5000+ Three-Syllable Boy Names
- Abelard
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"noble, steadfast"Description:
Abelard brings to mind Peter/Pierre Abelard, the great twelfth century Breton scholastic philosopher and theologian, who was equally celebrated for his tragic love affair with Heloise--one of the world's most famous love stories.
- Madigan
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"little dog"Description:
A jovial and jaunty Irish name, the title of a long-gone TV crime drama, this would make an appealing choice. Slight downside: Maddy is already a mega-popular nickname for Madeline/Madelyn and Madison, so this Mad- name might not feel as distinctive as the stats would suggest.
- Kassian
Origin:
Variation of Cassian or KassianiMeaning:
"hollow or cinnamon"Description:
Kassian may be seen as a Kardashianed spelling of the rising saint's name Cassian, which is a variation of Cassius, but it could also be considered the authentic Greek male form of Kassiani, the name of a female saint revered as a hymnographer. However you spell it, this is an attractive and unusual name virtually unused in the US -- though we predict that will soon change. If you're hunting for unusual yet stylish Greek baby names, variations of this name should be on your short list.
- Mandela
Origin:
African surnameDescription:
An African family name ripe for adoption in honor of Nelson Mandela, the South African activist imprisoned for almost thirty years for his antiapartheid activities.
- Commodore
Description:
Commodore is a masculine name derived from the military naval rank, which originated from the French 'commandeur' and Latin 'commendare' meaning 'to entrust' or 'to command.' As a given name, it gained limited usage in the United States during the 19th century, reflecting the nation's growing naval power and admiration for military titles. The name carries strong connotations of authority, leadership, and nautical tradition. While never widely popular, Commodore occasionally appeared as both a first and middle name for boys, particularly in families with naval connections or patriotic values. The name experienced a slight resurgence of interest with the popularity of Commodore computers in the 1980s. Today, it remains a rare choice that conveys strength and distinguished heritage.
- Zinedine
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"beauty of the faith"Description:
Zinedine Zidane is France's biggest soccer star, spawning a legion of little Zinedines in that country.
- Ludovic
Origin:
English and Scottish variation of LudwigMeaning:
"famous warrior"Description:
Euro-cool. Heard more in Scotland than in England or the US, Ludovic Lesly is a character in the Sir Walter Scott novel Quentin Durward and Sir Ludovic Kennedy was a noted Scottish broadcaster and writer. Cute nickname: Ludo.
- Tamerlaine
Origin:
Turkic, MongolMeaning:
"iron"Description:
Although Tamerlaine, especially with the addition of an i, feels more feminine than masculine these days and is occasionally used for girls, the original Tamerlane was a fierce Mongol warrior.
- Varian
Origin:
Modern invented nameDescription:
A variant form of the Latin clan name Varius. It has been used for a major character in the online role-playing game World of Warcraft.
- Anibal
Description:
Anibal is the Spanish and Portuguese form of the ancient Carthaginian name Hannibal, famously borne by the military commander Hannibal Barca who led forces against Rome in the Second Punic War. The name derives from Phoenician elements meaning 'grace of Baal' (a deity). Anibal has remained consistently used in Spanish-speaking countries and communities, though it's relatively uncommon in the United States. The name carries strong associations with strategic brilliance, courage, and determination, reflecting the historical Hannibal's legendary military achievements. Its exotic sound and historical connections make it appealing to parents seeking a name with depth and character. Anibal has a masculine strength while maintaining a certain melodic quality in pronunciation.
- Valdemar
Origin:
Nordic variation of VladimirDescription:
Ten years ago we would have advised people to steer clear of this name (and maybe choose the similar sounding Walter instead); but with the rise of other Nordic and Eastern European names like Viggo and Casimir, maybe its time to re-thing Valdemar. It's a big name, but with enough penache, it could be pulled off. Valdemar was introduced to Scandinavia in the 12th Century by a Danish king named for his Ukrainian grandfather, and is currently in the Danish Top 20.
- Berenger
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"warrior fighting with a spear"Description:
Last-name-first-name with a romantic but dangerous edge.
- Adelbert
Origin:
Variation of Albert, GermanMeaning:
"noble, bright"Description:
Adelbert is a masculine name of Germanic origin combining the elements 'adal' meaning noble or aristocratic and 'beraht' meaning bright or famous. It's an antiquated form of Albert.
- Pantaleon
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"lion of all"Description:
This was the name of a 2nd-century BC king of Bactria. It was also borne by Saint Pantaleon – also called Panteleimon, as in Lyra's daemon in the His Dark Materials trilogy – who was a doctor martyred during the persecutions of the Roman emperor Diocletian in the early 4th century. He is a patron saint of doctors and midwives.
- Kalani
Origin:
HawaiianMeaning:
"the heavens"Description:
This name is one of the hot new spiritual names for both sexes. In Hawaiian it means "chieftain of the sky" or "spirit of the sky,"and is extremely popular for boys.
- Llewelyn
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"lion"Description:
A distinctively Welsh name that's feeling more and more usable these days.
- Alparslan
Origin:
TurkishMeaning:
"heroic lion"Description:
Alparslan is a combination of the Turkish words alp, meaning "hero," and arslan, "lion." The name is a reference to Alp Arslan, the title given to 11th-century Seljuk sultan Muhammad bin Dawud Chaghri when his army defeated the Byzantines.
- Shanahan
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"the wise one"Description:
Undiscovered Irish surname with a lot more bounce and masculine dash than Shannon.
- Olivian
Origin:
Romanian variation of OliverDescription:
As both Oliver and Olivia grow in popularity throughout the English-speaking world, parents may seek variations that are the same-but-different and Olivian is one such choice. Attractive and easy to understand, yet some confuse it with Olivia.
- Charleston
Origin:
American place-nameMeaning:
"Charles' town"Description:
Lovers of the languid South Carolina city might be attracted to this rich-sounding name. Could make an interesting update on Charles -- and can certainly work for a girl too. Actor Joey Lawrence used it for his daughter.