Three Letter Girl Names

Naz was a common name for girls in Turkey in the 2000s. In the US, it may be used as a nickname for names such as Nazareth and for boys, Nazir.

Ten times as many boys are named Oak as girls: about 50 boys last year to five girls. Of course, nature names don't have any traditional gender identification the way names like John and Mary do, so Oak works well for all babies. Oakley is the most popular Oak name for babies of all genders.

Blu is a new (nu?) spin on an increasingly popular color name, also spelled Blue and Bleu by celebrity parents. Blu is the spelling used for one of the (male) Waldrop quintuplets, but the name is gender neutral.

As Theo and Thea get more popular, so do Teo and Tea, short forms of the Latinate variations of Theodore and Matthew -- which include Dorotea and Mattea. But like Theo and Thea, Tea can stand perfectly well on its own and blends seamlessly into any Anglophone or European culture, if that is your aim. Some may argue that the Tea version is the prettiest and it's certainly the sleekest.

A multicultural mini name with roots in three continents.

A short form of the modern coinage Icelyn that feels cool as a short form, but too frosty for a full name.

Likely derived from the Greek name Roxanne, Rox was a short form popular in America in the mid-19th Century. Like Max and Lux, it seems sleek and contemporary and particularly suited to modern life.

Fey, for middle name purposes, could be thought of as a fey spelling of Fay. These days, however, Fey would be considered by most people to be honoring comedian Tina.

Common name in Japan, would have alcoholic allusions here.

Pronunciation would not be obvious to Americans.

Simple African name all-but-unknown in the U.S. and Europe, which is exactly why it might make a perfect choice. Similarity to such popular names as Ava and Eva (and the Irish Aoife) makes it more familiar, but potentially more confusing.

There was an eighties cartoon queen named Jem (& The Holograms), and this is as likely to be a full name as a short form – deriving from Jemma, Jemima or Jameela.

Medieval name that still hasn't crossed the ocean, known here primarily via actress/teacher Uta Hagen.

Simple, Zen-like name of a mythological forest elf.