Three Syllable Names for Boys

The name of a fire demon in the Japanese animated film Howl's Moving Castle is given to a dozen or two babies in recent years.

Jasiri is the Swahili word for "brave," and a unisex name primarily used in eastern Africa. Despite all it has going for it — a resonant meaning, on-trend I ending, and gender-neutral style — Jasiri has never been given to more than 30 American babies in a single year.

Mythological name with a fabulous meaning. Sure it's weighty, but so is Aphrodite; Andy is an easy nickname choice to make this name more wearable in the classroom.

In Cool Names, we cite this as an "Artist Name," for twentieth-century abstract painter Grace Hartigan, though for you it may just be an upbeat Irish surname.

Masculine name with a gem meaning.

Gennady is derived from an early saint's name (Gennadius) and shares the same Greek root word as the English word generous. It is a familiar if still uncommon boys' name in Russia. If you're looking for unique boy names you might want to put this one on your list.

Upbeat choice.

A handsome and romantic-sounding European option.

Odyssey is a rare and weighty word name — following the footsteps of Hero, Legend, and Story. Despite its literal connection to Odysseus, Homer's epic hero, Odyssey has always been slightly more common among baby girls. The word figuratively refers to a long and eventful journey.

Best known as the name of a chimpanzee living in the Primate Research Institute at Kyoto University.

Pacific is an adventurous kind of place-name, with the added bonus of the association with peace.

Arcadia was a region of Ancient Greece that is now associated with a simple rustic life (way before Cottagecore was a thing). That means this name is not just long and lyrical, but also has a warm pastoral charm.

A beautiful English surname that's also a type of richly colored timber, Rosewood makes an interesting spin on the Rose names for a boy. It is also the surname of Dr Beaumont Rosewood, Jr from the Fox police drama series Rosewood.

An evocative ancient word that's used as a first name in the New Testament, among other places. It's also the name of an eagle-shaped constellation.

As the ancient saint's name Cassian becomes more widely known and more popular, variations will proliferate. Kasian is one but creates pronunciation questions.

A twentieth-century Greek saint's name redolent of the beverage of the gods that imparted immortality.

The most famous bearer of this striking name is Ada Lovelace, the brilliant 19th-century writer, mathematician and early computer pioneer.