Three Letter Girl Names
- Aza
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"powerful"Description:
Aza is an excellent Arabic choice: elegant and simple. Too simple for you? Consider Aziza.
- Pax
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"peace"Description:
A cool name, representing the Roman goddess of peace and offering a positive message to bestow upon a child. Pax is one of the most stylish new names that mean peace.
- Ave
Description:
Ave is a concise feminine name with multiple origins and meanings. In Latin, it means 'hail' or 'farewell' and is recognizable from the prayer 'Ave Maria' (Hail Mary). It can also derive from the Latin 'avis,' meaning 'bird,' symbolizing freedom and grace. As a modern name, Ave appeals to parents seeking minimalist elegance - short, simple, yet distinctive. Despite its brevity, it carries significant cultural resonance through its religious connections and natural symbolism. While not widely used as a given name, Ave's simplicity makes it versatile across cultures and languages. The name's compact nature also makes it unlikely to be shortened to nicknames, preserving its clean, pure quality.
- Ili
Description:
Ili is a feminine name with diverse cultural origins. In Finnish, it relates to 'joy' or 'delight,' while in Turkish it can mean 'connection' or 'relation.' This short, melodic name also appears in various cultures including Hawaiian and Chinese contexts with different meanings. The simplicity of Ili makes it easily pronounced in many languages, giving it international appeal. Despite its cross-cultural presence, the name remains uncommon in most Western countries, offering parents a distinctive yet accessible option. Ili's brevity aligns with contemporary naming trends favoring short, vowel-rich names. The name's positive associations and gentle sound make it appealing as a feminine choice that balances uniqueness with simplicity and carries subtle meanings of happiness or connection depending on the cultural context.
- Wyn
Description:
Wyn is a feminine name with Welsh origins, though it can also be used for males in its original context. Derived from the Welsh word "gwyn" meaning "fair," "blessed," or "white," Wyn embodies brightness and purity. As a standalone name, it carries a simple elegance with its concise, single-syllable format. In Welsh naming traditions, it often appears as a component in compound names or as a nickname. Despite its ancient roots, Wyn maintains a contemporary feel with its short, crisp sound. The name remains uncommon in English-speaking countries outside of Wales, giving it a distinctive quality. Its minimalist charm appeals to parents seeking something brief yet meaningful with authentic Celtic heritage.
- Boo
Origin:
Word name or nicknameDescription:
Boo may have started out as a nickname for the male character Arthur "Boo" Radley in To Kill A Mockingbird and these days may be closely associated with another male Boo, the "world's cutest dog" or with the adorable little girl in Monsters, Inc.
- Ene
Origin:
Estonian variation of Anne, EnglishMeaning:
"grace"Description:
Although the origins of Ene aren't entirely certain, it is likely to have ultimately derived from Anne, meaning "grace."
- Cat
Origin:
Diminutive of Catherine, GreekMeaning:
"pure"Description:
May be the most modern, stylish Catherine nickname: more unusual than Kate or Cate, with an animal and word name edge. Cat Power is a trendy folksinger.
- Ryn
Origin:
Variation of Rynn, EnglishMeaning:
"pure"Description:
A great middle name option to honor a Kathryn. Coco Rocha used it for her daughter Iley's middle name.
- Dee
Origin:
Nickname for any girl name that starts with DDescription:
Dee is a slight midcentury nickname that might be short for Deanna or Denise, but might be too slight for today's strong, independent female.
- Avi
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"father"Description:
The rise of trendy Arianna has led to unisex Ari gaining speed for girls in recent years as well. Now as Avianna climbs the charts, it may be time to start considering Hebrew Avi for a girl as well.
- Dae
Description:
Dae is a concise feminine name of East Asian origin, particularly Korean, where it means 'greatness' or 'big.' In Korean contexts, it can be a standalone name or part of a compound given name. The name also appears in other cultures with varying meanings - in Welsh mythology, Dae relates to birds. As a modern given name, Dae appeals to parents seeking minimalist names with cross-cultural appeal. Its brevity makes it practical across languages, while its positive meaning and soft sound give it a gentle yet empowered quality. Though uncommon in Western countries, Dae has gained some popularity as parents increasingly look to international naming traditions.
- Gem
Description:
Gem is a concise, evocative feminine name derived directly from the English word for precious stones. This nature-inspired name conveys qualities of rarity, beauty, and value. As a given name, Gem has never been widely common but has maintained steady, limited usage, particularly in English-speaking countries. The name's brevity makes it distinctive in an era when longer names are often popular. Gem can also function as a nickname for longer names like Gemma, Gemini, or even more distantly related names like Jemima. The name evokes positive associations with brilliance, durability, and natural beauty. Its simplicity makes it easy to spell and pronounce across cultures while carrying rich metaphorical meaning.
- Jay
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"jaybird"Description:
While Jay has been long used as a stand-alone boy name, it has more recently been used as one for girls. Otherwise, it has largely been seen as a pet form of any J name, or as a singular middle name.
- Jae
Origin:
Korean name element or short form of any name beginning with JDescription:
Jae is a versatile name with multiple cultural origins. In Korean culture, it appears as a component in many names, meaning elements like 'respect,' 'wealth,' or 'talent' depending on the Chinese character used. In Western usage, Jae is a unisex name -- about 40 babies of each sex were named Jae last year -- that often functions as a shortened form of names beginning with 'J' such as Jane or Jasmine.
- Agi
Description:
Agi is a diminutive feminine name with multiple cultural origins. In Hungarian, it serves as a nickname for Agnes, meaning 'pure' or 'holy.' It also appears in Japanese culture with various meanings depending on the kanji characters used. In Finnish, Agi can be a short form of Agatha. The name remains relatively uncommon in English-speaking countries, giving it a distinctive quality. Its brevity and soft sound make it appealing to parents seeking a simple yet unique name with cross-cultural appeal. While not frequently found in popularity charts, Agi offers a concise alternative to more common diminutives.
- Joe
Description:
Joe as a feminine name is an uncommon usage of what is traditionally a masculine name. Joe is typically a short form of Joseph (from Hebrew, meaning 'God will add') and has long been one of the most familiar and enduring male names in English-speaking countries. When used for girls, Joe often represents a gender-neutral approach to naming or may be short for feminine names like Josephine or Joanna. The feminine use of Joe embodies a straightforward, no-nonsense quality that some parents find appealing. While relatively rare for girls, it fits within the contemporary trend of adopting traditionally male names for females, appealing to those seeking simplicity and strength in a name regardless of traditional gender associations.
- Gay
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"joyful"Description:
The meaning of this word flipped from "cheerful" to "homosexual" during the twentieth century, and it's now almost certainly too loaded to sit comfortably as a baby name. Which is a shame as sound-wise it's very appealing, just a short step away from Faye, May, and Rae.
- Ena
Origin:
Diminutive of several namesDescription:
Baby names that started off as diminutives -- Ena, Ita, Etta -- seem too insubstantial for a modern female.
- Ica
Description:
Ica is a feminine name with multiple cultural origins. In Slavic contexts, it may be a diminutive suffix added to create endearing feminine forms of names. It exists as an independent name in several cultures, including Indonesian, where it may be used as a nickname. The name has connections to the Ica region and river in Peru, potentially giving it geographic significance. Characterized by its brevity and melodic quality, Ica is remarkably simple yet distinctive. This short, two-syllable name carries a gentle sound while being easy to pronounce across many languages. Though uncommon in Western countries, Ica's simplicity gives it universal appeal. The name has never ranked among popular names in the United States, making it an unusual choice that offers individuality while maintaining an accessible, sweet quality.