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The Best Three Syllable Boy Names

Pamela Redmond
By Pamela Redmond
Updated Fri Feb 02 2024

Three syllable boy names provide the perfect balance to a short surname. Many of the most popular and enduring three syllable names for boys come with short nicknames: Chris for Christopher, for instance, or Nick for Nicholas.

The most popular three syllable boy names include Benjamin, Oliver, Elijah, and Theodore, a newcomer to the Top 10. Classic traditional three syllable boy names from ancient sources include Abraham, Maximus, and Thaddeus.

Some three syllable names for boys that are especially stylish right now include Ozias, which can be shortened to Ozzy or Oz, and Finnegan or Phineas, which can be distilled to Finn.

Here is a collection of the best three-syllable names for boys today, ordered by their current popularity on Nameberry.

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  1. Theodore

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "gift of God"

    • Description:

      Classic and elegant but with boyish charm, Theodore has become hit name in recent years, vaulting into the US Top 10 in 2021 for the first time ever and into the Top 5 in 2024. A favorite in English speaking countries, it also ranks highly across the UK and Ireland, and in Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.
  2. Mateo

    • Origin:

      Spanish

    • Meaning:

      "gift of God"

    • Description:

      Mateo is a Latinate name that like Mia and Luca, is becoming popular far beyond its native Spanish community. With its fresh feel and charm, it made a surprise entrance to the boys' Top 10 in 2023.
  3. Atticus

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "from Attica"

    • Description:

      Atticus, with its trendy Roman feel combined with the upstanding, noble image of Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird, is a real winner among boy names. Atticus entered the US Top 1000 in 2004 and is a firm Nameberry favorite.
  4. Oliver

    • Origin:

      Germanic, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "elf army; ancestor's relic; olive tree"

    • Description:

      Oliver is an international star, ranking near the top of the charts throughout the English-speaking world and in a host of European and Latin American countries, from Norway to Chile, Slovenia to Switzerland. Why? Because Oliver is energetic and good-natured, stylish but classic, with a meaning symbolizing peace and fruitfulness.
  5. Caspian

    • Origin:

      Place name

    • Meaning:

      "white"

    • Description:

      One of the most romantic of appellations, Caspian is a geographical name referring to the large salty sea between Asia and Europe. It's also the name of the hero of C.S. Lewis's beloved Chronicles of Narnia, Prince Caspian.
  6. Elio

    • Origin:

      Italian, Spanish

    • Meaning:

      "sun"

    • Description:

      Elio is a sunny and spirited Italian and Spanish name that makes a great crossover prospect, which could catch on as Enzo has. Elio is also currently popular in France, ranking in the Top 250.
  7. Phineas

    • Origin:

      English, Egyptian

    • Meaning:

      "the Nubian"

    • Description:

      Phineas is the English variation of Phinehas, a Hebrew name likely derived from the Egyptian name Pa-nehasi. Pa-nehasi, meaning "the Nubian" can also be translated as "the bronze-colored one." The Egyptians distinguished themselves from their Nubian neighbors through differences in skin tone.
  8. Nathaniel

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "gift of God"

    • Description:

      Nathaniel was derived from the Hebrew name Netan’el, meaning "gift of God," composed of the elements natan, meaning "to give," and ’el, in reference to God. The name is featured several times in the Old and New Testaments, typically spelled Nathanael. In the New Testament, Nathanael is also known by his other name, Bartholomew.
  9. Julian

    • Origin:

      English from Latin, variation of Julius

    • Meaning:

      "youthful, downy-bearded, or sky father"

    • Description:

      Cool and charming, with plenty of flair and sophistication, Julian manages to strike the balance between being a sensible classic and contemporary choice. Appealingly international, it is no wonder Julian is a rising star.
  10. Elias

    • Origin:

      Greek variation of Elijah, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "Yahweh is God"

    • Description:

      Strong, charismatic, and sleek, Elias has followed in the footsteps of Elijah and Eli to become a popular choice among parents today.
  11. Sebastian

    • Origin:

      Latin from Greek

    • Meaning:

      "person from ancient city of Sebastia"

    • Description:

      Sebastian is an ancient martyr's name turned literary, and Little Mermaid hero—think Sebastian the Crab—that's more popular than ever, as a classic-yet-unconventional compatriot for fellow British favorites T Theodore and Oliver.
  12. Elijah

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "Yahweh is God"

    • Description:

      The Top 10 boys' name Elijah is derived from the Hebrew name Eliyahu, composed of the elements ’el and yah, both of which refer to God. In the Old Testament, Elijah was the prophet who went to heaven in a chariot of fire, a story sure to inspire any young Elijah.
  13. Rafferty

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "floodtide, abundance, prosperity"

    • Description:

      Jaunty and raffish, Rafferty is one of the most engaging of the Irish surnames, used by Jude Law and Sadie Frost for their son. Fortunately, it doesn't still go by its original form: O'Raighbheartaigh.
  14. Elliot

    • Origin:

      Anglicization of Elijah or Elias

    • Meaning:

      "Jehovah is God"

    • Description:

      Elliot (which boasts several spellings depending upon how many 'l's or 't's you want to use) is a winner -- it has the ideal quality of being neither too common nor weirdly unique. Elliot had a style boost back in the early 1980s via the young hero of the movie E.T. , who was named Elliott. Since then there have been Elliots on Law & Order: SVU and Mad Men.
  15. Benjamin

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "son of the right hand"

    • Description:

      Benjamin is a biblical name that has enjoyed widespread favor for decades, ranking in the US Top 50 for almost half a century and the Top 10 from 2015 until 2023.
  16. Ozias

    • Origin:

      Greek, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "my strength is God"

    • Description:

      A cool Biblical option that entered the US Top 1000 for the first time ever in 2024, Ozias gets extra points for its user-friendly nicknames Oz and Ozzie or Ozzy. Given to around 280 boys in 2024, it is five times more popular than it was in 2014.
  17. Christopher

    • Origin:

      Greek and Latin

    • Meaning:

      "bearer of Christ"

    • Description:

      Christopher derived from the Greek Christophoros, which is composed of the elements Christos, referring to Christ, and phero, meaning "to bear."
  18. Gabriel

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "God is my strength"

    • Description:

      Gabriel has become a biblical favorite, an angelic choice that's lighter and less patriarchal than some of his Old Testament brethren. Derived from the Hebrew name Gavri’el, Gabriel is taken from the elements gever, meaning "strong," and ’el, in reference to God.
  19. Zachary

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "the Lord has remembered"

    • Description:

      Zachary, a Top 20 name throughout the 90s, is now sliding down the rankings though it remains in the Top 200. With its ancient roots and modern feel, it's easy to understand why Zachary has been such a longtime winner.
  20. Evander

    • Origin:

      Scottish; Greek

    • Meaning:

      "bow warrior; strong man"

    • Description:

      Evander is a name that could build on the popularity of shorter form Evan, and could work and play well with schoolmates like Zander and Xander.