101 Short Classic Baby Boy Names

With short, classic baby names there's no guesswork. If you like to keep things simple, here are 101 strong, short and timeless names for baby boys:

1. Noah. A 21st-century chart-climber with deep biblical roots.
2. James. A true classic with biblical roots.
3. Lucas. The Latin version of Luke, Lucas marries ancient roots with a modern aesthetic.
4. Henry. Royal flair, Catholic gravitas via St. Henry, and literary cred in one resilient package.
5. Jack. A short, zappy moniker without a time stamp.
6. Levi. Levi may be one of the hottest baby names at the moment, but its deep biblical roots mean it can't be called anything but a classic.
7. Ethan. Fresher than Nathan, but with equally deep biblical roots.
8. Owen. Of Welsh origin, this surname and given name carries a lot of literary weight, having been used as a character name by everyone from Stephen King to John Irving.
9. Jacob. A biblical classic with incredible staying power and plenty of secular appeal as well.
10. John. Deep biblical roots combined with a secular sensitivity and a sleek look make John a household name.
11. Wyatt. Short but substantial name with that charming -tt ending.
12. David. A great classic name is all about great provenance and proven staying power, and David delivers on both counts.
13. Leo. Only three letters long, Leo packs a literary and saintly punch, plus it carries a pretty cool meaning ("lion").
14. Luke. An old biblical name with modern appeal.
15. Ezra. A unisex name that combines biblical roots with a fetching, modern sound.
16. Isaac. A biblical powerhouse that never seems to go out of style.
17. Caleb. A biblical name that sounds modern and traditional at the same time.
18. Miles. Quietly present throughout the 20th century, Miles broke onto the scene in a big way in the late 2010s, entering the US Top 100 for the first time in 2018.
19. Eli. A classic biblical name with wide-ranging appeal.
20. Aaron. Originally a biblical name, Aaron has found favor with non-religious folks, so don't worry if you're not a churchgoer.
21. Silas. A biblical and literary classic with a modern sensibility.
22. Adam. A biblical stalwart that never seems to lose its panache.
23. Jason. This 70s' chart-topper may be past-peak, but as a biblical name, Jason will always retain a certain classic appeal.
24. George. A literary favorite, royal charmer and saintly appellation all rolled into one.
25. Luis. The Spanish version of Louis.
26. Jonah. A faith-filled biblical classic to some; a pretty secular name for others.
27. Max. Short but substantial, Max works both as a formal name and a short form for names like like Maximilian, Maxim and Maxwell.
28. Dean. A surname-turned-given-name with longstanding appeal.
29. Leon. Never chart-toppingly popular, never completely out of fashion.
30. Felix. This one offers a pleasant sound, literary overtones, and a covetable meaning ("happy" or "lucky"). Need we say more?
31. Alex. Always a current choice for a boy, whether used as a nickname or a formal name.
32. Alan. (or Allan). A short, no-nonsense moniker that has maintained steady popularity for decades.
33. Jesse. A biblical classic built to last.
34. Joel. Never completely in nor completely out, this Old Testament prophet name has shown great resilience.
35. Grant. Its most famous bearers have been surnamed Grant (think Ulysses S. Grant and Cary Grant), but Grant has also enjoyed steady popularity as a given name.
36. Eric. A simple, unpretentious classic with broad appeal.
37. Peter. An originally biblical name that has stood the test of time.
38. Oscar. Short but sophisticated, Oscar continues to appeal to new parents, generation after generation.
39. Riley. As a girl name, Riley rose from obscurity to prominence in the 1990s; as a boy name, Riley has been on the national charts since the beginning of recorded baby name history.
40. Simon. In the UK, Simon held steady in the Top 100 throughout the second half of the 20th century, whereas in the U.S., it only began to get wider notice at the turn of the century.
41. Louis. Royal and saintly, Louis always seems like a good choice.
42. Mark. An easy-going one-syllable name with biblical credentials and a down-to-earth feel.
43. Paul. A time-honored name rooted in the Bible.
44. Ellis. A dashing and debonair classic with the beloved El-sound.
45. Wade. With a long history of steady but sparing use, Wade feels like the kind of choice many parents seek today.
46. Jake. A Jacob short form that has also history as an independent given name.
47. Edwin. An understated classic that's been in use for generations but never in the limelight.
48. Clark. Let's call this one a "quiet classic": it's always been around but never seriously popular.
49. Noel. The French word for "Christmas" doubles as a classic baby name.
50. Edgar. This one blends a somewhat solemn, regal feel with literary resonance.
51. Troy. A short, simple appellation that fits in nearly every era.
52. Grady. Brady may be a 21st-century favorite, but sound-sibling Grady has been in steady (but not-too-frequent) use for more than a century.
