1900+ Four Letter Boy Names

  1. Eben
    • Origin:

      Hebrew, diminutive of Ebenezer
    • Meaning:

      "stone of help"
    • Description:

      Though most parents would shy away from Ebenezer, short form Eben is affable and creative and perfectly able to stand alone; nothing Scroogish about it. This also makes a fresh new spin on the very popular Ethan or Evan.
  2. Lynx
    • Origin:

      Animal name
    • Description:

      One of the fierce new animal names new to name lists, helped by its strong x-ending.
  3. 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.
  4. Nilo
    • Origin:

      Spanish diminutive of Daniel
    • Meaning:

      "God is my judge"
    • Description:

      So much more worldly than Danny.
  5. Case
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Description:

      A brisk and unconventional name that could be a style stand-in for confederates Casey, Chase, Cale, and Cade.
  6. Raif
    • Origin:

      Arabic; English
    • Meaning:

      "compassionate; wolf counsel"
    • Description:

      Raif (or Raef, Rayif) is a Muslim name usually given in reference to the Qur’anic verse "God is most compassionate and most merciful to mankind." A notable bearer is Saudi writer, dissident and activist Raif Badawi.
  7. Nori
    • Origin:

      Japanese, Norse
    • Meaning:

      "doctrine or seaweed; north or small person"
    • Description:

      Attractive, simple Japanese choice that, while not strictly unisex, could work even better for a girl, especially now that Kim Kardashian and Kanye West use it as the nickname for their daughter North. Nori is also the name of an edible seaweed used in wrapping sushi.
  8. 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.
  9. Bran
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Brandon
    • Meaning:

      "broom-covered hill"
    • Description:

      A little heavy on the fiber content; we prefer Bram. But Bran is also the Celtic god of the underworld, whose symbol is the raven.
  10. Aris
    • Origin:

      Modern Greek spelling of Ares,"ruin, bane"
    • Meaning:

      "ruin, bane"
    • Description:

      This modern Greek spelling is currently in the Top 1000 in England and Wales, and in France.
  11. Puck
    • Origin:

      Literary name
    • Description:

      Puck was Shakespeare's mischievous pixie who'a had a few television incarnations in more recent years. A popular name in The Netherlands but nowhere else, from what we can tell.
  12. Colm
    • Origin:

      Irish variation of Latin Columba
    • Meaning:

      "dove"
    • Description:

      Colm is a popular Irish name for boys that could immigrate, especially with its peaceful meaning. Colm Toibin is a contemporary Irish novelist and critic, author of The Master and Brooklyn; Colm Meaney is an Irish actor. Pronunciation is two syllables instead of one, like Colin with an 'm' at the end. Colm is related to Columba, Colom, Colum, Callum, and Malcolm.
  13. Chad
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "battle warrior"
    • Description:

      Despite all the "hanging," "dangling," and "pregnant" chad jokes of the 2000 election, this saint's name and remnant of the Brad-Tad era didn't get a boost in popularity. But Chad still holds some surfer-boy appeal for a number of modern parents.
  14. Esau
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "hairy"
    • Description:

      Esau is one of the neglected E-beginning boys' biblical choices--it's been off the popularity lists since 1902! The name of Jacob's twin brother, son of Isaac and Rebecca, Esau could make an ideal twin choice, if you don't mind its meaning and the difficult story in the Bible behind the name, as convoluted and full of drama, tragedy, and reconciliation as any soap opera
  15. Aodh
    • Origin:

      Gaelic
    • Meaning:

      "fire"
    • Description:

      Aodh, the name of the Celtic sun god meaning "fire", was common in early Scotland. It's also the origin of the wildly popular Irish name Aidan (originally Aodhán). Its pronunciation varies depending on region: AY or EE are Irish pronunciations, and in Scotland it's closer to UH, and has been Anglicized as Hugh.
  16. Liko
    • Origin:

      Hawaiian
    • Meaning:

      "leaf bud"
    • Description:

      A nature name from the Hawaiian islands that's vaguely reminiscent of trendy names like Luke and Luca. However, it's also the name of a Swedish company that makes mechanical lifts used in medical settings to move mobility-impaired patients.
  17. Juan
    • Origin:

      Spanish and Manx variation of John
    • Meaning:

      "the Lord is gracious"
    • Description:

      Juan, the Spanish version of John, is ubiquitous in the Spanish-speaking world, and is familiar internationally via such references as Don Juan and San Juan.
  18. Riah
    • Origin:

      Short form of Zachariah, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "The Lord has remembered"
    • Description:

      If you think there are too many Zachs around, you can use this historic nickname for Zachariah instead, though it does have a somewhat feminine feel.
  19. Marc
    • Origin:

      French, Welsh and Catalan variation of Mark
    • Description:

      Designer (as in Marc Jacobs) form of Mark. An international classic, but long falling in popularity as a boys' name.
  20. Koah
    • Origin:

      Variation of Koa, Hawaiian
    • Meaning:

      "warrior"
    • Description:

      It was only a matter of time before the Koa-Noah mashup came around. Koah is rising quickly and could be a future member of the Top 1000.