Four Syllable Names for Boys

  1. Heliodor
    • Origin:

      Gemstone name
    • Description:

      Also known as green beryl, Heliodor is the name of a sun-kissed colored gemstone. The name is reminiscent of other -dor names such as Theodore, Esidore, Isidor, Landor, Salvador etc.
  2. Emilien
    • Origin:

      French form of Emil
    • Meaning:

      "friendly"
    • Description:

      Might make a worthy masculine spin on either of the uber popular Emma or Emily.
  3. Anatoly
    • Origin:

      Russian, from Greek
    • Meaning:

      "from the east, rising sun"
    • Description:

      A sweet and gentle-sounding Russian name with a sunny meaning, typically nicknamed Tolya in Russia. It can also be written as Anatoli or Anatoliy.
  4. Cutter
    • Origin:

      English occupational surname
    • Meaning:

      "tailor, barber"
    • Description:

      Cutter was an old-fashioned term for a tailor or barber that was eventually adopted as a surname. That gives it more legitimacy than many of the other aggressive boy names — Striker, Shooter, Breaker, et al. — but Cutter remains equally threatening.
  5. Ludovico
    • Origin:

      Italian variation of Ludwig, German
    • Meaning:

      "famous warrior"
    • Description:

      Ludwig may be out, but Ludovico is very very in, at least in Italy. Undiscovered in the US and other English-speaking countries, Ludovico comes with the short form Ludo. The female form Ludovica is also popular.
  6. Meridian
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "midday / pinnacle"
    • Description:

      In geography, a meridian is a line drawn around the curve of the Earth between the North and South Poles. The term comes from Latin meridianus, meaning "pertaining to midday", and the association with midday has led to the word gaining an added figurative meaning of "pinnacle; culmination".
  7. Valencio
    • Origin:

      Spanish variation of Valentine, Latin
    • Meaning:

      "health, strength"
    • Description:

      Valencio is an energetic, valiant-sounding name, the male form of Valencia.
  8. Leviticus
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "belonging to the Levites"
    • Description:

      Old Testament book way too heavy to carry.
  9. Valentio
    • Description:

      Valentio appears to be a variant of Valentine or Valentino, names that derive from the Latin 'Valentinus,' meaning strong, healthy, or powerful. This masculine name carries the romantic associations of its root while offering a slightly different ending that gives it a distinctive quality. Though uncommon in official records, Valentio combines Italian stylistic elements with the historical gravitas of the Valentine name family. The name might appeal to parents seeking a romantic, somewhat dramatic name with Latin flair but wanting something less common than Valentino. Valentio has a melodious flow with its four syllables and creates associations with love and strength, given its connection to the ancient Roman Saint Valentine and the resulting Valentine's Day traditions.

  10. Zacharias
    • Origin:

      Greek form of Hebrew Zachariah
    • Meaning:

      "the Lord has remembered"
    • Description:

      One of several more venerable names that get to the nickname Zack if you're tired of Zachary. In the New Testament, Zacharias was the husband of Elizabeth and father of John the Baptist.
  11. Yossarian
    • Origin:

      Literary name
    • Description:

      The surname of the protagonist of Joseph Heller’s satirical World War II novel Catch 22 and its sequel Closing Time, by which he is exclusively called by the narrator and other characters. It is described in the novel as "an odious, alien, distasteful name… not at all like such clean, crisp, honest, American names as Cathcart, Peckem and Dreedle." Heller took the name from one of his own colleagues in the Air Force, an Assyrian called Yohannan.
  12. Ezequiel
    • Origin:

      Spanish and Portuguese form of Ezekiel, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "God strengthens"
    • Description:

      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 Gabriel and Raphael, Ezekiel is in the Top 100, while this Spanish and Portuguese variation sits comfortably in the Top 400.
  13. Olivian
    • Origin:

      Romanian variation of Oliver
    • Description:

      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.
  14. Konstantinos
    • Origin:

      Greek variation of Constantine, "constant, steadfast"
    • Meaning:

      "constant, steadfast"
    • Description:

      Derived from the Latin Constantinus, this is the Greek form of Constantine or Constans. Conjuring up ideas of endurance and steadiness, Konstantinos has been borne by numerous Greek prime ministers and by film maker Konstantinos Gavras. Kostis, Kostas, and Dino are sometimes used as nicknames.
  15. Denarius
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "silver coin"
  16. Aleksander
    • Origin:

      Polish, Slovene, Estonian, Norwegian, and Danish form Alexander, Greek
    • Meaning:

      "defending man"
    • Description:

      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, short forms include Aleks, Sander, Sandi, and Sašo (Sasho).
  17. Benvolio
    • Origin:

      Italian
    • Meaning:

      "good wisher; peacemaker, benevolent"
    • Description:

      A kindly, virtue-adjacent name, it appears in Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, borne by the peacemaker friend who persuades Romeo to go to the party where he meets Juliet. Alas. A bold choice but with familiar nicknames Ben, Lio, and Bo.
  18. Macallister
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "son of Alasdair"
    • Description:

      Macallister as a first name is attracting new attention as the name chosen by Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer and venture capitalist Zack Bogue for their young son. Macallister is usually heard as a patronymic surname, meaning son of Alasdair or Alistair or any one of the spellings of the Scottish form of Alexander. Like all other names of this type, Macallister leads to the cute short form Mac.
  19. Apollinaire
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "of Apollo"
    • Description:

      Unique baby name and poetic Gallic choice. Guillaume Apollinaire was a French poet and novelist active in the early 20th century arts community, who is said to have coined the terms cubism and surrealism. He based his unique surname de plume on his Polish middle name, Apolinary.
  20. Benedetto
    • Origin:

      Italian
    • Meaning:

      "blessed"
    • Description:

      This Italian form of Benedict sidesteps the Benedict Arnold association that still clouds the English version.