200 Top Short Names for 2024

Chic, snappy, and easy to spell and say… short baby names have an awful lot going for them, don’t they? If you’re after a short name for your new arrival, we’re here to help.

It’s fair to say that, back in the day, lots of parents would choose a longer name for their baby and then use a shortening day to day - think Alf for Alfred or Beth for Elizabeth.

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These days though, short names are rising in popularity with many modern parents opting to put the shorter version on the birth certificate. Coupled with this trend is the general fashion for shorter names for both girls and boys. Ada, Eva, Leo and Jude are just a handful of the short names in the Office for National Statistics (ONS) top 100 list for names in England and Wales for instance. The most popular name for boys right now, according to the ONS statistics, is Noah, at just four letters and two syllables long.

Interestingly, according to ONS research, the age of parents can have a bearing on the length of baby name chosen, with mums over 35 years old more likely to have babies with more traditional names, while younger mothers' babies are more likely to have shortened versions.

For the purposes of this article, we think it’s important to explain exactly what we class as a short name. When looking for short girl names and short boy names for this round-up, we were pretty strict with ourselves, only featuring names containing four letters or fewer. We also limited ourselves to names of only one or two syllables.

How we chose the top short names

For starters, we examined the top 100 list for names in England and Wales. This list is compiled every year by the ONS, which collects birth registration data to analyse frequency of baby name choices, before ranking them on popularity and creating an official top 100 chart for both baby girl names and baby boy names.

During our research, we then cross-referenced this list with the Central Statistics Office list for baby names in Ireland and the National Records of Scotland list for Scottish names. We also picked the best short names from our other baby name lists including cute baby names and modern baby names.

Because our baby name articles are always shaped by the opinion of Mumsnet parents, we also checked out the most talked-about short baby names on our Baby Names forum. If you haven’t taken a look at the threads on there, hurry over and you’ll see Mumsnetters sharing opinions on all types of baby names including elegant short names, unique short names and cute short names for babies.

Here are our top 200 short names for 2024.

Popular short girl names

1. Ada

Origin: German
Meaning: Noble

2. Anna

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Grace or favour

3. Amy

Origin: English
Meaning: Beloved

4. Aria

Origin: Italian
Meaning: Air, melody

5. Ava

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Bird

6. Ayda

Origin: Arabic, Turkish
Meaning: Returning visitor, moon

7. Ayla

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Oak tree

8. Bea

Origin: Italian, Latin origin (diminutive of Beatrice, Beatrix)
Meaning: She who blesses or bringer of joy

