Three Letter Boy Names

  1. Nat
    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Nathan or Nathaniel
    • Description:

      Just the kind of old-fashioned nickname coming back into style.
  2. Tay
    • Origin:

      Scottish place-name
    • Description:

      This name of the largest river in Scotland, renowned for its salmon fishing, is usually thought of as a nickname for Taylor.
  3. Bat
    • Origin:

      Short form of Bartholomew
    • Description:

      Bartholomew is one vintage name with Biblical antecedents that hasn't risen again in the modern world, perhaps because short form Bart, as in Simpson, would be too difficult for a contemporary boy to bear. But antique nickname Bat might work better. Might.
  4. Pat
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Patrick
    • Meaning:

      "noble, patrician"
    • Description:

      As seen on SNL, Pat is the ultimate androgynous name. Stick with long form Patrick, and make sure everyone calls him Patrick.
  5. Sao
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "the rescuer"
    • Description:

      In Greek mythology, Sao was one of the 50 Nereids, daughters of the sea god Nereus. A moon of Neptune is named in her honor. In modern times, it works equally well for a son.
  6. Lum
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Columbus, English from Latin
    • Meaning:

      "dove"
    • Description:

      A forgotten nickname for Columbus, which itself is becoming ever rarer. Radio comedy program Lum and Abner, which ran for over two decades beginning in 1931, featured a character named Columbus "Lum" Edwards.
  7. Roc
    • Origin:

      Arabic mythical name; Catalan form of Rocco
    • Meaning:

      "rest"
    • Description:

      An earthy rock'n'roll name with multiple origins. The Roc was a giant bird in Middle Eastern legend.
  8. Ziv
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "brilliance"
    • Description:

      Also a synonym for the Hebrew month of Iyar, which usuually falls in May, would work and play well with others like Zev and Lev.
  9. Kay
    • Avu
      • Origin:

        Tamil, possibly "gift of God"
      • Meaning:

        "gift of God"
      • Description:

        An appealing Hindi name borne by Mindy Kahling's architect father Avu Chokalingam. She bestowed it on her son Spencer as a middle name in 2020.
    • Ché
      • Origin:

        Spanish, diminutive of JosÉ
      • Description:

        Strongly associated with Cuban revolutionary Guevara.
    • Dag
      • Origin:

        Scandinavian
      • Meaning:

        "daylight"
      • Description:

        Norse god who's the son of light plus historic diplomat Dag Hammarskjöld and author Dag Solstad combine to boost this Nordic name's appeal, but this could be difficult in English-speaking countries where the obvious tease will be "daggy Dag."
    • Ely
      • Origin:

        Russian variation of Eli
      • Meaning:

        "ascended, uplifted, high"
      • Description:

        Russian form of Eli mainly used today by families with Russian Jewish heritage.
    • Ron
      • Day
        • Origin:

          English word name
        • Meaning:

          "the time of light between one night and the next"
        • Description:

          Many African tribes have a tradition of naming children for the day or time they were born -- Friday, Afternoon -- a practice finding new life in the Western world as word names become more popular.
      • Ran
        • Shy
          • Origin:

            English word name
          • Meaning:

            "reserved, timid"
          • Description:

            Not the most aspirational word names you could give to a child, although it does work as a nickname. Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's daughter Chicago is often called Chi, pronounced "shy."
        • Adi
          • Ryo
            • Origin:

              Japanese
            • Meaning:

              "exceed; cool; refreshing; distant; reality"
          • Nil
            • Origin:

              Catalan and Russian variation of Neil, Irish
            • Meaning:

              "cloud"
            • Description:

              Better to stick with the Neil spelling in the US, where the word "nil" also means "zero." But this is a Top Ten name in Catalonia.