥

  • Name meaning: Small bird.
  • Popularity: #196

If you like these earthy one-syllable girl names you’ll like these tree names.

Gender-neutral one-syllable names

These single-syllable baby names would work for a boy or a girl.

Blake

  • Name meaning: Bright and shining.
  • Popularity: This name ranks #221 for girls and #255 for boys.

Dale

  • Name meaning: Valley.
  • Popularity: This “D” name isn’t ranking in the top 1000 for either gender.

Drew

  • Name meaning: Strong and manly.
  • Popularity: This one-syllable name ranks #761 for girls and #540 for boys.

Hayes

  • Name meaning: Brushwood.
  • Popularity: This 5-letter name isn’t ranking for girls but is #209 for boys.

Kai

  • Name meaning: Hawaiian for “sea”.
  • Popularity: This cool “K” name ranks #940 for girls and #61 for boys.

Gender neutral one syllable names

Leigh

  • Name meaning: Delicate.
  • Popularity: This single-syllable “L” name isn’t ranking.

Reign

  • Name meaning: Rule or sovereign.
  • Popularity: This name ranks #414 for girls and #624 for boys.

Rhett

  • Name meaning: Advice.
  • Popularity: This one-syllable baby name ranks #165 for boys but isn’t ranking for girls.

Roux or Rue

  • Name meaning: Reddish brown.
  • Popularity: This unusual one-syllable name isn’t ranking for either gender.

Scout

  • Name meaning: Explorer.
  • Popularity: This name ranks #821 for girls but isn’t ranking for boys.

If you like these gender-neutral one-syllable names check out this list of nonbinary names.

one syllable girl names list 2025

Timeless one-syllable girl names

These single-syllable names don’t tend to evoke any particular decade.

Anne

  • Name meaning: Grace.
  • Popularity: #581

Faith

  • Name meaning: Devotion.
  • Popularity: #242

Faye

  • Name meaning: Fairy.
  • Popularity: #500

one syllable girl names list timeless

Gwen

  • Name meaning: White ring.
  • Popularity: Gwen ranks #815. The longer name Gwendolyn ranks #380.

Hope

  • Name meaning: Expectations.
  • Popularity: #302

Jane

  • Name meaning: Noble or gracious.
  • Popularity: #281

Joy

  • Name meaning: Happiness.
  • Popularity: #455

Kate

  • Name meaning: Pure.
  • Popularity: #478 (For reference, Katherine ranks #169 and Catherine ranks #332.)

Ruth

  • Name meaning: Friend.
  • Popularity: #187

If you like these timeless one-syllable girl names you’ll also like these classic girl names.

 

Unique one-syllable girl names

asian baby girl lying on fur

You don’t hear these one-syllable girl names every day.

Bex

Birch

  • Name meaning: A tree known for its unusual bark that peels like paper.
  • Popularity: This badass girls’ name isn’t ranking in the top 1000.

Bloom

  • Name meaning: To flower.
  • Popularity: This simple nature name is not currently ranking.

Cove

  • Name meaning: Coastal inlet.
  • Popularity: This unique “C” name isn’t currently popular.

Dove

  • Name meaning: A bird symbolizing peace.
  • Popularity: This one-syllable baby name isn’t in the top 1000.

Dream

  • Name meaning: Thoughts and images during sleep. Aspiration and hope.
  • Popularity: #335

Elm

  • Name meaning: A tall, fast-growing deciduous tree with an impressive shape.
  • Popularity: This unique “E” name isn’t ranking in the top 1000.

Finch

  • Name meaning: A colorful bird. Also means to swindle, but let’s focus on the first meaning.
  • Popularity: This one-syllable name isn’t ranking.

Gender neutral one syllable names

Fleur

  • Name meaning: Flower in French.
  • Popularity: This one-syllable girl’s name is not popular.

Gem

  • Name meaning: Precious stone.
  • Popularity: This one-syllable “G” name is not ranking.

Hale

  • Name meaning: Hollow dweller.
  • Popularity: This uncommon name isn’t in the top 1000.