9. Beth

Origin: Hebrew (diminutive of Elizabeth)
Meaning: God is my oath

10. Cara

Origin: Latin, Italian, Irish, Spanish
Meaning: Dear, friend, darling beloved

11. Eden

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Paradise

12. Ella

Origin: German, English
Meaning: Fairy maiden, goddess, noble, other

13. Elle

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Sunray or light

14. Eira

Origin: Welsh
Meaning: Snow

15. Emma

Origin: German
Meaning: Whole or great

16. Erin

Origin: Irish
Meaning: Ireland

17. Esme

Origin: French
Meaning: To love

18. Eva

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Life or breathe

19. Evie

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: To live

20. Faye (or Fay)

Origin: English
Meaning: Fairy

21. Fern

Origin: English
Meaning: From the fern tree

22. Hope

Origin: English
Meaning: Resilience

23. Iris

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Rainbow

24. Isla

Origin: Scottish
Meaning: From Islay, an island in the Scottish Hebrides

25. Ivy

Origin: English
Meaning: The evergreen Ivy plant

26. Jade

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: A precious green stone

27. Jess

Origin: Hebrew (derived from Jessica)
Meaning: God behold

28. Kate

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Pure

29. Lara

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Laurel leaf

30. Lila (or Lyla)

Origin: Persian, Arabic
Meaning: Youthful innocence or night

31. Lily

Origin: English

Meaning: Purity

32. Liv

Origin: Old Norse
Meaning: Life, protection, shelter or warmth

33. Lola

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Lady of sorrows

34. Lucy

Origin: English
Meaning: Light

35. Luna

Origin: Italian
Meaning: Moon

36. Lyra

Origin: Greek
Meaning: A small harp

37. May (or Mae)

Origin: English
Meaning: The fifth month

38. Maya

Origin: Hebrew, Greek
Meaning: Water

39. Mia

Origin: Italian
Meaning: Mine

40. Mila

Origin: Slavic
Meaning: Hard-working

41. Myla

Origin: Latin, German, French
Meaning: Soldier, merciful

42. Orla

Origin: Irish
Meaning: Golden princess

43. Rosa

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Rose flower

44. Rose

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Rose flower

45. Ruby

Origin: Latin
Meaning: From the gemstone

46. Sara

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Princess

47. Thea

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Goddess

48. Zara

Origin: Arabic
Meaning: Blossoming flower

49. Zoe (or Zoë)

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Life

What Mumsnetters say about short girl names

“Some of my favourite short names: Ava, Eva, Ivy, Iris, Ada, Mia, Lara, Lila, Emma, Ruby, Zoe, Isla.” - Mumsnet user, BoleynMemories13

“Lily. I know it’s popular blah blah BUT it’s just so lovely.” - Mumsnet user, mamablondie33

“Anna and Emma are lovely classic names.” - Mumsnet user, BellaVida

Popular short boy names

50. Adam

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Man

51. Alf

Origin: English (derived from Alfred)
Meaning: Elf counsel

52. Arlo

Origin: Old English
Meaning: Fortified hill

53. Ben

Origin: Hebrew (derived from Benjamin)
Meaning: Son of the right hand

54. Eli

Origin: Hebrew (derived from Elijah)
Meaning: Yahweh is my God

55. Ezra

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Help or helper

56. Euan or Ewan

Origin: Welsh, Scottish Gaelic
Meaning: Born of the yew tree

57. Evan

Origin: Welsh (derived from Iefan)
Meaning: Young warrior or God is good/gracious

58. Finn

Origin: Irish Gaelic
Meaning: Fair

59. Guy

Origin: German
Meaning: Forest

60. Hugo

Origin: German
Meaning: Spirit

61. Hugh (or Huw)

Origin: Germanic, Welsh
Meaning: Mind or intellect

62. Jack

Origin: English
Meaning: God is gracious

63. Jake

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Supplanter

64. Joe (or Jo)

Origin: Latin
Meaning: God is gracious

65. Jude

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Praised

66. Leo

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Lion

67. Leon

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Lion

68. Levi

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Joined

69. Liam

Origin: Irish
Meaning: Resolute protector or strong-willed warrior

70. Luca

Origin: Italian
Meaning: Light

71. Luke

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Bringer of light

72. Milo

Origin: German
Meaning: Merciful

73. Nate

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Gift of God

74. Nico

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Victory of God

75. Noah

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Rest or comfort

76. Otis

Origin: German
Meaning: Wealth

77. Otto

Origin: German
Meaning: Wealthy

78. Owen

Origin: Welsh
Meaning: Well-born, noble

79. Rafe

Origin: Scandinavian
Meaning: Counsel of the wolf

80. Rex

Origin: Latin
Meaning: King

81. Rhys

Origin: Welsh
Meaning: Enthusiastic

82. Rory

Origin: Irish
Meaning: Red king

83. Ross

Origin: Scottish Gaelic
Meaning: Rose-coloured, red, wood, headland or cape

84. Ryan

Origin: Irish
Meaning: Little king or descendant of the king

85. Sean or Seán

Origin: Irish
Meaning: God is gracious or gift from God

86. Seth

Meaning: Hebrew
Origin: Appointed, placed

87. Stan

Origin: Old English (derived from Stanley)
Meaning: Stony clearing

88. Ted

Origin: English (derived from Edward)
Meaning: Gift of God

89. Theo

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Gift of God

90. Toby

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: God is good

91. Tom

Origin: Aramaic (derived from Thomas)
Meaning: Twin

92. Will

Origin: English (derived from William)
Meaning: Resolute protector

93. Zac (or Zack/Zach)

Origin: Hebrew (derived from Zachary)
Meaning: God has remembered

What Mumsnetters say about short boy names

“We like short boys' names here too. Ben, Joe, Jack, Tom, Sam, Leo, Max, Ross, Adam, Sean are names we've used or considered.” - Mumsnet user, hiredandsqueak

