Three Syllable Names for Boys

  1. Minoru
    • Heliodor
      • Origin:

        Gemstone name
      • Description:

        Also known as green beryl, Heliodor is the name of a sun-kissed colored gemstone. The name is reminiscent of other -dor names such as Theodore, Esidore, Isidor, Landor, Salvador etc.
    • Cordovan
      • Origin:

        Spanish
      • Meaning:

        "native of Cordova"
      • Description:

        Leathery, masculine image, complete with user-friendly short form.
    • Roosevelt
      • Origin:

        Dutch
      • Meaning:

        "rose field"
      • Description:

        Presidential surname adopted as a first by numbers of midcentury African-American parents.
    • Iraia
      • Origin:

        Maori
      • Meaning:

        "the God wrestler"
      • Description:

        Iraia is one of those rare names that exists as a male form in one culture -- in this case, Maori -- and in a female form with a totally different meaning and derivation. New Zealand actor Jemaine Clement, who is a descendant of the progressive Wairarapa chief Iraia Te Whaiti, named his son Sophocles Iraia.
    • Erastus
      • Origin:

        Latinized form of Greek Erastos
      • Meaning:

        "beloved"
      • Description:

        The Biblical Erastus was an assistant of Paul's in the New Testament. A name used in the 19th century that has fall off the scope, but may be revived as parents dig deeper for undiscovered Biblical choices.
    • Tsuyoshi
      • Origin:

        Japanese
      • Meaning:

        "sturdy, strong"
      • Description:

        A name most common among middle-aged Japanese men.
    • Innocent
      • Origin:

        Latin
      • Meaning:

        "harmless, innocent"
      • Description:

        Innocent, the name of thirteen popes, is rarely heard in a secular setting, where its loaded meaning could open the door to ridicule.
    • Jebediah
      • Origin:

        Hebrew
      • Meaning:

        "beloved friend"
      • Description:

        Like its better known cousin Jedidiah, Jebediah is one of those four-syllable Old Testament names that is being shorn of its long white-bearded image, with the help of its modern-sounding Jeb nickname.
    • Domingo
      • Origin:

        Spanish
      • Meaning:

        "born on a Sunday"
      • Description:

        Commonly heard in Hispanic cultures, a rhythmic possibility here.
    • Nikita
      • Origin:

        Russian cognate of Greek Aniketos
      • Meaning:

        "unconquered"
      • Description:

        Redolent of Khrushchev and la femme.
    • Nathanael
      • Origin:

        Variation of Nathaniel
      • Description:

        Nathaniel is a wonderful classic name and Nathanael, which may be an ancient Greek or Hebrew form, is appealing and has gravitas but may prove needlessly confusing in the modern world.
    • Rogelio
      • Origin:

        Spanish
      • Meaning:

        "famous spearman"
      • Description:

        A Spanish variation of the name Roger meaning "famous spearman." Rogelio is popular among the Filipino and Argentine communities and could be a great alternative for international families looking for a name that can still be shortened to the very Anglo nickname "Rodge."
    • Branigan
      • Origin:

        irish
      • Meaning:

        "little raven"
      • Description:

        Branigan, also spelled Branagan or Brannigan, is an Irish name full of energy and cheer. It was the title of a 1975 John Wayne movie, and Zapp Brannigan is the antihero of the animated sitcom "Futurama." Branigan fans might also want to consider such related Irish names as Brennan and Breccan, Rafferty and Finnegan.
    • Vicenzo
      • Tobiah
        • Origin:

          Hebrew
        • Meaning:

          "the Lord is good"
        • Description:

          Tobiah is the original Hebrew form of the better known Greek Tobias, to which it could make a distinctive alternative. With its ah ending, Tobiah fits in with other stylish Biblical names today, from Noah to Isaiah to Josiah and Zachariah. And of course, Toby is an adorable nickname.
      • Isildur
        • Origin:

          Literature, Quenya
        • Meaning:

          "servant of the moon"
        • Description:

          The name of the elder son of Elendil in Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, who was briefly king of Gondor and Arnor.
      • Asterion
        • Origin:

          Greek
        • Meaning:

          "little star"
        • Description:

          In Greek mythology Asterion is the name of the Minotaur — also called the Minoan Bull — who lived in the Labyrinth in Crete. Asterion was the child of Poseidon and the queen of Crete.
      • Italo
        • Origin:

          Italian
        • Meaning:

          "from Italy"
        • Description:

          You can't get more Italian than this name of the daddy of legendary twins Romulus and Remus, founders of Rome. A noted bearer is acclaimed Italian journalist and novel and short story writer Italo Calvino, author of Invisible Cities and . Trivia tidbit: Calvino was actually one of his middle names.
      • Celadon
        • Origin:

          Color name
        • Description:

          Like Cerulean, one of the new and unusual color names -- it's a soft grayish green -- suitable for a boy.