By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 4 pages
of 4
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…
Modern, initials J + D
A two-initial nickname occasionally used on birth certificates.
Modern, initials K + J
Karen
"to love"
A brief name from the Karen culture of Myanmar.
English, nickname
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.
Modern, initials L + J
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…
Chinese
"universe"
Yu the Great founded China's first dynasty and the name went on to become one of the most popular boy names in its native country during the 2000s. In more recent years, it has been used as an…
Short form of Joseph, Hebrew
"Jehovah increases"
Jo is usually the feminine form of the name, while Joe is the masculine spelling.
Zo is a concise masculine name with multiple cultural origins. In Greek, it relates to "life" (from zoe), while in some African cultures, particularly Madagascar, it can mean "ancestor" or carry…
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…
Japanese
"rely on + emperor, rely on + hero"
Io is most familiar to English speakers as a female name from Greek mythology, but in Japan it's used for both sexes.
Ah is an extremely rare masculine name with multiple cultural origins. In Chinese, it functions as a prefix expressing familiarity or affection when added to names or kinship terms. In Arabic…
Abbreviation of William
Were boys really named Wm at the turn of the last century, or was the old-timey abbreviation of William simply what was noted on the official records? We're guessing the latter, but as the Social…
Biblical place-name
A minimalist choice, Uz is the Biblical home of Job. It's also the name of a character in the Bible, the father of Aram and the grandson of Shem, as is Uzziah. Uz is one of those names that could go…
Most familiar as the name of the titular character in The Life of Pi , in which it was short for Piscine Molitor Patel.
Cantonese surname that is occasionally heard as a first. The lack of vowels would make this one hard to wear in English-speaking countries.
Modern, initials B + J
A two-initial nickname sometimes used on birth certificates — although these initials have a slang meaning you may prefer to avoid.
Hebrew
"light"
This unisex Hebrew name has held rather steady for boys while falling for girls in Israel.
Ti is a short, minimalist masculine name with multicultural roots. In Chinese, Ti (提) can mean 'to lift up' or 'to raise,' while in various Polynesian languages, it may relate to words for strength…
