Three Letter Boy Names
Across 31 pages
of 31
Arc
English word name
Refers, in literal terms, to a curved line -- as in Martin Luther King, Jr.'s famed "arc of justice." Could also be used as a reference to Joan of Arc -- Arc being, there, derived from her father's…
Sem
Dutch form of Shem, Russian short form of Semyon, Hebrew
"name; he has heard"
A popular name in the Netherlands that's arguably more attractive than the original, Sem is a Dutch variant of the Biblical Shem who was one of the sons of Noah. Only ever given to a handful of boys…
Ryu
Japanese
"dragon"
This attractive mini-name combines multiple trends: the R initial, vowel-ending boy names, and a fantastical meaning.
Aio
Italian
"tutor, teacher"
Vowel names are popular, but this word-name possibility takes it to an extreme.
Edd
Short form of Edward, English
"weathy guardian"
Edd is a shortened form of Edward, a classic English name derived from Old English elements meaning 'wealthy guardian' or 'prosperous protector.' While Edward has been borne by kings and remains…
Geo
Greek
"earth"
Geo is of ancient origin but cutting-edge modern sound. It is starting to rise in popularity, partly for its cool science vibe, and partly as a soundalike for popular Italian diminutive Gio. Geo is…
Mat
Short form of Mathew or Matthew, Hebrew
"gift of God"
This short form of the biblical Matthew relates most directly to the shorter, rarer spelling Mathew. (About 7000 baby boys were named Matthew in the US, versus about 250 called Mathew.) Nearly 50…
Sim
Scottish diminutive of Simon
"the listener"
The Biblical Simon has been rediscovered and this appealing short form, an alternative to Sam, might be a way to make your Simon even more special.
Lum
Diminutive of Columbus, English from Latin
"dove"
A forgotten nickname for Columbus, which itself is becoming ever rarer. Radio comedy program Lum and Abner , which ran for over two decades beginning in 1931, featured a character named Columbus…
Doc
English word name
A boy with this name is certain to be bombarded with "What's up, doc?" every day of his life. Even Doctor would be preferable.
Hoy
Hoy is an uncommon masculine name with multiple possible origins. In Scottish contexts, it derives from a place name meaning 'high land' or 'high island.' It may also have Chinese origins where it…
Mal
Diminutive of Malcolm, Scottish
"devotee of St. Colomba"
A nickname for Malcolm that at one point ranked independently on the US Top 1000. It still exists as an affectionate pet form, but you’re unlikely to hear a Malcolm introduce himself as Mal.
Coy
English
"shy, taciturn"
Though rarely heard now, Coy has been around for a century and was not an uncommon name a hundred years ago. There have been a couple of NFL players named Coy, Coy Bowles is in the Zac Brown band,…
Yee
Chinese surname
Yee is related to the surname Yu, a romanization of several Chinese characters. Yu is an ancient Chinese family name, one borne by the legendary Emperor Shun.
Gee
Gee is a masculine name that can have multiple origins. It may function as a short form of names beginning with 'G' such as George, Gerald, or Geoffrey. Alternatively, it could have originated as a…
Lue
Lue is a versatile masculine name with multiple cultural origins. In Chinese, Lue (吕) is a respected surname and given name meaning 'backbone' or 'spine,' symbolizing strength and moral character. In…
Cas
Short form of Casper, Persian
"Imperial"
This short-but-strong name is popular for boys in The Netherlands. While Cass is usually a female name in the U.S., it feels just as right for boys.
Cap
English word name
The lead character of the Captain America movies, played by Chris Evans, is occasionally called Cap, short for "captain," but even he has a real name. (Steve Rogers, ICYC)
Ebb
Ebb is an uncommon masculine name with English origins, derived from a word meaning 'low tide' or 'receding water.' This short, punchy name carries natural imagery related to the rhythmic flow of…
Add
Diminutive of Adam or Adolph
Abstract painter Ad Reinhardt, né Adolph, gave his short name a lot of artistic cred, but it remained securely a nickname. The extra "d" in this version helps it stand on its own, for better or worse.