Jayce

  • Name meaning: The Lord is salvation.
  • Popularity: This one-syllable name is not ranking for girls but ranks #166 for boys.

Jazz

  • Name meaning: Music.
  • Popularity: This melodious baby name isn’t popular right now.

Lace

  • Name meaning: Fine fabric knit in a pattern.
  • Popularity: This sweet and girly name isn’t ranking.

Lake or Layke

  • Name meaning: Body of water.
  • Popularity: Neither spelling of this one-syllable name is ranking right now.

Lark

  • Name meaning: A small songbird.
  • Popularity: Lark isn’t in the top 1000.

Oak

  • Name meaning: Large trees with long lifespans. Oaks support more life forms than any other tree genus in North America.
  • Popularity: This cool “O” name would make a great middle name and is not currently ranking.

Tru

  • Name meaning: Accurate or authentic.
  • Popularity: This “T” name ranks #966 for girls and #673 for boys.

Vale

  • Name meaning: Valley.
  • Popularity: This one-syllable name isn’t ranking.

If you like these unique single-syllable baby names you might also like these outer space names.

One-syllable names that are past their prime

blonde baby sitting picnic

handdrawn starFeel free to skip ahead to viral predictions for 2025 or middle name ideas.

For the sake of a complete list, I decided to include this last bunch of one-syllable names for girls. However, I think they’ve seen better days.

Beth

  • Name meaning: Pledged to God.
  • Popularity: This one syllable girls’ name isn’t ranking.

Dawn

  • Name meaning: Daybreak.
  • Popularity: This one syllable girls’ name isn’t ranking.

Fawn

  • Name meaning: Young deer.
  • Popularity: This one syllable “F” name isn’t currently popular.

Fern

  • Name meaning: A feathery plant.
  • Popularity: This short name isn’t ranking.

Jean

  • Name meaning: God is gracious.
  • Popularity: This single syllable baby name isn’t ranking.

Jill

  • Name meaning: Youthful.
  • Popularity: This one-syllable name isn’t ranking.

Joan

  • Name meaning: God is gracious.
  • Popularity: This baby name isn’t ranking.

Kat

  • Name meaning: Pure.
  • Popularity: This one-syllable girl’s name isn’t ranking.

Lynn

  • Name meaning: Lake
  • Popularity: This one-syllable girl’s name isn’t ranking.

Sue

  • Name meaning: Lily.
  • Popularity: This one-syllable girl’s name isn’t ranking.

Tess

  • Name meaning: To harvest.
  • Popularity: This one-syllable girl’s name isn’t ranking.

Of course, if you happen to love any of these names, you should choose it for your daughter and forget what I think!

Next, I’ll predict which one-syllable girl names will go viral in 2025.

one syllable middle names

Predictions for 2025

These one-syllable girl names show the strongest potential for dramatic rises in 2025…

Maeve

Current rank: #73

This Irish gem first appeared on the top 1000 chart in 2014 at #804. Since then, it’s skyrocketed 731 spots.

Most impressive? Its recent surge from #103 to #73 in just one year – showing incredible momentum even in the competitive top 100.

Popular media has played a huge role. The name gained spotlight through “Westworld” on HBO and Netflix’s “Sex Education,” plus Sarah J. Maas’s hit fantasy novels.

Maeve hits all the right notes: it’s short, features the trendy ‘ae’ spelling, and feels both modern and ancient.

At this rate, don’t be surprised to see Maeve crack the top 50 by 2025.

Blair

Current rank: #239

Blair has shown extraordinary momentum, climbing 738 spots since 2011.

The alternative spelling “Blaire” (#516) is also rising rapidly, indicating even stronger overall popularity than the rankings suggest.

The name gained significant cultural capital through Blair Waldorf in “Gossip Girl” (2007-2012), with the HBO Max reboot (2021) bringing fresh visibility.

Both spellings continue showing consistent year-over-year growth rather than spikes, suggesting sustained momentum rather than a fleeting trend.