“Rhys… Popular Welsh name that doesn't seem to get mangled by non-Welsh speakers. I like it.“ - Mumsnet user, LittleLegsKeepGoing

Seth? It's not uncommon where I am (Yorkshire). I like it - solid, no frills, good name to grow into.” - Mumsnet user, SingingSands

Short gender-neutral names

94. Alex

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Defending men

95. Ash

Origin: English
Meaning: From the ash tree

96. Beau

Origin: French
Meaning: Handsome/ beautiful

97. Blue

Origin: English
Meaning: Refers to the colour blue, symbolising sensitivity

98. Bo

Origin: Old Norse, Mandarin Chinese
Meaning: To live or wave

99. Drew

Origin: English
Meaning: Courageous

100. Indy

Origin: English
Meaning: Independence

101. Joss (or Jos)

Origin: German
Meaning: Member of the Germanic tribe

102. Kai

Origin: Hawaiian, Japanese
Meaning: Sea or ocean, keeper of the keys

103. Kay

Origin: English
Meaning: purity and forgiveness

104. Kit

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Innocent

105. Lee (or Leigh)

Origin: English
Meaning: Meadow

106. Lex

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Helper or defender

107. Max

Origin: Latin
Meaning: The greatest

108. Sage

Origin: English
Meaning: Wise or shows wisdom

109. Sam

Origin: Hebrew (derived from Samuel or Samantha)
Meaning: Heard by God

110. Skye (or Sky)

Origin: English
Meaning: Symbol of openness and freedom

111. Syd

Origin: English
Meaning: Wide meadow

112. Toni (or Tony)

Origin: English
Meaning: Invaluable

113. Ty

Origin: Irish (derived from Tyrone or Tyler)
Meaning: From the land of Eoghan, maker of tiles

114. Wren

Origin: English
Meaning: The small bird

What Mumsnetters say about short gender-neutral names

“Kit is awesome - a real head-turner for me. Never taught one!” - Mumsnet user, permanently

“May I say Sage is such a lovely name.” - Mumsnet user, Riv12345

“Wren? Love it! I know a couple and they always get compliments on their name.” - Mumsnet user, FlamingoDust

Unique short girl names

115. Alba

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Sunrise

116. Bibi

Origin: Irish
Meaning: The exalted one

117. Cleo

Origin: English
Meaning: Glory

118. Coco

Origin: French
Meaning: Victorious

119. Demi

Origin: French
Meaning: Half or small

120. Dot

Origin: English
Meaning: Gift of God

121. Etta

Origin: English, Italian
Meaning: Little rose

122. Fifi

Origin: Hebrew, French
Meaning: God gives

123. Gaia

Origin: Greek
Meaning: The Earth

124. Gia

Origin: Italian
Meaning: God is gracious

125. Hebe

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Youth

126. Hera

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Hero, warrior

127. Ines

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Pure

128. Iona

Origin: Scottish
Meaning: Referring to the Isle of Iona

129. Joy

Origin: English
Meaning: Contentment

130. June

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Youthful, derived from the Roman Goddess Juno

131. Juno

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Youthful and the Roman Goddess Juno

132. Kiki

Origin: French, Spanish
Meaning: Double happiness or noble

133. Lacy

Origin: English
Meaning: Referring to lace

134. Leni

Origin: German
Meaning: Bright or shining

135. Lula

Origin: German
Meaning: Famous in battle

136. Lumi

Origin: Finnish
Meaning: Beauty and purity of snow

137. Mara

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Bitter

138. Nala

Origin: African (Swahili), Arabic
Meaning: Queen

139. Nell

Origin: English
Meaning: Light or bright

140. Nina

Origin: Native American
Meaning: Strong or mighty

141. Noa

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: Motion or movement

142. Opal

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Precious gem

143. Posy

Origin: English
Meaning: Flowers

144. Rae

Origin: Scottish
Meaning: Dark bird

145. Raya

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Friend

146. Remi (or Remy)

Origin: French
Meaning: Rower

147. Rita

Origin: Spanish, Italian
Meaning: Pearl

148. Romy (originally a diminutive of Rosemary)

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Dew of the sea

149. Rois

Origin: Irish
Meaning: Rose flower

150. Rumi

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Peaceful or flower

151. Suki

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Beloved

152. Tara

Origin: Irish
Meaning: Star

153. Tess

Origin: English
Meaning: Harvest

154. Tula

Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: Balance

155. Vita

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Life

156. Vivi

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Lively

157. Zola

Origin: Italian
Meaning: Piece of earth

What Mumsnetters say about unique short girl names

"Love Alba.” - Mumsnet user, sunglassesonthetable

“Nina - short, easy to spell, a lovely name and underused.” - Mumsnet user, BeaLola

