Two Letter Boy Names

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".

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).

A river (in Italy), a writer (Bronson), a Teletubby: the Bo of the new millennium.

The name of the sun god of Egyptian mythology could only be used in combination with a longer name.

As Tyler has begun to recede, a number of parents, including the Wayne Gretzkys, have cut straight to the livelier short form.

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.

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.

CJ is a modern abbreviated name typically formed from the initials of first and middle names beginning with C and J, such as Christopher James, Charles John, or Cara Jane. This concise name gained popularity in the late 20th century alongside the trend toward shorter, more casual names and initials as standalone identities. CJ projects a friendly, approachable quality while maintaining a certain coolness and versatility. Its gender-neutral nature, though slightly more common for males, adds to its contemporary appeal. The name has been featured in popular culture through characters in television and film, helping to establish it as more than just a nickname but a legitimate given name in its own right.

This short and sweet multicultural name has a lot of potential meanings packed into its two letters!

A two-initial nickname occasionally used on birth certificates.

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.

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.

Initial nicknames have a cool, casual sound, but you'd have to be bold — or really want to leave your kid's options open — to put just the letters on the birth certificate.

Md is most commonly used as an abbreviation for 'Mohammed' (or Muhammad), one of the world's most popular masculine names honoring the Prophet of Islam. This abbreviated form is particularly common in Bangladesh, parts of India, and some other South Asian countries, often appearing on official documents and signatures. The full name Mohammed derives from Arabic and means 'praiseworthy' or 'praised one.' While technically an abbreviation, Md functions as a given name in its own right for many bearers. Its extreme brevity makes it distinctive, though it may cause confusion in international contexts where such abbreviations are less familiar. For many families, using Md represents a connection to Islamic tradition while offering a compact alternative to the full name, which has numerous spelling variations across different cultures.

Most familiar as the name of the titular character in The Life of Pi, in which it was short for Piscine Molitor Patel.

Ab is a short masculine name with multiple cultural origins. In Hebrew, it derives from 'אָב' (av) meaning 'father,' reflecting paternal significance in ancient societies. It appears in the Bible as a component of compound names and as the name of the fifth month in the Jewish calendar. In Arabic contexts, Ab can be a variant of Abd, meaning 'servant of.' The name also exists as a diminutive form of Albert or Abraham in some Western traditions. While historically present across several cultures, Ab remains quite rare as a standalone given name in modern usage, offering a distinctively brief, masculine sound with deep historical roots.

The most minimalist of names, Ed is decidedly out -- though that usually means it's due to swing back in. More stylish these days: Ned or even Ted.

Musician Ry Cooder brought this short form into the lexicon -- his full name is Ryland -- and it feels more familiar now that more Ry- beginning names such as Ryder and Riley are, ahem, riding up the ranks. The Rye spelling makes it more of a word or a nature name and less of a nickname.

An exceedingly friendly every-guy nickname that could rise alongside the likes of Ike, Sid, and Ned.