Two Letter Boy Names
Two letter boy names are a short (ahem) elite list. The top 2 letter names for boys, the only 2 letter male names that stand alone in the Top 1000, are Bo and By.
Two letter names may be nickname names or in a few cases names in their own right. Familiar 2 letter nickname names include Ed, Al, and Cy. Two letter boy names we like include Ax, Oz, and Po.
If you're looking for 2 letter names for your baby boy, here is our complete list, ordered by popularity on Nameberry.
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- Cy
Origin:
Diminutive of Cyrus, PersianMeaning:
"sun"Description:
This evocative short name is suddenly chic — it was recently chosen by Jennifer Lawrence for her baby boy. JLaw's son's name honors Cy Twombly, the influential mid-century American artist. Born Edwin Parker Twombly Jr., both Cy Twombly and his father shared a nickname after baseball player Cy Young (himself born Denton True Young).
- Bo
Origin:
Norse nicknameMeaning:
"to live"Description:
A popular name in Denmark, in this country Bo has some cowboy swagger and a lot of substance in its minimal two letters. In Mandarin Chinese, Bo means "wave".
- Ra
Origin:
EgyptianMeaning:
"sun"Description:
The name of the sun god of Egyptian mythology could only be used in combination with a longer name.
- Ty
Origin:
Diminutive of various Ty-beginning namesDescription:
As Tyler has begun to recede, a number of parents, including the Wayne Gretzkys, have cut straight to the livelier short form.
- Aj
Origin:
Initial nameDescription:
Made up of the letters A and J, this initial name is often used as a nickname, however, a growing number of parents are choosing to put AJ on the birth certificate. It was one of the fastest rising boy names in England and Wales in 2023 and has appeared in the Top 1000 there a number of times since 2013.
- Oz
Origin:
Hebrew, English, IrishMeaning:
"strength, powerful, courageous; god's warrior; deer friend"Description:
While some may think of ruby slippers and a yellow brick road, Oz is a legitimate Hebrew name denoting power. An element in a number of names including Ozni, Oziel, and Ozias, it may also be used as a stand-alone choice which may appeal to those who enjoy the likes of Ty, Ed, Bo, and Cy.
- Jj
Description:
JJ is a masculine name that functions primarily as a diminutive or nickname, typically derived from first names beginning with the letter J, such as James John, Joseph, Jason, or Jonathan. Often, it represents the initials of a first and middle name combination (e.g., John Jacob). The simplicity of JJ makes it practical and memorable, with a friendly, approachable quality. While some people use JJ only informally, others adopt it as their legal name. Its popularity increased in the late 20th century alongside the trend toward casual, abbreviated names. JJ has gained additional recognition through notable sports figures and entertainers who use this moniker. The name's brevity gives it a modern, unpretentious feel that works well in contemporary naming trends.
- Al
Description:
Al is a masculine name that primarily functions as a shortened form of names beginning with 'Al,' such as Albert (meaning 'noble and bright'), Alfred ('wise counselor'), Alexander ('defender of the people'), or Alvin ('noble friend'). With its single syllable and straightforward pronunciation, Al projects a friendly, approachable quality that has made it enduringly popular as a nickname throughout the 20th century. The name peaked in popularity during the mid-1900s and carries associations with a generation of reliable, hardworking men. Al's simplicity gives it a timeless quality, though in recent decades it has become less common as a standalone given name, with parents more likely to use it as a familiar nickname for longer Al- names.
- Sy
Description:
Sy is a short masculine name that can serve as a nickname for longer names like Simon, Seymour, or Sylvester, but also stands independently. It has multiple origins, including Hebrew, where it derives from 'Simon' meaning 'listener,' and Chinese, where the character '思' (Sī) means 'to think' or 'to reflect.' Simple and concise, Sy carries a friendly, approachable quality while maintaining a touch of uniqueness. In American culture, it gained some recognition through notable bearers like comedian Sy Feldman and cartoonist Sy Barry. While never among the most popular names, Sy maintains a steady presence particularly among Jewish communities and has seen occasional use throughout the 20th and 21st centuries.
- Rj
Origin:
Modern, initials R + JDescription:
A two-initial nickname occasionally used on birth certificates.
- Hi
Description:
Hi as a given name is extremely rare and unconventional. It may function more as a nickname or abbreviated form of names like Hiram, Hideo, or Hiroshi. In some East Asian cultures, particularly Chinese, characters that might be romanized as 'Hi' could have specific meanings depending on the original character. As a standalone given name in Western contexts, Hi would be highly unusual and might present practical challenges due to its brevity and its common usage as a greeting in English. The name's simplicity might appeal to parents seeking minimalism or uniqueness, though its everyday use as a greeting word could potentially create confusion. Due to its rarity as a given name, there are few cultural or historical associations attached to it.
- Tj
Origin:
Modern, initials T + JDescription:
A two-initial nickname occasionally used on birth certificates.
- Pi
Description:
Most familiar as the name of the titular character in The Life of Pi, in which it was short for Piscine Molitor Patel.
- Io
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"rely on + emperor, rely on + hero"Description:
Io is most familiar to English speakers as a female name from Greek mythology, but in Japan it's used for both sexes.
- Bj
Origin:
Modern, initials B + JDescription:
A two-initial nickname sometimes used on birth certificates — although these initials have a slang meaning you may prefer to avoid.
- Mo
Origin:
English diminutive of Maurice and MorrisMeaning:
"dark-skinned"Description:
An exceedingly friendly every-guy nickname that could rise alongside the likes of Ike, Sid, and Ned.
- Jt
Origin:
Modern, initials J + TDescription:
A two-initial nickname occasionally used on birth certificates.
- Ej
Description:
Ej is an extremely concise masculine name that likely functions as either an abbreviation of longer names starting with these letters (such as Elijah, Edward, or Eugene) or as a phonetic rendering of initials (E.J.). Its brevity gives it a modern, minimalist quality that stands out in contemporary naming trends. While uncommon as a formal given name in most countries, Ej may be used as a nickname or chosen name in everyday life. The simplicity of the two-letter construction makes it globally accessible across different languages and cultural contexts, though its pronunciation (likely "edge" or "ee-jay") might vary. As a formal given name, Ej represents the growing trend toward shorter, more direct naming choices that break with traditional naming conventions.
- Jd
Origin:
Modern, initials J + DDescription:
A two-initial nickname occasionally used on birth certificates.
- Sj
Origin:
Modern, initials S + JDescription:
A two-initial nickname occasionally used on birth certificates.