Four Syllable Names for Boys

Alexander

Greek

"defending men"

Alexander has been in a Top 25 boys' name in the US for 30 years now. But namers are still attracted to its imposing historic pedigree. Alexander is derived from the Greek name Aléxandros, composed…

Emiliano

Italian and Spanish variation of Emil

"rival"

Emiliano is an appealing Latinate version of Emil, with the same gentle sounds but additional flair. Popular in Chile and Mexico, where it ranks in the Top 20, Emiliano is also a rising name in the…

Alejandro

Spanish variation of Alexander

"defending men"

Softer and smoother than Alexander, this classic Spanish name for boys has made a seamless transition to this culture. Adding to its current impact: the Lady Gaga song Alejandro .

Ezequiel

Spanish and Portuguese form of Ezekiel, Hebrew

"God strengthens"

Ezekiel and Ezequiel have both featured in the US Top 1000 since the 1980s , though it has been since the 2010s that they've become favorites. Joining Biblical or international style choices such as…

Valentino

Latin

"strength, health"

A dashing, dramatic and romantic Italian surname, associated with early movie heartthrob Rudolph, and later with Italian fashion designer Valentino (Garavani). Also the name of an early Roman saint,…

Azariah

Hebrew

"helped by God"

Azariah is a rarely used biblical name that moves way beyond Adam and Abraham; its pleasant sound makes it no surprise that parents have discovered it in recent years. Azariah is actually one of the…

Alessandro

Italian variation of Alexander

"defending men"

For anyone seeking a more unusual version of Alexander, this is a real winner. Notable namesakes include the great Italian opera composer Scarlatti and the influential physicist Alessandro Volta,…

Zachariah

Hebrew, form of Zechariah

"the Lord has remembered"

This distinguished name still feels a bit ancient, but with the rise of such former graybeards as Jeremiah and Elijah, it also sounds child-friendly again, as does the Latin-Greek form Zacharias.…

Maximilian

Latin

"greatest"

This name once seemed a bit grand and pompous for an American baby boy, but a significant number of parents are now preferring it as a substantial platform for the nickname Max, among them Jennifer…

Azaiah

Hebrew

"my strength is Yahweh"

With Azariah and Azriel in the Top 1000, and Ezra, Josiah, and Isaiah in the Top 100, it makes sense that this lesser known Hebrew choice is being revived in the US. Most likely deriving from Uzziah…

Asaiah

Hebrew

"the Lord hath made"

Like Isaiah but looking for a name that's more unique? Asaiah is a name found several times in the Old Testament. Think of it as a blend of Asa and Josiah and a possible substitute for Isaiah. Asaiah…

Zechariah

Hebrew

"the Lord has remembered"

Zechariah is actually the original Biblical form of the name more often found these days as Zachariah, probably because of the popularity of Zachary. People are going to have trouble getting…

Montgomery

Norman

"man power"

This image of this distinguished Anglo-Scottish surname, drawn from the French place name of the ancient castle of Saint Foi de Montgomery, is rapidly shifting from fusty and formal to cool. And…

Zakariya

Arabic

"God remembers"

An Arabic form of Zachariah which may also be spelled as Zakariyya. In Islamic tradition, Zakariya was a priest and prophet, in charge of managing the services at the Second Temple in Jerusalem.…

Gianluca

Italian, Combination of Gian and Luca

This is one of the attractive smoosh names heard frequently in Italy, but rarely in the US. A particularly appealing example due to the stylishness of Luca.

Eliyahu

Hebrew

"Jehovah is God"

Eliyahu is the Hebrew form of the increasingly popular Biblical prophet name Elijah, also found in forms Elias and Eli. There were 100 boys given the name Eliyahu in the U.S. in 2012. Its upside is…

Micaiah

Hebrew

"who is like God?"

Spelling variation of Michaiah, an obscure but attractive name used for both men and women in the Bible.

Aleksander

Polish, Slovene, Estonian, Norwegian, and Danish form Alexander, Greek

"defending man"

An international variation of classic Alexander, this form has slightly softer sounds, yet feels just as strong. Popular in Poland, the Netherlands, Norway and Slovenia, but familiar in the UK too,…

Zephaniah

Hebrew

"God has hidden"

A minor prophet who has his own Book, Zephaniah is another Old Testament gem waiting to be rediscovered now that Noah and Abraham are becoming too trendy. The vowel-sound ending of Zephaniah is…

Dominique

French form of Dominic, Latin

"belonging to the lord"

Unisex option Dominique peaked for boys at Number 170 in 1991, perhaps due to the popularity of basketball player Dominique Wilkins. While it has now fallen out of the popularity charts in both the…