Shortened baby boy names: photos
Written by Francesca Whiting | 20 Mar 2024
A great way to give traditional boys' names a modern feel is to shorten them or use the pet name, and you can use the longer version when your little one grows up. Here is a selection of our favourite short boys' names.
Photo credit: Thinkstock
Alfie
Alfie is the short form of Alfred, which means "magical counsel". So if you want a name with a fantastical twist, this could be a good option!
Photo credit: Thinkstock
Alex
If you want a strong name for your baby boy, Alex could be the choice for you. Alex is the shorter variant of Alexander, which means "man warrior".
Photo credit: Thinkstock
Bobby
Bobby is the pet name of Robert. Robert means "bright fame", so it would be a good choice if you want to inspire your baby to do big things.
Photo credit: Thinkstock
Charlie
Charlie is an affectionate pet name for Charles. The meaning of Charles is "free man", a perfect name to set your baby on his own path in the world.
Photo credit: Thinkstock
Eli
Eli is an abbreviated name for Elijah. Elijah is a biblical name, and means "the Lord is my God".
Advertisement | page continues below
Photo credit: Thinkstock
Freddie
Freddie is short for Frederick. The name Frederick has German origins, and means "peace ruler". It could be the perfect name for any little boy.
Photo credit: Thinkstock
Frankie
Frankie is a shorter, more modern, version of Francis. Francis simply means "Frenchman". Perhaps this is the name that would be the perfect fit for your son?
Photo credit: Thinkstock
Jay
If you like mythology, Jay could be a good choice for you. Jay is a short form for Jason. Jason is a well-known figure in Greek mythology for his quest for the Golden Fleece.
Photo credit: Thinkstock
Josh
Josh is short for Joshua. If you like biblical names, but want to make them more up-to-date, this could be a good option for you.
Photo credit: Thinkstock
Ollie
Ollie is a pet name for Oliver. Oliver is derived from the Latin for "olive tree". A perfect way to link your baby's name to nature.
Advertisement | page continues below
Photo credit: Erica Cervantez for BabyCenter
Sam
Sam is an abbreviated name for Samue, a great name for any little boy.
Photo credit: Thinkstock
Teddy
Teddy is a cute pet name for Theodore. Theodore means "God's gift", a lovely name for your new bundle of joy.
Photo credit: Thinkstock
Theo
Theo is another pet name for Theodore. It is more common for the name Theodore to be shortened to Theo in the UK, while in the US Teddy is more common.
Photo credit: Nathan Haniger
Tom
Tom is a common alternative to Thomas. Thomas is a popular biblical name meaning "twin".
Photo credit: Thinkstock
Zac
If you love unusual names, Zac could be worth considering. It is short for Zachary, which means "God has remembered".
See all names
See all names
Advertisement | page continues below
Was this article helpful?
Yes
No
Track your pregnancy on our free #1 pregnancy & baby app
Francesca Whiting is digital content executive at BabyCentre. She’s responsible for making sure BabyCentre’s health content is accurate, helpful and easy to understand.
Advertisement | page continues below
