3 letter names!

Gus

Diminutive of Augustus, Angus, Gustave, Augustin, Augusten, Augustine, August

Gus is a homey grandpa nickname name that can work as a short form for any of the above or stand on its own as a cutting-edge replacement for Max and Jake--though it was off the Top 1000 from 1978…

Jim

English, diminutive of James

"supplanter"

Peaked in the 1940s, but still an amiable classic, a la Joe and Tom -- though rarely used on its own.

Tom

Diminutive of Thomas

"twin"

Just like Sam and Ben, Tom could be revived as a simple, well liked name on its own. Tom, just Tom, is one of the Top 100 Boy Names in France

Tim

Diminutive of Timothy, Greek

"honoring God"

Tim is a boyish short form occasionally given on its own. There were 37 baby boys named Tim in the US last year, versus over 1700 named Timothy.

Kit

English, diminutive of Christopher

"bearer of Christ"

Actor Kit Harington, aka the dreamy Jon Snow on Game of Thrones , has given this nickname-name new style and appeal for boys. Actress Jodie Foster used it for her son back in the 2000s, while actor…

Baz

Diminutive of Sebastian or Basil; Kurdish

"regal; falcon"

As Bas, it's a popular name in The Netherlands, but Baz, as in director Luhrmann, has potential for independent life too. Curiously, Australian-born Moulin Rouge director Luhrmann was born neither…

Neo

Latin or Tswana

"new or gift"

This nouveau name of Keanu Reeves's character in The Matrix has not enjoyed the same burst of popularity as its female counterpart, Trinity, but it definitely sounds, well, newer. Neo Rauch is an…

Tye

Tye is a masculine name with multiple possible origins, functioning as either a standalone name or a shorter form of Tyler or Tyson. It may derive from Old English, where it referred to a meadow or…

Cap

English word name

The lead character of the Captain America movies, played by Chris Evans, is occasionally called Cap, short for "captain," but even he has a real name. (Steve Rogers, ICYC)

Cam

Diminutive of Cameron, Scottish

"crooked nose"

Cameron is still more popular as a boy's name than a girls and this simple, snappy short form works well for either sex.

Den

Den is a masculine name with several potential origins. It can be a short form of Dennis (derived from Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and revelry) or names like Denham or Denzil. It also exists as…

Dan

Hebrew

"God is my judge"

Often stands alone in Israel, but rarely here.

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…

Dev

Sanskrit

"god"

This name has recently come on the radar via rising actor Dev Patel, who made his mark in Slumdog Millionaire and then in Lion and is also the name of the lead character played by Aziz Ansari in his…

Hal

Diminutive of Harold or Henry, English, Scandinavian, German

"army ruler or estate ruler"

Could Hal be the Jack, Max, or Gus of the future? It just might happen in the new nickname environment, especially with Cal and Cy feeling cool, and with the interest in vintage, cowboy-esque…

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…

Tam

Scottish variation of Thomas, Aramaic

"twin"

Popularized in Scotland by Tam O'Shanter, the hero of one of Robert Burns' most famous poems, it's associated in the U.S. with the plaid cap he gave his name to. But this could make a creative honor…