Currently performing better than its previous peak in the 1980s, Blair appears poised to break into the top 200 for the first time in recorded history.

Wren

Current rank: #196

Wren is having a moment – now sitting at #196 on the US baby name charts.

The tiny bird name has made an incredible flight since 2012, climbing a stunning 802 spots in just over a decade.

It’s not just an American trend. British parents are loving Wren too, where it’s reached #150 and tripled in popularity since 2012.

Two key trends merge in this name: nature-inspired choices and snappy one-syllable picks.

Instead of slowing down, Wren’s momentum is actually building as it breaks into the top 200.

With this kind of growth in multiple countries, expect this bird to keep soaring through 2025.

Sage

Current rank: #143

Sage has risen from #911 in 1993 to #143 in 2023 – its highest ranking ever.

Early celebrity adoption by respected actors (Toni Collette in 2008, Jack Huston in 2013) preceded its dramatic rise.

The name shows remarkable versatility – ranking for both girls (#143) and boys (#422), with the alternative spelling Saige also rising (#433).

This kind of multi-dimensional success (both genders, multiple spellings) often indicates a name with significant staying power.

Currently performing better than ever before, Sage appears positioned for continued growth through 2025.

Faye

Current rank: #500

After falling off the charts for over three decades, Faye returned in 2014 at #913 and has risen 413 spots since.

The name is showing accelerating momentum, gaining 64 spots just between 2022 and 2023.

Modern parents are exclusively choosing the “Faye” spelling over “Fay” (which hasn’t ranked since 1968), suggesting focused, intentional selection.

Now at #500, it’s performing better than it has since the late 1960s but still well below its historical peak (#245 in 1954).

Following the classic 100-year revival pattern and showing steady acceleration, Faye appears primed for continued growth through 2025.

What makes these names different

Many one-syllable girl names show brief popularity spikes, but these five demonstrate rare patterns that often predict sustained viral growth.

Maeve’s acceleration in the top 100 is particularly rare – most names plateau at this ranking, but Maeve jumped 30 spots while already in the top 100.

Blair and Sage show the coveted “multiple pathway” pattern – succeeding through different spellings (Blair/Blaire) or across genders (Sage for both boys and girls).

Wren’s international success in both the US (#196) and UK (#150) mirrors the early trajectory of names that later exploded, like Luna and Isla.

Faye demonstrates the classic “century rule” revival but with a modern twist – its concentrated momentum in a single spelling suggests focused, intentional adoption rather than trend-chasing.

Most notably, all five names continue showing acceleration rather than plateau. Their momentum, paired with strong cultural visibility and style alignment, suggests they’re still in early growth phases.

Of these five, Maeve shows the strongest potential for dramatic rises, while Blair and Wren appear positioned for steady but significant climbs. Sage and Faye demonstrate more moderate but sustainable growth patterns.

Keep watching these one-syllable gems – they’re likely to dominate birth announcements by 2025.

Middle Name Ideas

Finding a middle name to go with a one-syllable first name is shockingly difficult.

SO many of the combinations I tried sounded “backwards”—like their order should be swapped.

Here are a few middle names that actually work well with most single-syllable first names:

  • Blakely
  • Everleigh or Everly
  • Magnolia
  • Victoria
  • Abigail
  • Lavender

On the other hand, if you’re reading this list because you’re looking for a one syllable MIDDLE name, then as you’ve seen, there are many many options.