“Suki? Lovely, I have known a couple over the years. I teach, not in conventional education, and come across hundreds of pupils each year, so can still assure you it's unusual.” - Mumsnet user, FlutterbButterfly

“Love Tara. It was on our shortlist. As was Mara.” - Mumsnet user, Jericha

“Tess for me - poetic/romantic with a kind of underused classic feel (thanks to the Hardy novel).” - Mumsnet user, IamnotwhouthinkIam

Unique short boy names

158. Abel

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Breath

159. Ace

Origin: English
Meaning: One who excels, number one

160. Adi

Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: First or beginning

161. Ari

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Lion or eagle

162. Axel

Origin: German
Meaning: Father of peace

163. Bear

Origin: Old English
Meaning: Bear

164. Beck

Origin: English
Meaning: Stream

165. Bram

Origin: Dutch, short form of Abraham
Meaning: Father of a multitude

166. Cain

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Spear, possessed

167. Cian

Origin: Scottish Gaelic, Irish Gaelic
Meaning: Ancient

168. Cole

Origin: Old English
Meaning: Coal

169. Cove

Origin: English
Meaning: Sheltered bay or small inlet

170. Cruz

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Cross

171. Elio

Origin: Italian, Spanish
Meaning: Sun

172. Elis

Origin: Welsh, Hebrew
Meaning: Benevolent, The Lord

173. Enzo

Origin: Italian
Meaning: Ruler of the home

174. Fox

Origin: English
Meaning: Referring to the animal fox

175. Gabe

Origin: Hebrew (derived from Gabriel)
Meaning: Man of God

176. Hero

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Protector

177. Ivan

Origin: Slavic, Hebrew
Meaning: God is gracious

178. Jago

Origin: Spanish, Cornish (form of James or Jacob)
Meaning: Supplanter

179. Jax

Origin: English (diminutive of Jackson)
Meaning: Son of Jack or God is gracious

180. Jay

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Jaybird

181. Jett

Origin: English
Meaning: Jet black

182. Jost

Origin: German
Meaning: Just, upright

183. Keir

Origin: Scottish, Irish
Meaning: Dark or black

184. Knox

Origin: Scottish
Meaning: Round hill

185. Kofi

Origin: Akan (Ghanaian)
Meaning: Born on Friday

.186. Lars

Origin: Scandinavian, Germanic
Meaning: Crowned with laurel

187. Leif

Origin: Scandinavian, Old Norse
Meaning: Descendant, heir

188. Ludo

Origin: Latin (derived from Ludovicus)

Meaning: Famous warrior

189. Mack

Origin: Scottish Gaelic
Meaning: Son of, greatest

190. Moss

Origin: English
Meaning: Small, soft plant

191. Nash

Origin: Old English
Meaning: By the ash tree

192. Nino

Origin: Italian
Meaning: Gracious, God is gracious

193. Reed

Origin: Old English
Meaning: Red-haired

194. Ren

Origin: Chinese
Meaning: Benevolent

195. Saul

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Asked for, prayed for

196. Tate

Origin: Old English
Meaning: Cheerful

197. Troy

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Foot soldier

198. Yari

Origin: Japanese, Persian, Italian, Hebrew
Meaning: Spear, friendship or gold

199. Zane

Origin: Arabic
Meaning: Handsome

200. Zeke

Origin: Hebrew (derived from Ezekiel)
Meaning: God will strengthen

What Mumsnetters say about unique short boy names

“I know an Ari - he's from Naples and pronounces it to rhyme with Harry.” - Mumsnet user, msmatcha

“I know a couple of little Enzos. One is Enzo as a full name, one it is short for Lorenzo.” - Mumsnet user, cherryassam

