4 Letter Boy Names

Erek is a masculine name with multiple potential origins. It likely represents a variant spelling of 'Erik' or 'Eric,' which derives from Old Norse 'Eiríkr,' meaning 'eternal ruler' or 'ever powerful.' This alternative spelling gives the traditional name a more contemporary and distinctive feel. In some Eastern European contexts, particularly Hungarian, it may have developed as a variant of other local names. Erek has a strong, concise sound with its crisp ending consonant. While not among common names in English-speaking countries, its similarity to the more familiar 'Eric' makes it accessible while still feeling unique. The name carries associations of strength and leadership from its Norse roots while offering parents a slightly uncommon variant of a classic name.

Erek

Cnut is a historical masculine name of Old Norse origin, most famously associated with King Cnut (or Canute) the Great, who ruled England, Denmark, and Norway in the 11th century. The name derives from the Old Norse 'Knútr,' meaning 'knot,' possibly symbolizing strength or unity. Various spellings include Canute, Knut, and Knud, with the latter forms more common in modern Scandinavian countries. The name fell out of common usage in England after the Norman Conquest but retained popularity in Denmark and Norway. Despite its historical significance, Cnut remains extremely rare as a given name in English-speaking countries, partly due to its unfortunate visual similarity to a vulgar English word.

Cnut

This royal but common Scandinavian name is, in the US, linked to a single figure -- Notre Dame football coach Knute Rockne. While Rockne's name was commonly pronounced like newt, the correct pronunciation is two syllables, sound the K.

Knut

Burt is a masculine name with Germanic origins, typically serving as a shortened form of Burton, which meant 'fortified settlement' or 'fortress town.' The name gained notable popularity in the mid-20th century in English-speaking countries, partly influenced by famous bearers like actor Burt Lancaster and director Burt Reynolds. Burt conveys a strong, no-nonsense character with its short, one-syllable structure. The name peaked in popularity during the 1930s-1960s and has gradually become less common since, giving it a vintage appeal now associated with that era. Burt balances masculine simplicity with a touch of retro charm, making it appealing to those who appreciate straightforward, traditional male names with historical substance.

Burt

Adas is a masculine name with diverse cultural roots. In Lithuanian, it functions as a diminutive of the biblical name Adam, meaning 'earth' or 'man.' It's also found in Polish communities with similar origins. In other contexts, particularly in Middle Eastern cultures, Adas can relate to the Arabic word for 'lentil.' The name carries a crisp, modern sound despite its traditional roots, with just two syllables that are easy to pronounce across multiple languages. While relatively uncommon in English-speaking countries, Adas enjoys modest usage in Baltic nations and parts of Eastern Europe. Its short, distinctive nature makes it both memorable and accessible, offering a less common alternative to the more widely used Adam while maintaining the connection to this ancient name's rich heritage.

Adas

Sounds a bit like John, but has a completely different origin: this is the Slovene and Bosnian version of the Turkish male name Can.

Džan

Kick is a word name that some parents might use for their baby in utero — akin to Bean or Booboo — but it's increasingly being heard as a word name especially used in the middle, a la Jeremy Sisto for son Bastien.  The Kennedy family has historically called daughters Kathleen "Kick" for short, and Kick can work as a nickname for a whole range of names male and female, from Nicholas to Keturah.

Kick

The unisex word name Bean, distant cousin of the infamous Apple, was used for the name of a child in Louise Penny's novel "A Rule Against Murder." A cute choice, it's likely best reserved for a nickname, a middle name, or as a pet's name.
 
Bennett, Benjamin, Eben, Bernard or Benson might be direct routes to the nickname.

Bean

Natt is a concise masculine name with several possible origins. It may serve as a shortened form of Nathaniel or Nathan, Hebrew names meaning 'gift of God.' In Scandinavian contexts, Natt derives from the word for 'night,' giving it a nature-inspired quality. The name also appears as a variant of Nat, a traditional nickname for Nathaniel. With just four letters and a strong, definitive sound, Natt appeals to parents seeking minimalist yet distinctive names. Its brevity aligns with contemporary preferences for short, unpretentious names that are easy to spell and pronounce. Though uncommon as a formal given name, Natt's simplicity and cross-cultural potential give it a subtle versatility that works well in various cultural settings.

Natt

Like a large proportion of traditional Hawaiian names, Hoku can be used for both girls and boys.

