1900+ Four Letter Boy Names

  1. 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.
  2. Timo
    • Origin:

      Norwegian, Finnish, German, and Dutch variation of Timothy
    • Meaning:

      "honoring God"
    • Description:

      Popular in its own right in Germany and definitely makes a more intriguing and grownup short form of the classic Timothy than Timmy or even Tim.
  3. Hale
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "someone who lives in a hollow"
    • Description:

      This name projects a sense of well-being - hale and hearty - is unusual but accessible, with a clear simple sound, and a worthy namesake, Revolutionary War hero Nathan Hale, as an added bonus.
  4. Krue
    • Origin:

      Variation of Crew, English word name
    • Description:

      A little bit of Crew, a little bit of True, plus a K initial equals a recipe for one of the fastest-rising boy names of the year.
  5. 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.
  6. Zeus
    • Origin:

      Greek mythology name
    • Description:

      The supreme Olympian god represents a mighty image for a little fella to live up to, but more and more parents are beginning to consider it seriously. The Roman equivalent Jupiter has also come down to earth. And Zeus wasn't just the supreme god, he was also the god of the sky, thunder, lightning, and fate, among other weighty responsibilities.
  7. Leto
    • Origin:

      Italian surname
    • Meaning:

      "happy; joyful"
    • Description:

      Leto Atreides is the father of protagonist Paul of the Dune franchise. Other parents may use this name for its connection to actor and musician Jared Leto.
  8. Rian
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "little king"
    • Description:

      More authentic and original form of Ryan, but far less common of the two spellings.
  9. Enzi
    • Origin:

      African, Swahili
    • Meaning:

      "powerful"
    • Description:

      This short and strong Swahili name shares lots of sounds with trending Ezra and Enzo, and has a great meaning too.
  10. Hans
    • Origin:

      German, Dutch, and Scandinavian, diminutive of Johannes
    • Description:

      Though familiar to all via such childhood icons as Hans Brinker, Hans(el) and Gretel, and Hans Christian Andersen, few Americans have chosen this name for their sons because of its intractably Old Country image.
  11. Mori
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "forest"
    • Description:

      A fashionable name, thanks to prominent Japanese fashion designer Hanae Mori, but non-Japanese might hear it as MORRIE or MAURY.
  12. Bill
    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of William
    • Meaning:

      "resolute protection"
    • Description:

      Most Bills today are dads...or grandpas. The younger Williams are usually nicknamed Will, or called by their full names.
  13. 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.
  14. Kuba
    • Origin:

      Short form of Jakub
    • Description:

      Kuba is the attractive short form of Jakub, the spelling of Jacob commonly used in Poland. Much more distinctive than Jake!
  15. Cory
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "from the hollow"
    • Description:

      A variation of Corey, this spelling has also been on a steady decline since the early-1990s. Its days are likely numbered on the US popularity charts altogether.
  16. Vigo
    • Origin:

      Italian surname
    • Meaning:

      "settlement"
    • Description:

      Vigo is both an Italian and Spanish surname and a Scandinavian first name. As a place name, it's found in Spain, Italy, England – and Indiana.
  17. Izar
    • Origin:

      Basque
    • Meaning:

      "star"
    • Description:

      Used more for girls in Europe, but definitely sounds masculine enough for a boy here.
  18. 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.
  19. True
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Meaning:

      "true"
    • Description:

      Many parents seeking a return to more basic values and a simpler lifestyle are turning to such virtuous girls' names as Grace, Faith, and Hope, but there are a handful that work just as well on boys, including True.
  20. Kade
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Cade, English
    • Meaning:

      "round, barrel; battle"
    • Description:

      Kade falls into the trend of using a letter K at the beginning of a traditionally C-starting name, perhaps to give it a sharper edge. Trending since the 90s, Kade is currently in the Top 400, while Cade ranks nearly around 70 places ahead. Given to 933 babies in 2023, it is a consistently used name.