53. Hugo. Traditional and steady but not too often heard, Hugo is perhaps best described as a "quiet classic".
54. Frank. This short, straightforward name may be past-peak, but it still has a classic feel to it.
55. Ruben. A streamlined version of Reuben, the biblical original.
56. Mack. A nice and compact classic with a touch of vintage feel.
57. Lewis. Lewis gives you an understated classic with surname appeal.
58. Seth. A biblical classic that reached its apex at the turn of the century.
59. Moses. An underused biblical classic with charm to spare.
60. Allen. Of Gaelic origin, Allen is thought to have evolved from the Irish word álainn, meaning "handsome" or "beautiful".
61. Ralph. A centuries-old boy name with Catholic bona fides (via St. Ralph Sherwin), literary credentials (think Ralph Moody and Ralph Ellison), and a fashion edge thanks to Mr Lauren.
62. Bruce. Mr. Springsteen lends this name a rock 'n' roll vibe, while Bruce Willis and Bruce Lee inject it with some Hollywood charm.
63. Roy. A short but complete handle with a regal meaning ("king").
64. Saul. The name of the first king of Israel as well as the birth name of Paul the Apostle, Saul holds significance for both Jews and Christians.
65. Keith. Reaching its peak in the 1960s, this Gaelic classic is currently keeping a low profile—good news if you want your child to stand out among all the little Olivias and Liams.
66. Amos. A rarely-heard classic name with a strong biblical backbone.
67. Scott. Some see Scott as a timeless classic with literary underpinnings; for others, it's an outdated appellation from the 60s. What's your take?
68. Otis. A short but complete moniker with a musical edge via Otis Redding.
69. Sam. A go-to nickname for Samuel, Sam is also a given name in its own right.
70. Chris. Did you know that a hundred years ago, Chris actually outshone the more formal-sounding Christian on the charts?
71. Tony. A classic that has temporarily lost its way.
72. Roger. Famous Rogers include towering tennis legend Roger Federer and late actor Roger Moore.
73. Rex. A short, solid classic ignored by the masses, Rex means "king" in Latin.
74. Lee. A pint-sized classic with a gender-bending vibe.
75. Neil. Armstrong? Young? Diamond? Tyson? Gaiman? Take your pick! There's no shortage of inspiring namesakes with this moniker.
76. Harry. A casual, currently overlooked name with presidential and royal cred.
77. Jerry. Jerry may be a nickname for names like Gerald and Jeremiah, but it also stands on its own merits.
78. Clyde. A terribly dated appellation or a charming retro moniker? Depends on the eye of the beholder!
79. Hugh. The English form of the old Germanic name Hugo and the name of numerous Catholic saints, Hugh definitely qualifies as a "classic" even if it isn't getting much baby name love at the moment.
80. Byron. Parents with a poetic bent may prize the link to Lord Byron.
81. Ben. A nickname for Benjamin, but also strong enough to stand on its own.
82. Alvin. With a connection to the Old English word ælf and the modern Norwegian word alv, both of which translate to 'elf', this name exudes earthy magic.
83. Eddie. Eddie may be a popular nickname for Edward, but it works independently, too.
84. Wayne. A bit outdated—but still a classic!
85. Joe. Short for Joseph, or as a standalone!
86. Ray. A Raymond short form that has also history as an independent given name.
87. Leroy. A currently overlooked classic with a surname-y feel and a regal meaning ("king").
88. Carl. A solid but solemn classic of German origin. Karl is a spelling variation.
89. Rene. A familiar but not overly common unisex name with an international vibe (especially if you throw in that accent on top of the final E).
90. Benny. Sure you could name your little man Benjamin, but if you already know you'll be calling him Benny, why not just cut to the chase and pen Benny on the birth certificate?
91. Will. Most often used as a nickname for William and Co., Will has also seen steady but low-key use as a given name in its right.
92. Elmer. Despite its deep roots and appealing El- prefix, Elmer has been slow to gain fans in the contemporary U.S. Associations with everything from Elmer's Glue to cartoon character Elmer Fudd to Elmer the Patchwork Elephant may be to blame.
93. Ross. A severely underused classic with Scottish charm and Shakespearean clout (Ross is a character in Shakespeare's Macbeth).
94. Steve. Saintly Stephen cropped.
95. Nick. A nickname for Nicholas, Nick also has some precedent as a given name.
96. Glenn. An Irish/Scottish classic that's out of fashion at the moment. Want to be in the vanguard of its revival?
97. Lloyd. A forgotten Welsh classic.
98. Fred. Think Fred is just a short form of Frederick? Think again! This one-syllable wonder was a Top 20 favorite in the U.S. at the beginning of the 20th century.
99. Dan. A short form of the hugely popular Daniel.
100. Floyd. One of the neglected Welsh classics.
101. Tom. By virtue of its long history of use as a stadnalone name, in addition to being a go-to nickname for Thomas, this slim, trim name merits "classic" status, even if it isn't exactly popular at the moment.