Hoku

Variously spelled Covy and Covey, this is a surname derived from the first name Cobthach.  Like cousins Coby and Cody, it has an energetic nickname feel.

Covy

Certainly qualities desired for our sons. 

Naor

Maro is an ancient saints' name -- he was an Italian follower of St. Flavia and was martyred -- rarely used in modern life. The name Maro may stem from the Roman Marcellus, related to Mars, the god of war, or it may be a feminine form of Maria, connected with Mario. Maro is also a Japanese name meaning "myself."
 
And why couldn't Maro be more widely used today? As a masculine spin on stylish Mara, it certainly could.

Maro

Slim may be too on-the-nose for the child of two beautiful models, but it's the name Nara Pellman and Lucky Blue Smith chose for their son, Slim Easy. Smith, who has daughters named Gravity Blue and Rumble Honey, is known for choosing outrageous word names. But Slim — when pronounced as "SLEEM" — can also be a short form of the Arabic name Slimane. This origin is shared with Pellman's middle name, Aziza.
 
Slim is primarily used as a given name among Muslims, and historically has been a nickname in the US. Photographer Slim Aarons was born George Allen. Slim has been the nickname of several professional baseball players, including Slims Jones, Harriss, Love, and Sallee. Other pop cultural references include the song The Real Slim Shady by rapper Eminem and the musican Fatboy Slim.

The name also appears in John Steibeck's classic novella, Of Mice and Men, worn by the calm, skilled, and thoughtful laborer, known as "the prince of the ranch".
 
If you like Slim but don't have Arabic heritage and aren't a celeb, we'd suggest keeping it a potential nickname, perhaps for one of these <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/448/cowboy-baby-names"> cool cowboy names</a> or if you'd prefer something more direct, Solomon, Simeon , and Samuel might fit the bill.

Slim

Kija was a legendary king who brought Chinese civilization -- including rice and writing -- to the Korean people, probably in the 2nd century BC.    Kija is also the name of a group of Aboriginal people in Australia.  Though the original Kija was male, this name would work better for girls in the modern Western world.

Kija

If you'd like to name your baby after Gov. Romney, Mitt isn't it: his birth name is Willard. Mitt is an inherited nickname from Milton Romney, a favorite cousin of his father's who was a Chicago Bears quarterback in the 1920's.
 The Romney unusual nickname tradition continues with Mitt's son Tagg, born Taggart-- offering serious competition to the Palin family.

Mitt

Rosh is not Ross, not Rush, but an improvement on both of those more familiar names.  The Biblical Rosh was a son of Benjamin, so you might consider it to honor a father or otherwise ancestral Benjamin. Very much associated with the Jewish New Year holiday, Rosh Hashanah.

Rosh

Eemi is a masculine Finnish name that functions as a diminutive form of Eemil or Eemeli, which are Finnish versions of Emil. The original name derives from the Roman family name Aemilius, possibly meaning 'rival' or 'emulator.' In Finnish culture, Eemi has a friendly, approachable quality while maintaining a distinctly Nordic character. This short, accessible name has gained modest popularity in Finland but remains largely unknown internationally, making it an intriguing option for parents seeking something unique yet easy to pronounce. The name's brevity gives it a modern feel, while its Finnish heritage provides cultural depth and meaning.

Eemi

Áron

Baze is a nouveau nickname that originated on the TV show "Life Unexpected," as the short form consistently used for the character Nathaniel (Nate) Bazile. Its similarity to the name Blaise lends it a feeling of authenticity, as does the fact it could work as a nickname to Basil or even Sebastian. 
 
Alternatively, it is an Armenian name, meaning falcon or hawk.

Baze

Four letter boy names have topped the popularity list for several years now, with Liam taking over for longtime favorite Noah.

 boys' names with four letters in the US Top 100

 include Levi, Ryan, Ezra, Owen, Luke, Jack, Evan, Axel, Jace, and Jose.



John and its short form Jack, two of the top male names of all time, both have four letters. Other

 include Abel, Adam, Amos, Carl, Eric, Mark, and Paul.

 on our recommended list include Beau, Cove, Elio, Ford, Hart, Huck, Land, Nico, Otis, Pike, Rafi, and Shaw.



View our entire list of boy names with four letters here, ordered by their current popularity on Nameberry. 

Four letter boy names including meaning, origin, and popularity, with top four letter boy names Noah and Jack and unique four letter names for boys (Page 100)

1900+ Four Letter Boy Names