Three Letter Boy Names

Jov

Jov is a masculine name with multiple possible origins. It may be a short form of Jovian or Jovan, names derived from Latin 'Jovianus,' relating to Jupiter (Jove), the Roman king of gods.…

Job

Hebrew

"persecuted"

A rare and single syllable Biblical name with a hint of Jude, Jonah, Jacob, and Joseph about it, Job is a weighty choice that may appeal to those who enjoy both heavily Biblical names and short,…

Dai

Welsh; Japanese

"beloved; great"

A cross-cultural name that can be a nickname for David, as is common in Wales, pronounced "dye".

Ayu

African, Yoruban

"joy"

Rhythmic and unusual.

Jud

Diminutive of Judson, English

"son of Jordan"

More commonly spelled JUDD, this is a strong but sensitive short form that can easily stand on its own.

Che

Che is a masculine name with significant historical and cultural connections. Most famously associated with Ernesto 'Che' Guevara, the Argentine revolutionary, the name carries strong political…

Yul

Mongolian or Latin

"beyond the horizon; youthful, downy-bearded"

Russian-born actor Yul (christened Yuliy) Brynner gives this short name a strong, steely image.

Jun

Chinese, Korean

"ruler, talented, handsome"

A simple and charismatic Chinese and Korean name, also spelled Joon.

Kaj

Danish

"earth"

Kaj is a name that looks great on paper, but while it's pronounced with to rhyme with rye, it is sure to be pronounced by most people to rhyme with "raj" or, much worse, "Madge".

Kea

Cornish, from Caius, Latin

"rejoice"

This name of an ancient saint and one of the first knights of King Arthur's Round Table has a modern, if feminine, feel.

Ken

Diminutive of Kenneth; Japanese

"born of fire or handsome; healthy and strong"

In many minds this one belongs to Barbie, but with such positive meanings and international connections, can Ken make the transition to usability again?

Kev

Kev is primarily a shortened form of Kevin, a name of Irish origin meaning 'handsome' or 'gentle birth.' Originally derived from the Irish name Caoimhín, Kev has evolved into a standalone name in…

Kim

English, diminutive of Kimball

Kim is forever feminized, despite memories of the Rudyard Kipling character.

Kyp

Kyp is an uncommon masculine name with multiple possible origins. It may be a shortened form of Christopher, a variant spelling of Kip (which itself can be a nickname for various names including…

Alf

English

"elf counsel"

Short form of Alfred that had fallen out of favor, but could come back alongside Alfie and other clunky old-style nicknames like Gus and Ike.

Kye

Spelling variation of Kai

With the rising popularity of Kai, this more phonetic spelling has been gaining traction as well. Kye debuted in the US Top 1000 in 2015, and was one of the fastest-rising names of the year in 2016.

Lad

Lad is a masculine name with Slavic origins, particularly common in Czech and Slovak cultures. Though brief, it carries rich meaning, deriving from elements signifying 'harmony,' 'order,' or 'peace.'…

Lac

Lac is an uncommon masculine name with minimalist appeal. Likely derived from French or Vietnamese origins, it carries different meanings depending on the cultural context. In French, 'lac' means…

Iku

Japanese

"nourishing"

Iku is an easily assimilated Japanese name.

Ike

Diminutive of Isaac, Hebrew

"laughter"

Ike, once the quirky one-person nickname of President Dwight Eisenhower, has morphed into a cool kid nickname of the early 21st century. The rise of Isaac and the stylishness of short down-to-earth…