Joss
English diminutive of Jocelyn or Joseph, German, "member of the Gauts tribe; Jehovah increases"
Succinct and simple, smart and tailored, but with a hint of rough-and-tumble too, Joss is a well-known yet quietly used one-syllable option.
Joining the US charts in the 70s, Joss has been given to a handful of babies each year since and may provide an interesting alternative to Jack, Jude, Jesse, and Joe. Traditionally used as a short form of Jocelyn, an Old Germanic name referring to a member of the Gauts (or Geats) tribe, it could also work for Joseph, Joshua, or Jonas.
Film maker Joss Whedon — creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and a number of the Marvel Cinematic Universe films — brought this name into the spotlight in the 90s, though recent controversy around Whedon may well put parents off the name for now.
Sometime used for girls (think singer Joss Stone), Joss might just be the perfect single-syllable name if you’re hoping for something as light and friendly as it is tough and jaunty!
