20 Unique & Snappy 1-Syllable Baby Names Beyond Max & Sam

Fancy Nancy fans will recognize this as the name of Nancy's best friend. It's a bree-zy name that's Gaelic for "hill," according to Baby Center, and it makes a nice alternative to Brianna. Just don't spell it "Brie," because that would be pretty cheesy... get it? (Sorry, couldn't help it.)

Even if your daughter isn't "legally blonde," the name of the movie character is still sweet and ultra-feminine (it's French for "she," according to Nameberry). It's also the name of one of the biggest supermodels ever (Elle McPherson), and your little one will have a super easy time learning to write her name (just two letters are involved).

Appropriate for either a boy or girl (think actress Bryce Dallas Howard), this Scottish name means "of Britain," according to The Bump. Of course, you don't have to be of British descent to love this traditional name, which manages to be super modern-sounding, too.

For parents who love the the snappy sound of a name ending in "x," but want something a little less common than Max, this Old English name meaning "baker" (per The Bump) fits the bill nicely. There's just something edgy about names that end in an "x" (so don't be surprised if it turns out this kid was born to be wild).

Music-loving parents will be taken with this melodious name that is derived from Jasmine and Jasper, according to Nameberry. It's appropriate for either gender, and can also be spelled with one "z." Fun fact: Tennis champ couple Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi gave their daughter the double single-syllable names of Jaz Elle.

This lovely Gaelic name means "intoxicating," noted The Bump, and is pronounced to rhyme with "Dave." The modern spelling is much easier to remember than the original Meadhbh, the name of the "legendary warrior queen of pre-Christian Ireland" who's remembered as tall and fair, with an iron sword.

A zippier alternative to Ashley, Ashton, Ashlynn, Asher, or any other "ashy" name, Ash means "ash tree," according to Nameberry. It works for either a boy or girl, and it's even better if you already have children with nature-inspired names.

Talk about a "wynn-er"! Baby Name Wizard reported that this name with a modern vibe comes from the Welsh word meaning "fair" or "white." A "Welsh favorite," this one-syllable name is a descendent of longer names Gwendolyn and Guinevere.

More common in the U.S. as a girl's name but equally suitable for a boy, Tai is Chinese for "most extreme," according to Nameberry. It's also Maori for "the tide." Skater Tai Babilonia helped to make this name popular recently.

This vintage name is a derivative of Teresa or Theresa, meaning "late summer," per The Bump, making it a great choice if you're expecting an August or early September daughter. Nameberry also noted that Tess is not only the heroine of the classic book Tess of the D'Urbervilles, it's also a name used in a number of movies starring Katharine Hepburn, Julia Roberts, Melanie Griffith, Kate Hudson, and others. (Hello, Working Girl!)

This Welsh name meaning "hill" is used almost exclusively for boys in Wales, according to Baby Name Wizard; Brynn, the girl's version (meaning "hill") "outshines the original Welsh Bryn in the popularity stakes," reported Nameberry.

Gaelic for "cloud," this boy's name was dubbed "classic and cool" by Nameberry: "Niall is pronounced nye-al--something like Neil, but this Irish spelling of the name makes it much more current and cool." A great choice, whether or not you have other Irish names in the family.

The Bump reported that this name has been on the rise since 2005. It's a thoroughly modern invention that started as a nickname for Jackson, but now can stand proudly on its own.

You can practically guarantee that your child will be the only one in school with this snazzy name. As a girl's name, it's Chinese for "support" or "comfort," per Nameberry. For a boy, it's derived from Alexander, so it makes a less-trendy option if you were already thinking about Xander.

From the Latin for "berry," according to The Bump, Bay also has an appealing "watery" association. If you like Bailey or Brayden, put this cute name on your list. (This one will also be super easy for your little one to pronounce when she's learning to talk.)

Thinking about any "D" name for your baby girl? Cut to the chase and go with this short-and-sweet version. Dee fell out of favor after the 1960s, according to Nameberry, so it's overdue for a revival. It's got a fun retro vibe, too, like soda shops and poodle skirts and diners and chrome.

A French name meaning (you guessed it) "joy," as reported by BabyCenter, gifting your daughter with this name is like blessing her with a lifetime of happiness. While this one is a more common choice around the holidays, there's nothing wrong with feeling joyful all year long.

Of English origins, according to BabyCenter, this girl's name is also the name of a little brown songbird. There are few things sweeter and lovelier to inspire a child's name than a songbird, and who knows? She just might go on to have a musically-inspired life.

Sure, it's a famous outlaw's name, but this one also "relates to the River Clyde that runs through Glasgow, Scotland," according to Nameberry, and was a Top 100 name in the U.S. in the 1930s. Seems poised for a comeback.

An English name with a rather bucolic meaning: "One living beside a small stream," according to Nameberry, Beck is more commonly associated with the award-winning musician today. Think of it as equal parts hipster and nature-inspired.