Here are some name combinations for inspiration:

Jade Arden
Jade Aspen
Jade Embry
Jade Hannah
Jade Taylor

Lacey Jade
Lexi Jade
Maya Jade
Raven Jade

Quinn Blakely
Quinn Charlotte
Quinn Lennox
Quinn Magnolia
Quinn Palmer
Quinn Ryder

Reese Hart
Reese Page
Reese Hadley
Reese Harper
Reese Oakley

Scarlett Rose
Abigail Rose
Annabelle Rose
Aria Rose
Ava Rose
Rose Olivia
Rose Sophia
Rose Victoria

Sloane Emerson
Sloane Morgan
Sloane Remington
Abigail Sloane
Addison Sloane
Rylan Sloane
Sloane Lennox
Sloan Blakely

Belle Camden
Belle Harlow
Belle Kinsley
Belle Magnolia
Belle Meadow
Scarlett Belle
Shiloh Belle
Mila Belle

Blaire Aria
Blaire Addison
Avery Blaire
Emery Blaire
Malia Blair
Blair Madison

Blake Harper
Blake Riley
Blake Ryder
Blake Sutton
Blakely Lennox
Sierra Blake
Demi Blake
Skylar Blake

Brooke Raquel
Brooke Michelle
Brooke Ryder
Brooke Hailey
Brooke Lauren
Hazel Brooke
Indigo Brooke

Brynn Elyse
Brynn Magnolia
Brynn Harper
Bryn Sophia
Olivia Bryn
Brynn Blakely

Eve Scarlett
Eve Sienna
Eve Sutton
Eve Hazel
Evie Delilah
Evie Harriet
Evie Rylan
Evie Palmer

Faye Valli
Faye Sophie
Faye Rowan
Faye Noelle
Faye Natalia
Faye Magnolia
Faye Blakely

Hope Alexandria
Hope Lennox
Hope Meadow
Hope Piper
Hope Scarlett

Jane Oakley
Jane Kinsley
Jane Hadley
Jane Harlow
Jane Leighton
Jane Riley

Kate Isadora
Kate Elizabeth
Kate Emerson
Kate Magnolia
Avery Kate
Aubrey Kate

Layne Teagan
Lane Arden
Layne Aspen
Lane Embry
Laine Hadley
Lane Harriet
Layne Kinsley
Lane Marley

Liv Charlotte
Liv Marley
Liv Mazie
Liv Oakley
Liv Magnolia
Liv Scarlett
Liv Palmer

Paige Rowan
Page Olivia
Paige Madelyn
Hazel Page
Marley Page
Reva Page
Skylar Page

Sage Madison
Sage Madelyn
Sage Magnolia
Teagan Sage
Juliana Sage
Malia Sage
Eden Sage
Harlow Sage
Skye or Sky

Skye Blakely
Skye Bridget
Sky Embry
Skye Harlow
Mazie Sky
Noe Sky
Violet Sky

Bree Victoria
Brie Meadows
Brie Mariah
Emilia Bree
Madelyn Bree

Lila Cove
Aspen Cove
Ayla Cove
Cove Juliana
Cove Alexandra
Cove Blakely

Marley Hale
Mazie Hale
Shiloh Hale
Emma Hale
Hale Willow
Hale Blakely

Hart Blakely
Hart Brinley
Hart Kinsley
Hart Magnolia
Millie Hart
Avery Hart

Hayes Lavender
Hayes Emery
Hayes Leighton
Hayes Palmer
Hayes Porter
Hayes Shiloh
Hayes Terra

Haley James
Reagan James
Remi James
Evie James
Kylie James
Macie James
Mira James

Jem Blakely
Gem Hazel
Jem Indigo
Gem Mazie
Jem Paisley
Gem Palmer
Jem Sutton
Gem Sage

Jewel Blakely
Jewel Harlow
Jewel Indigo
Jewel Hartley
Jewel Arden

Jules Blakely
Jules Marley
Jules Avery
Jules Brinley
Jules Embry
Jules Harlow

Leigh Hadley
Leigh Hartley
Leigh Teagan
Leigh Taylor
Leigh Scarlett

Rai Teagan
Rey Skylar
Rai Marley
Rey Magnolia
Rai Hartley
Rey Embry
Rai Brinley

Roux Brinley
Roux Harper
Roux Kinsley
Roux Madison
Roux Morgan
Roux Paisley
Roux Presley

The source for popularity data is SSN.

This article was originally published on Jul 16, 2021 and was updated on Nov 17, 2024.

2025 one syllable girl names
one syllable girl names pin

One-Syllable Girl Names