5000+ Three-Syllable Boy Names

  1. Absalom
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "father of peace"
    • Description:

      Absalom, because of its biblical and literary associations, just might appeal to the daring namegiver.
  2. Anakin
    • Origin:

      American invented name
    • Description:

      Anakin Skywalker, aka Darth Vader, is the antagonist in the original Star Wars trilogy. The name Anakin first entered the US Top 1000 in 2014. Its meaning is unknown but is thought to be an homage to a friend of George Lucas.
  3. Alister
    • Origin:

      English variation of Alasdair, Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "defending men"
    • Description:

      This anglicized spelling of the already anglicized Alistair originates from the Scottish form of Alexander. Some might think it lacks the flair of the -air ending, while others might find it sleeker and simpler. Either way, in the US, it's the second most popular spelling after Alistair, ahead of both Alasdair and Alastair, while in the UK, it is in use, but least preferred of the four.
  4. Kimberly
    • Origin:

      English surname and place name
    • Meaning:

      "Cyneburga's meadow"
    • Description:

      Kimberly is a variation of the South African (and Australian) place name Kimberley, named after John Wodehouse, 1st Earl of Kimberley. The name comes from a Norfolk earldom (first spelled Chineburlai) and references the meadow or woodland clearing of a medieval Lady called Cyneburga.
  5. Halloran
    • Origin:

      Gaelic
    • Meaning:

      "male descendant of a pirate or stranger from overseas"
    • Description:

      Halloran could be your solution if you love the nickname Hal, but not Harold or Henry.
  6. Osian
    • Origin:

      Welsh variation of Oisin, Irish
    • Meaning:

      "little deer"
    • Description:

      Osian is the easier-to-comprehend version of the ancient Irish Oisin, an important name in mythology. Osian or Oisin was a warrior poet. Osian is popular in modern Wales and England. While Oisin is pronounce oh-SHEEN, Osian is pronounced O-shan -- though we bet most Americans would just say ocean, which you may consider a good thing.
  7. Delano
    • Origin:

      French surname
    • Meaning:

      "from the forest of nut trees"
    • Description:

      Popular President Franklin Delano Roosevelt inspired a brief fashion for this as a first name in the 1940s; almost never heard today.
  8. Lafayette
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "faith"
    • Description:

      Foppish name with a distinguished forebear, French general Marquis de Lafayette, who fought in the American Revolution. It accounts for the L in L. Ron Hubbard. Old-time short form: Fayette or Fate.
  9. Artemas
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "gift of Artemis, goddess of the hunt"
    • Description:

      This name has a nice mythological, historical, Three Musketeers-ish ring.
  10. Maximo
    • Origin:

      Spanish variation of Maximus, Latin
    • Meaning:

      "greatest"
    • Description:

      With the ubiquitous Max heard at every playground across the US, international versions have been gaining traction in an attempt to provide a fresh avenue to the highly sought nickname. This Spanish iteration has been in the US Top 1000 since the early 2000s and is currently trending upwards.
  11. Arlington
    • Origin:

      English habitational surname, place name
    • Meaning:

      "the noble's town"
    • Description:

      Similar in sound to Arlo, Remington, and Arthur, this surname style and place name could make a patriotic choice in the US, with its connections to Arlington National Cemetery. Given to 14 girls and 24 boys in 2023, it is making moves up the charts, albeit small ones.
  12. Carlisle
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "from the walled city"
    • Description:

      This stuffy English surname and hotel name took on Twilight cool when attached to vampire Carlisle Cullen. Inspired by the character, it's more popular in this spelling than as Carlyle and more widely used for boys than for girls.
  13. Jovani
    • Origin:

      English, Latin American
    • Meaning:

      "god is gracious"
    • Description:

      A respelling of Giovanni which makes the Italian pronunciation – three syllables, rather than four – more clear. Jovani and its variant Jovanni were both Top 1000 picks for the first decade and a half of the 20th century. They are particularly popular in the US's Latino community.
  14. Jacoby
    • Origin:

      Variation of Jacob, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "supplanter"
    • Description:

      Jacoby, a surname spin on Jacob shot up the charts in the middle of the 2000's, thanks largely to the popularity of Jacoby Ellsbury, the first Native American of Navajo descent in the Major Leagues, but has been dropping steadily since it peaked at Number 423 in 2008. As of 2022, it dropped out of the US Top 1000 and is given to around 170 boys each year.
  15. Manaia
    • Origin:

      Maori
    • Meaning:

      "embellishment; spiritual messenger"
    • Description:

      The Manaia is a mythological creature in Māori culture, a common motif in Māori art. Usually depicted as having the head of a bird, the tail of a fish and the body of a man, the Manaia is traditionally believed to be the messenger between the earthly world of mortals and the domain of the spirits, and its symbol is used as a guardian against evil.
  16. Ananias
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "God has given"
    • Description:

      Ananias is a New Testament name of three different figures. The two good ones were a high priest and a disciple of Paul. The not good Ananias was the husband of Sapphira who conspired to deceive the apostles and was struck dead.
  17. Hannibal
    • Origin:

      Punic and Assyrian
    • Meaning:

      "grace of Baal, god of fertility and fortune"
    • Description:

      These days, it's thought of less as the name of the great general and more as the first name of Lecter the fictional cannibal. Either association is too heavy for a child to bear.
  18. Donnacha
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "brown-haired warrior"
    • Description:

      Virtually unknown in this country, Donnacha is currently in the Top 100 in Ireland. According to legend, Donnacha was a High King of Ireland until his death in 1064. The English version Donaga (done-a) might be preferable here.
  19. Alberto
    • Origin:

      Germanic
    • Meaning:

      "noble, bright"
    • Description:

      Alberto is the Italian, Spanish and Portuguese variation of Albert and lends a more unusual and fashionable edge to this name which is still a grandpa name to many.
  20. Astraeus
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "star"
    • Description:

      The Titan of the dusk in Greek mythology, husband of Eos (Dawn) and father of the four Anemoi (Winds), as well as the goddess Astraea. The name is derived from Greek "aster", meaning "star".