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Four Letter Names

  1. Lana

    • Origin:

      English diminutive of Alana

    • Meaning:

      "rock or handsome"

    • Description:

      Popularized in the 1940s by Lana (born Judy) Turner, today Lana is synonymous with American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey. Although it has been rising steadily since the early 2000s, Lana still sits in the popularity "sweet spot" – familiar, but not overused. Simple, sleek and seamlessly international, it makes a great choice.
  2. Gaia

    • Origin:

      Greek and Latin

    • Meaning:

      "earth mother; rejoicing"

    • Description:

      Floral, bright, and subtly powerful, Gaia is a name with two separate origins. In Greek mythology, it is the name of the earth goddess and the universal mother, who takes her epithet from the Ancient Greek word for land or ground. It was this ecological element that led actress Emma Thompson to choose it for her daughter back in 1999, and it could hold similar appeal to green minded parents today.
  3. Vega

    • Origin:

      Arabic, Spanish

    • Meaning:

      "swooping eagle; meadow"

    • Description:

      Another astral name, this one relating to one of the largest and brightest stars in the heavens, is popular in Scandinavia and Spain, where it ranks among the Top 50 girls' names. Although still very rare in the US, we think it has serious potential to follow the likes of Luna and Lyra up the charts.
  4. Cain

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "spear; possessed"

    • Description:

      Biblical name Cain was, until recently, seldom heard outside of the Old Testament and soap operas. Although Cain's murderous actions will always make this name difficult for some, Cain, Eve and Adam's firstborn, was a farmer - making this a good choice for those with farming connections. Long outshone by Abel, Cain is starting to find a broader audience, helped along by homophones Kane or Caine.
  5. Kyra

    • Origin:

      Feminine variation of Cyrus, Persian

    • Meaning:

      "throne"

    • Description:

      The girls' name Kyra sounds like the also popular Keira/Kiera, but has a different root. There are twice as many baby girls named Keira as Kyra, with Kiera in third place. Kyra now ranks at #590 and is most familiar via actress Kyra Sedgwick.
  6. Cara

    • Origin:

      Latin, Italian, Irish, Spanish, and Portuguese

    • Meaning:

      "dear; friend; face"

    • Description:

      Cara is a simple, sweet, Italian endearment that enjoyed its greatest popularity from the 1970s through the 1990s, reaching a high of Number 189 in 1977. Despite the rising celebrity of English model/actress Cara Delevingne, who played Enchantress in Suicide Squad, Cara dropped off the Top 1000 in the US in 2020, perhaps because it sounds too close to the dreaded Karen.
  7. Gray

    • Origin:

      Color name, also diminutive of Grayson

    • Description:

      The girls have Violet and Scarlet and Ruby and Rose, but for the boys there's a much more limited palette of color names. Gray (or Grey), is one exception, which could make for a soft and evocative--if slightly somber-- choice, especially in the middle. Kaitlin Olson and Rob McElhenney recently named their son Leo Grey.
  8. Nero

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "stern"

    • Description:

      The association with the infamous Nero, the fiddling Roman emperor, would be unavoidable. But there was also the detective Nero Wolfe, hero of many mystery stories.
  9. Naya

    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Nia

    • Description:

      Related to Nia and Naia, Naya was new to the US Top 1000 in 2014 and benefits from the short and simple pronunciation that many parents are seeking in fresh names. It also has obvious similarities to popular Mia and Maya.
  10. Hana

    • Origin:

      Hebrew, Hawaiian, Maori, Japanese

    • Meaning:

      "grace, work, glow, flower"

    • Description:

      Many things to many peoples: a flower name, also spelled Hanae, to the Japanese; a Czech and Polish short form of Johana; and an alternate form of the biblical name Hannah in the US. It also means "craft, work" in Hawaiian and "glow" in Maori.
  11. Kyla

    • Origin:

      Feminine variation of Kyle, Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "narrow spit of land"

    • Description:

      Kyle is stronger and sharper, though many parents will prefer the more distinctly feminine Kyla for their daughters. Kyla may owe much of its popularity to trendy cousin Kayla.
  12. Kiah

    • Description:

      Kiah is a feminine name with multiple cultural origins and meanings. In Aboriginal Australian languages, it means "from the beautiful place" or is connected to meanings like "shadow place." It also appears in Hebrew, where it may be a variant of Kia, meaning "God's grace." Some sources suggest Kiah could be derived from an African word meaning "season's beginning." The name has gained modest popularity in English-speaking countries since the 1990s, appreciated for its brevity, melodic sound, and cross-cultural appeal. Kiah offers a simple yet distinctive two-syllable structure that's easy to pronounce across cultures. The name carries spiritual undertones in multiple traditions while maintaining a contemporary feel, making it appealing to parents seeking a name that's both meaningful and modern.

  13. Anah

    • Description:

      Anah is a feminine name with ancient Semitic origins, appearing in the Bible as both male and female characters. In Hebrew, it can mean 'answer' or 'response,' while some interpretations suggest meanings like 'to sing' or 'to give testimony.' This succinct, palindromic name carries a sense of symmetry and balance in both its meaning and form. Anah offers simplicity with substance—short yet meaningful, easy to pronounce across cultures yet distinctive. Though not widely used in modern times, it has seen modest increased interest among parents seeking names with biblical connections but less common than traditional favorites. The name's brevity and open vowel sounds give it a gentle, flowing quality that works well with many family names across different cultural traditions.
  14. JIRO
    • Eron