4 Letter Boy Names

Levy is a masculine name with rich multicultural origins. In Hebrew, it derives from the tribe of Levi, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, signifying "joined" or "attached." The name carries religious significance as the Levites were dedicated to religious service in ancient Jewish tradition. As a surname-turned-first-name, Levy has gained modest popularity in recent decades. It's also found as a Finnish name, pronounced "LEH-vi," with different origins. The name has a contemporary feel with historical depth, appealing to parents seeking a name with cultural significance and a modern sound. Levy balances uniqueness with recognizability, offering a short, distinctive option that's relatively easy to spell and pronounce.

Levy

Axle

Azir is a powerful, concise masculine name with multiple cultural connections. It may relate to the Arabic name Aziz, meaning 'powerful' or 'respected,' or could be associated with the Hebrew name Ezer, meaning 'help' or 'support.' The name has gained some recognition in modern times through a character in the popular video game League of Legends, potentially contributing to its contemporary appeal. With its strong 'z' sound and brief two-syllable structure, Azir carries a dynamic, distinctive quality that feels both ancient and modern simultaneously. Though relatively uncommon in Western naming practices, it fits well with the trend toward short, powerful-sounding names with multicultural resonance. The name's exotic feel combined with its straightforward pronunciation makes Azir an intriguing choice for parents seeking a name that sounds distinguished and unique without being difficult.

Azir

Wynn or Wyn is a Welsh male name deriving from the very productive gwyn element, which forms part of all Welsh names ending -wyn or -wen, as well as the Gwen names and the Irish Fin- names. Wynn is a soft and gentle yet sturdy choice which feels quietly timeless and charming.

Wynn

This is one Basque name that is very transferable to the American context — and it has a great meaning, too. The feminine version is Eider or Ederne.

Eder

Kain is a masculine name that represents an alternative spelling of Cain, one of the most ancient names in Judeo-Christian tradition. In biblical accounts, Cain was the first son of Adam and Eve who famously killed his brother Abel. Despite these challenging associations, the name has persisted throughout history and across cultures. The spelling variant Kain offers a slight modernization that some parents prefer. The name derives from Hebrew origins, possibly meaning "acquired" or "possession." Beyond biblical connections, Kain has appeared in various cultural contexts, including literature, gaming, and music, giving it a multifaceted character. While never extremely common, the name has maintained a steady presence, appealing to parents seeking a short, strong-sounding name with historical depth and a touch of complexity.

Kain

Six Feet Under transformed Nate's image from crusty uncle to cool guy. Nate is one of a new generation of nicknames that go directly on the birth certificate. Other similar names: Sam, Jack, Mack. But Nate is arguably fresher and cooler than many nickname-names.

Nate

Mostly feminine, though "Office" star Rainn Wilson gives it a slight masculine twist.  You might also use this as a short form of Raines.

Rain

Akai is a masculine name with diverse cultural origins. In Japanese, it means 'red' and is derived from the word '赤い' (akai), symbolizing passion, energy, and vitality. The name also appears in various African cultures with different meanings - in some West African traditions, it can relate to concepts of strength or destiny. Additionally, Akai exists as a surname in several cultures. As a first name, Akai has a contemporary, international feel with its short, melodic sound and straightforward pronunciation. The name's cross-cultural nature makes it appealing in increasingly multicultural societies. While not widely common in any region, Akai has seen occasional use globally, particularly among parents seeking names with meaningful connections to either Japanese or African heritage, or those attracted to its distinctive sound and simplicity.

Akai

One of those place and surname names that hasn't be used much as a first name yet -- but could soon. You could think of it as a fun, one-syllable twist on Amos. Ames is also notable as a surname that comes from a female name, Amys or Amice, ultimately deriving from the Latin amicus, "friend".

Ames

Maxx

A short, snappy form of the name Shiva, this name is associated with the Hindu god of destruction and restoration. Currently a rising choice in England and Wales.

Shiv

Aram is a popular Armenian name with a pleasing sound that became known in this country through the works of William Saroyan, namely the 1940 book of short stories, My Name in Aram, centering on Aram Garoghlanian, a boy of Armenian descent growing up in Fresno, California. Saroyan also named his son Aram. 
 Aram also appears in the bible as a son of Shem and grandson of Noah; it is also a biblical place name. 
 
While it is best known as an Armenian and Biblical name, meaning "child of the sun" or "highly elevated", Aram is in fact a more multicultural choice than that. It also has its roots in Kurdish and Persian where it means "calm, peaceful, repose", and in Thai, where it relates to the words for temple and monastery, glittering and illuminating.
 A well known bearer is Aram Khachaturian, the Armenian composer, while Aram is also the third day of the month in the Armenian calendar.

Aram

The boys' name Elon is best known today as the name of Elon Musk, eccentric billionaire founder of Tesla and SpaceX. With Canadian singer Grimes, Elon Musk has a son with an even more unusual name, X Æ A-12. 
Before Musk arrived on the scene, Elon was the name of a Biblical judge. Long obscure, naming your son Elon today would signal an admiration for Musk rather than the Good Book. 

Taken on its own merits, Elon is a sleek, attractive name with a strong nature meaning that's rare but also has deep roots: A total winner. But now that shiny name is feeling a bit....Musky.

Elon

Name with connotations both mystical and tragic, newly popular in Europe.  For English speakers, though, this name might be ruined by its homonym ruin.

Rune

With its distinctive X initial, Xion is a name that stands out, and more parents have been drawn to it in recent years. Currently given to around 90 babies each year, Xion is nearly four times as popular as it was a decade ago.
 
The name has two separate origins, the first being from the Japanese unisex name, Shion. Comprised of elements meaning "tide", "aster", and "I remember", the Xion spelling was used in popular game franchise, Kingdom Hearts in 2009.
 
The second origin is from the Hebrew name, Zion, a Biblical place name and used to refer to the Jewish homeland. As a name, it was a rising star of 2023, and is also the source of the word "Zionism". Xion's popularity in the US is likely down to the familiarity of Zion, with some parents favoring the X spelling to make their baby stand out, or to distance themselves from Zion's more political associations.

Xion

One of the most famous Arabic names, Iman is a gender-neutral choice fairly evenly balanced in the US given last year to 110 girls and 80 baby boys. Another spelling popular in some countries is Eman.

Iman

The Kodi respelling of early 90s favorite gender neutral name Cody might have gone unnoticed were it not for Australian actor Kodi Smit-McPhee, star of Jane Campion's Power of the Dog.

Kodi

Consider this short form for your little Richard. 

Rico

Common Russian name familiarized here via cosmonaut Yury Gagarin and a character in Dr. Zhivago, but we don't see it ever gaining permanent resident status.

Yuri

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 14)

1900+ Four Letter Boy Names