Three Syllable Names for Boys

A French masculine form of Odilia/Odile which ranked in the top 500 in France for most of the first two decades of the 20th century, but has since fallen out of use. Famous bearers include 19th century French prime minister Odilon Barrot and symbolist painter and printmaker Odilon (born Bertrand-Jean) Redon.

Odilon

This intriguing surname name has an infamous bearer in O. J. (Orenthal James) Simpson, who was apparently named by his aunt after an obscure 1940s-era foreign film actor. 
Orenthal is likely to be an old German surname, likely to be a locational name related to Nordic Arendahl/Arendal ("valley of eagles"), or perhaps a patronymic — a variant of the medieval German Orendel ("morning star").

Orenthal

Ptarmigan is the common English name for the genus Lagopus, in the grouse family of birds. The name is derived from the Scottish word for the bird, tàrmachan (meaning unknown), with the initial P- added by erroneous association with the Greek pteron ("wing"). 
Ptarmigan has been spotted on a baby girl in the Telegraph Birth Announcements, but there’s no reason this intriguing nature name couldn’t work for a boy, too. In fact, it sounds a bit Muskateer to many an ear, making it fabulous for the adventurous parent of a son.

Ptarmigan

A Welsh saint’s name, possibly deriving from the Old Welsh word for "red".

Rhidian

Romuald is an obscure medieval Italian saint’s name which had a surprising run of popularity in France in the 1970s, featuring in the top 100 from 1972-79. It only fell out of the French top 500 in 2005, but is little-known in anglophone countries.

Romuald

A French surname turned Spanish masculine given name, Rosamel likely derives from the combination of rose + Greek mel "honey". 
As a surname, it was borne by a 19th century French naval officer with the wonderful name of Claude Charles Marie du Campe de Rosamel. As a first name, a famous bearer is the 20th century Chilean poet and activist Rosamel del Valle.

Rosamel

Suresha

This ancient name, belonging to a 4th century BCE Greek statesman and general, would be one of those <a href="https://nameberry.com/unique-names">unique baby names</a> with lots of more down-to-earth nickname potential, including Tim and Leon. Another notable bearer is Timoleon Jimanez, former leader of the rebel group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.

Timoleon

Viator is a late Latin name, which belonged to a 4th-century Italian saint. Similar in sound to the word Aviator, this name has a slightly space-agey vibe.

Viator

The name of one of the ten Attic orators, it is a name with a great academic pedigree and a wonderful meaning - a good choice for social justice minded parents.

Isaeus

This Romani name may derive from the Yiddish name Zindel, which is itself a name derived from Alexander.

Zindelo

The son of Pwyll and Rhiannon in Welsh mythology, Pryderi (which means "care; worry" in Welsh) is a central figure of the Mabinogi. Kidnapped by a mysterious beast as a baby, he is raised by another family before being reunited with his parents as a young man, eventually succeeding his father as Lord of Dyfed. He is killed by the magician Gwydion in single combat. American author Lloyd Alexander used the name for a character in his "Chronicles of Prydain" series, based on Welsh mythology.

Pryderi

An obscure mythological name which belongs to several minor figures in Greek legend. The father and son of Hephaestion, a close companion of Alexander the Great, also bore the name.

Amyntor

One of the Knights of the Round Table in Arthurian legend, who ultimately returns Excalibur to the Lady of the Lake. Also spelt Bedevere, the name derives from Welsh Bedwyr ("birch man").

Bedivere

Bedevere

Faramir is a character appearing in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, first seen in The Two Towers and described as a gentle lover of lore and music, a leader in battle. The character appeared in not only the books but film and video games. Faramir has already been used by one berry Tolkien fan as an intriguing middle name. 
 
Though the meaning is uncertain, those who have studied the fictional language of Sindarin have suggested it means "sufficient jewel"

Faramir

The son of Lancelot and Elaine in Arthurian legend, Galahad is the purest and most chivalrous of the Knights of the Round Table, and one of the three achievers of the Holy Grail. The derivation of his name is unclear. It may come from Welsh Gwalchafed (hawk of summer) or "gwalch" + "cad" (hawk of battle), or it may be an anglicization of the Biblical place name Gilead meaning "heap of witness". Certainly a bold and brave choice for a baby boy, though perhaps nickname Addy or Ads could ground it slightly. 

Galahad

The white winged stallion in Greek mythology who sprang from the blood of Medusa when she was beheaded by Perseus. Pegasus was ridden by the hero Bellerophon in his fight against the Chimera. The name may derive from the Greek for "from a water spring"; according to legend, a spring burst forth wherever Pegasus struck the earth with a hoof. So as well as being an animal name and a mythological name, you might consider this one of the <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/10/water-baby-names">names meaning water</a>.

Pegasus

The name of a provincial king in Arthurian legend, who almost defeats Arthur in single combat, until Merlin intervenes to save Arthur's life. Pellinore then becomes a companion of Arthur and a Knight of the Round Table. His name probably derives from that of Beli Mawr, a legendary ancestor figure in Welsh literature, who established multiple Welsh royal lines. A variant form of this <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/172/welsh-names">Welsh name</a> is Pellinor.

Pellinore

Pellinor

Three-syllable boy names carry a certain gravity and formality: They're mostly full names rather than short forms. 

 today -- Benjamin, Theodore, Oliver -- have three syllables, often with friendlier short forms such as Ben, Theo, and Ollie.

 too: Consider word name Victory, Spanish nature name Jacinto, and the papal (really) Zepherin.

pair best with one or two-syllable surnames

, but if you love a three-syllable name for your son and have a longer last name, you can always choose one with a shorter version. Zachary Zantopoulos is more approachable as Zach Zantopoulos.

 of more than 5000 male names with three syllables, ordered by their current popularity on Nameberry.

Three-syllable names for baby boys, including popular three syllable boy names such as Benjamin and Theodore and unique three-syllable baby names for boys, including Templeton and Zoticus. (Page 652)

5000+ Three-Syllable Boy Names