“Zeke’s nicely unusual.” - Mumsnet user, Luredbyapomegranate

How to choose a short name

Consider the sound and pronunciation and opt for a name that has a pleasing sound and rolls off the tongue easily (really important when shouting it for the fifth time at the playground).
Short names can still be meaningful so look for one with a meaning that resonates with you and your family.
Love nature and wildlife? Euan (or Ewan) means ‘born of the yew tree’ while Ava means ‘bird’. Or how about Leo (which means lion), Wren (after the bird) or Rafe which has Scandinavian roots and means ‘counsel of the wolf’?
Choose your favourite flower, such as Rose, Rosa, Lily or Laurie (Laurel) - and for more inspiration, check out the top flower names for girls and boys.
Find inspiration in jewels including Jade and Ruby.
Try saying the name aloud with your preferred middle name and, of course, your surname.
Write down your name options together - you’ll be filling in a lot of forms on behalf of your child in the years to come so make sure your preferred first name works well with the rest of your baby’s full name.
Check the initials for all your names together and make sure they don’t spell anything potentially embarrassing.
Consider cultural significance and explore names from your own cultural background or heritage.
Decide whether you prefer a timeless classic or a trendy name. Short names can offer a historic nod or can reflect current naming trends. Some do both!
If you already have children, consider how their names will sound together. There’s no rule book saying siblings must have matching names but it’s a good idea to consider how they sound alongside each other.

What is a cool short name?

A cool short name is one that works well with lots of surnames, sounds classy, chic and memorable and has a cool meaning. When choosing the coolest short names from our list, we made sure to choose one that Mumsnetters rated too.

We think that a cool, short popular name for baby boys is Jude. Let’s face it, any name with a Beatles connection is a winner, and then there’s the delectable Jude Law for a celebrity namesake. Currently at number 40 in the current ONS chart, having climbed 13 places since the previous year, it isn’t overused - and it’s well loved by parents on our Baby Names forum. “I have a Jude and receive nothing but compliments. I still adore his name,” says Mumsnet user, Cbeebiesrehab

For girls, you can’t go far wrong with Lara - a short, melodic name which entered the top 100 ONS baby names list in 2021. It even has its very own theme tune - as explained by Mumsnet user, Orphlids: “Love the name Lara. And the beautiful piece of music, ‘Lara’s Theme,’ from Dr Zhivago.”

What are rare short names?

According to our research, rare short names are names that are well outside the ONS top 100 list and other top name lists. This means that you’re less likely to meet other babies with the same name at your nearest playgroup or nursery.

We think a cool unique name for baby girls is Cleo, which was traditionally short for Cleopatra but is now an accepted standalone name. It means ‘glory’ which is pretty fabulous, we’re sure you’d agree, and it’s safely outside the top 100 list - although it is well-liked by Mumsnetters including lionseggs, who says: “Love Cleo. Baby name envy.”

For boys, we’re keen on Axel which is a strong, unusual name (although it’s steadily rising in popularity). Mumsnetter HouseofGods explains why she chose it, saying: “DH mentioned it in passing while I was pregnant and I was like ‘Oh, it's cool’ and then we just went from there.” It was also the name Little Mix singer (and self-confessed Mumsnetter) Perrie Edwards gave to her son, who was born in 2021 so it’s 100% popstar-approved.

About the author

Louise Baty writes parenting content for Mumsnet, producing product round-ups, travel guides and baby name articles. She’s also written content for Mumsnet’s sister site, Gransnet.

Originally from West Yorkshire and now based in Nottinghamshire, Louise has worked as a features writer for consumer magazines and national newspapers for 20 years. She specialises in parenting and lifestyle features and emotional true life first-person interviews and has authored four non-fiction books on parenting and grandparenting.

Mum to two tweenagers, Louise’s own baby name choosing days may be long gone. However, she admits to having spent a LONG time deciding on her DCs’ names, together with her DP.

For this reason, Louise has a particular interest in baby names. She understands how difficult it can be to narrow down a short list from your long list of baby names, either during pregnancy or during the sleep-deprived days following the birth of your baby. By compiling comprehensive and easy-to-follow baby name round-ups for Mumsnet, she hopes to provide inspiration and support to parents-to-be who are looking for the perfect name for their baby.