1900+ Four Letter Boy Names

  1. Koen
    • Origin:

      Dutch diminutive of Coenraad
    • Meaning:

      "bold advisor"
    • Description:

      A short form popular in the Netherlands, though in the U.S. Koen and Coen are easily confused with Cohen, the Jewish surname meaning "priest" which has recently gained currency as a first name. The Dutch pronunciation is more like "coon."
  2. Vero
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "true"
    • Description:

      The o ending and the positive meaning in many languages makes this a winner, and with the feminine Vera making a surprise return, and the new love for the letter 'V', this becomes a name that has definite possibilities.
  3. Judd
    • Origin:

      Medieval short form of Jordan
    • Meaning:

      "flowing down"
    • Description:

      Judd is a strong but sensitive short form that can easily stand on its own, the second 'd' giving it a lot more substance, and it would also be a good middle name choice. Two recent actors have given it credence--Judd Nelson and Judd Hirsch, and now it's most noticeably represented by comedy director Judd Apatow.
  4. Lisa
    • Description:

      Lisa was so popular for girls in the late sixties and early seventies that according to government statistics some parents chose it for their sons, too. Either that or there were some serious mixups in the records bureau.
  5. Ehan
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "full moon"
    • Description:

      An unusual Arabic name, given to a handful of boys in the US each year, also spelled Ehaan or Ihan.
  6. West
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Description:

      West is the most fashionable of what you might call the direction names, with North and East (or Easton and Easter) coming up behind, and South not yet on the map.
  7. Luis
    • Origin:

      Spanish variation of Louis
    • Meaning:

      "renowned warrior"
    • Description:

      Luis has long been one of the most popular Hispanic names in America — it was in the Top 100 every year from 1980 to 2014, though it's dropped a bit in popularity. It's familiar, yet would add a worldly touch to a basic surname.
  8. Egan
    • Origin:

      Variation of Aidan, Irish
    • Meaning:

      "little fire"
    • Description:

      Egan's likeness to the word eager gives this Irish surname a ready-to-please, effervescent energy, and it would make an appropriate substitute for the overused Aidan.
  9. Ludo
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "famous"
    • Description:

      This cool and quirky short form of the suave Ludovic could be an even-more-adventurous spin on Nico and Hugo.
  10. Zade
    • Origin:

      Modern invented name or variation of Zayd, Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "increase, growth"
    • Description:

      You might think of this as the zesty brother of Cade and Slade. Or Zade might appeal to you as an anglicized spelling of the Arabic Zayd or Zaid, the name of an enslaved man that Muhammad adopted as his son.
  11. Kent
    • Origin:

      English surname and place-name
    • Meaning:

      "edge"
    • Description:

      Kent is a no-nonsense, brief, brisk one-syllable name, almost as curt as Kurt.
  12. Orlo
    • Origin:

      Short form of Orlando or Roland, German
    • Meaning:

      "famous throughout the land"
    • Description:

      Orlo is a name nobody ever heard of until the surprise popularity of the unrelated but similar-sounding Arlo. If Arlo can be a hit, why not Orlo? Why not indeed.
  13. Liev
    • Origin:

      Yiddish variation of Lev
    • Meaning:

      "heart"
    • Description:

      Liev Schreiber's birth name is Isaac Liev, Liev after his mother's favorite Russia author, Leo Tolstoy. Though Liev is increasing in popularity in the secular world thanks to the actor, it originated as a Yiddish diminutive.
  14. Llyr
    • Origin:

      Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "the sea"
    • Description:

      Llyr is a name with a great meaning and a lovely sound, but that sound is going to be next to impossible to get non-Welsh speaking people to pronounce (google the double L sound in Welsh). If you are outside Wales, you may wish to consider the Irish alternative Lir, which has the same meaning and an easier sound.
  15. Alba
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "white"
    • Description:

      An up-and-comer for girls, but still under-the-radar for boys. Alba feels like a possible crossover candidate, on the heels of Nova and Alva, and with the potential for rising nickname Albie.
  16. Aras
    • Origin:

      Lithuanian
    • Meaning:

      "eagle"
    • Description:

      A sweet, simple name with roots in several cultures. In Lithuanian, Aras is a poetic bird name, while in Persian and Kurdish it is both a word ("equal"), and the name of a river that flows through Turkey, Armenia, Iran and Azerbaijan. It is one of the most popular boy names in Turkey, and also ranks in the Netherlands and England and Wales.
  17. Odie
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Odell, Otis; English, German
    • Meaning:

      "of the valley; wealthy"
    • Description:

      This old-timey nickname for Otis and Odell is strongly tied to Garfield’s canine companion in the Garfield comic, movie, and TV franchise.
  18. Mylo
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Milo, Latin or old German
    • Meaning:

      "soldier or merciful"
    • Description:

      Milo, Miles and even Myles are all well-known in the US, but the spelling Mylo is not widely used here though it ranks among the British Top 1000 names for boys. However you spell it, a friendly, jaunty name with authentic roots.
  19. Argo
    • Origin:

      Greek mythology name
    • Description:

      The name of the ship sailed by Jason in his search for the Golden Fleece is now more often used for starch, trucks, and heavy machinery.
  20. Elmo
    • Origin:

      Italian from German
    • Meaning:

      "protector"
    • Description:

      Elmo, like fellow Sesame Street characters Kermit and Grover, has a hard time being taken seriously. (It isn't easy being red either.)