Three Letter Boy Names
- Nat
Origin:
English, diminutive of Nathan or NathanielDescription:
Just the kind of old-fashioned nickname coming back into style.
- Tay
Origin:
Scottish place-nameDescription:
This name of the largest river in Scotland, renowned for its salmon fishing, is usually thought of as a nickname for Taylor.
- Bat
Origin:
Short form of BartholomewDescription:
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.
- Pat
Origin:
Diminutive of PatrickMeaning:
"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.
- Sao
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"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.
- Lum
Origin:
Diminutive of Columbus, English from LatinMeaning:
"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.
- Roc
Origin:
Arabic mythical name; Catalan form of RoccoMeaning:
"rest"Description:
An earthy rock'n'roll name with multiple origins. The Roc was a giant bird in Middle Eastern legend.
- Ziv
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"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.
- 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 JosÉDescription:
Strongly associated with Cuban revolutionary Guevara.
- Dag
Origin:
ScandinavianMeaning:
"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 EliMeaning:
"ascended, uplifted, high"Description:
Russian form of Eli mainly used today by families with Russian Jewish heritage.
- Ron
- Day
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"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 nameMeaning:
"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:
JapaneseMeaning:
"exceed; cool; refreshing; distant; reality"
- Nil
Origin:
Catalan and Russian variation of Neil, IrishMeaning:
"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.