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Lojban Cunrafsi Names

SorklaMenli
By SorklaMenli
Updated Fri Mar 17 2023
Short and sweet 3-letter names that just happen to be rafsi. Rafsi are combining forms of words that can be strung together to make compounds, and can be used as nicknames (or as names in their own right) in the Lojban-speaking community.
  1. Kai

    • Origin:

      Hawaiian, Frisian, Chinese

    • Meaning:

      "sea; warrior; triumph"

    • Description:

      Kai is an internationally flexible name with many possible origins and meanings, growing in popularity in the US and a diverse range of European countries.
  2. Kit

    • Origin:

      English diminutive of Katherine, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "pure"

    • Description:

      Kit is a crisp, old-time nickname with plenty of spirit and style. In the UK it's a rising star for boys, while in the US, it is trending upwards for girls too.
  3. Gus

    • Origin:

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

    • Description:

      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 until 2016, when it squeaked in at Number 999.
  4. Sol

    • Origin:

      Spanish

    • Meaning:

      "sun"

    • Description:

      Although pinochle-playing partner Sam came out of retirement, we don't see it happening to Sol. Near soundalike Saul has more of a shot.

  5. Mac

    • Origin:

      Scottish or Irish

    • Meaning:

      "son of"

    • Description:

      In Ireland and Scotland, Mac and Mc mean "son of"; here, Mac is a generic fella, or a short form cooler than either Matt or Max. Mac can be a nickname of any longer Mac or Mc starting name such as McCoy or Macalister. If you want to make it feel more complete, you can always spell it Mack.
  6. Cal

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of names including Cal

    • Meaning:

      "dog; the whole of; dove; bald; war-strife; beautiful"

    • Description:

      Cal is a nickname style name that feels as friendly and calm as it does cool and breezy. While its longer forms have proved more popular over the years, Cal as a stand alone has dropped on and off of the US Top 1000 since the 1880s.
  7. Ben

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "son of"

    • Description:

      Ben, the diminutive of Benjamin or Benedict, can easily stand on its own as a simple, strong, nice-guy choice, though it's somewhat attenuated. Ben is this generation's Bob or Bill.
  8. Baz

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Sebastian or Basil; Kurdish

    • Meaning:

      "regal; falcon"

    • Description:

      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 Sebastian nor Basil, but had the name Mark Anthony on his birth certificate; his nickname arose from his supposed resemblance to a British TV fox puppet named Basil Brush.

  9. Bix

    • Origin:

      Modern nickname

    • Description:

      Bix is a cool and jazzy nickname name, thanks to that final x. It's largely associated with the legendary and influential cornet player (and inspiration for the novel Young Man With a Horn), Bix Beiderbecke. He was born Leon Bismark Beiderbecke and his nickname derived from his middle name.
  10. Pip

    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Philip

    • Meaning:

      "lover of horses"

    • Description:

      The original Pip was the main character in Great Expectations (full name Philip Pirrip). Cute for a tike, maybe too cute for an adult.
  11. Ted

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Theodore or Edward, Greek or English

    • Meaning:

      "gift of god; rich guard"

    • Description:

      Like Ed, Eddie and Teddy, Ted is rarely used as an independent name – in the US, at least. In the UK, Eddie ranks just outside the Top 200, Teddy ranks just outside the Top 30, and Ted is a Top 200 pick.
  12. Rei

    • Origin:

      Japanese

    • Meaning:

      "bell or beautiful"

    • Description:

      A sweet and simple Japanese name with several possible meanings, depending on the kanji characters used.
  13. Jet

    • Origin:

      Mineral and word name

    • Description:

      This super-charged variation of Jett is on the rise -- along with the unlikely newcomer Jetson.
  14. Jon

    • Origin:

      Variation of John or Jonathan

    • Meaning:

      "God is gracious; or gift of Jehovah"

    • Description:

      Streamlined version of the classic boys' names, sometimes a short form of Jonathan, which is in fact an entirely different name from John attached to a different Biblical personage. Jon feels more modern than the traditional John, but some may find it an overly slight variation on an already slim name. Jon Snow is a popular character on HBO's Game of Thrones.
  15. Mai

    • Origin:

      Japanese, French, Welsh, Vietnamese, Navajo

    • Meaning:

      "dance; May; cherry blossom; coyote"

    • Description:

      Cross-cultural winner.
  16. Paz

    • Origin:

      Hebrew; Spanish

    • Meaning:

      "gold; peace"

    • Description:

      Paz, currently represented by actresses Paz Vega and Paz de la Huerts, would make a sparkling middle name choice. It originated as a title of the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Peace, and is one of the names that mean peace, derived from the Latin word "pax".
  17. Mel

    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Melvin

    • Meaning:

      "council protector"

    • Description:

      Though most Mels are playing pinochle with Murray and Morris, there was a notable Saint Mel. He is one of the earliest Irish saints, a nephew of St. Patrick. He became a priest, then built a great monastery where he served as abbot.
  18. Rin

    • Origin:

      Japanese, Korean

    • Meaning:

      "dignified, severe; jade, clear"

    • Description:

      A very popular name for girls in Japan, though it is a unisex choice. It can mean "severe, cold", but also "dignified", "ethics" and "phosphorus", depending on the kanji used. It is notably used for the Vocaloid Rin Kagamine.
  19. Jim

    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of James

    • Meaning:

      "supplanter"

    • Description:

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

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Vincent, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "conquering"

    • Description:

      Minimalist nickname via XXX star Diesel (born Mark Vincent).