Do you feel like the same one-syllable girl names are on repeat? You aren't imagining things.
Baby naming expert Pamela Redmond tells TODAY.com there might be a reason (or two) for an uptick in names like Maeve, Wren and Grace.
Parents might focus on the number of syllables in a name for many reasons.
"Parents might want a short name to balance out a longer last name (or) they may want a name that’s simple for a child to say and spell," Redmond says. "Or they might be attracted to short, one-syllable names as an antidote to all longer, elaborate names like Olivia and Isabella that have been fashionable for girls in recent years."
Some parents choose one-syllable names because they want a full name that has a certain rhythm.
“There’s a poetic sensibility that six syllables are pleasing in a name, and each name should be a different number of syllables from the other,” Redmond explains. “So one-three-two or one-two-three syllables are better than two-two-two.”
Popular One-Syllable Girl Names:
- Maeve - Irish name meaning "she who intoxicates"
- Wren - English name meaning "small bird"
- Grace - English virtue name, representing an admirable quality
- Sage - Herb and Latin name meaning "wise"
- Claire - French name meaning "bright, clear"
- Eve - Hebrew name meaning "life"
- Pearl - Latin gem name
Redmond tells TODAY.com that despite parents leaning toward shorter names, they still crave a unique element.
"Even with short simple one syllable names, parents want something out of the ordinary," she says. "So they’re looking beyond classic choices like Anne and Jane to nature names such as Bay, Fox, Dove or Snow, or new word names such as True, West and Zen."
Khloe Kardashian is mom to daughter True and Teddi Mellencamp chose Dove for her daughter's name in 2020.
"One syllable names sound sleek and modern and that’s part of their appeal," Redmond says.
135 One-Syllable Girl Names To Consider:
From Maeve to Rue, here are the top 135 one-syllable girl names to consider for your newborn daughter:
- Maeve
- Wren
- Grace
- Mae
- Sage
- Sloane
- Sam
- Quinn
- Eve
- Pearl
- Bette
- Firth
- Ruth
- June
- Rue
- Jade
- Blythe
- Blair
- Rae
- Paige
- Elle
- Brooke
- Fleur
- Hope
- Lux
- Bea
- Blake
- Kate
- Faith
- Liv
- Reese
- Gwen
- Bird
- Cruise
- Blue
- Skye
- Kit
- Joy
- Lark
- Anne
- Reign
- Tess
- Trix
- Starr
- Kai
- Maude
- Bee
- Fern
- Dove
- Lou
- Snow
- Love
- Bree
- Bryn
- Joan
- Jude
- Greer
- Fay
- Jinx
- Lake
- Storm
- Luz
- Jules
- Jane
- Lane
- Wynn
- Noor
- Bay
- Lynn
- Claire
- Gail
- Ash
- Bloom
- Tate
- Joyce
- True
- Dot
- Gray
- Vale
- Kay
- Bliss
- Shae
- Prue
- Jo
- Clove
- Dune
- Blaise
- Flo
- Kim
- Cate
- Spring
- Sue
- Zen
- Dale
- Jeanne
- Pax
- Bess
- Cat
- Beck
- Ayn
- North
- Blaine
- Swan
- Bell
- Reeve
- Britt
- Poe
- Tai
- Air
- Day
- Ceil
- Shay
- Peg
- March
- Blaire
- Neve
- Jai
- Viv
- Dea
- Fawn
- Lis
- Prim
- Paz
- Scout
- Zo
- Cam
- Flynn
- Nic
- Nell
- Teague
- Flor
- Khloe
- Lei
- Maze
- Gwynne
