In a world where most soon-to-be and expecting parents gravitate towards longer, more unique names for their newborn child, it’s easy to overlook the charm, elegance, and significance of 3 letter boy names.
And before you say anything– yes, they’re often used as nicknames, as opposed to a given name, but they still carry deep meanings, cultural richness, and a timeless appeal that transcends modern trends.
In fact, 3 letter boy names can be incredibly powerful in their brevity, offering a strong and memorable identity that stands out without the need for complexity – and that’s something longer names can’t offer.
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Not only that, but 3 letter boy names are often easier to pronounce, spell, and remember, which can be a blessing for both the child and those around them – including childhood friends, teachers, and coaches.
In an age where uniqueness is highly valued, 3 letter boy names offer a new kind of individuality – and are known for being concise yet distinctive, proving that names don’t need to be lengthy to be special.
3 Letter Boy Names That Are Sweet and Short
There are literally hundreds – maybe even thousands – of 3 letter boy names to choose from, but only four of them land in the Social Security Administration’s list of the ‘Top 100 Baby Names of 2023.’
Those names, as you might’ve guessed, are Leo (No. 18), Kai (No. 61), Ian (No. 70), and Eli (No. 80).
Leo was the most popular and was given to an estimated 8,120 newborn boys in the US in 2023. Kai came in second with 4,946 births, while Ian (4,538 births) and Eli (4,081 births) finished third and fourth.
If none of those names suit your style (or if you’re looking for something less popular) then don’t worry – we’ve got plenty more where that came from, so let’s take a look at our 50 favorite 3 letter boy names!
50. Abe
Origin: Abe is of Hebrew origin.
Derivation: The name Abe is derived from the Hebrew name Avraham (Abraham), which is a contraction of the first part of the name.
Meaning: The name Abe translates to “father of many” or “father of a multitude” in Hebrew.
49. Ace
Origin: Ace is of Latin origin.
Derivation: The name Ace is derived from the Latin word “as,” meaning “one” or “unity.” It was originally used to refer to the highest playing card or die face.
Meaning: The name Ace translates to “one,” “unity,” or “noble” in its original context.
48. Ali
Origin: Ali is of Arabic origin.
Derivation: The name Ali is derived from the Arabic root “ʿ-L-Y” (ع-ل-ي), which means “high” or “elevated.”
Meaning: The name Ali translates to “exalted,” “noble,” or “high” in Arabic.
47. Ari
Origin: Ari is of Hebrew and Norse origin.
Derivation: The name Ari is derived from the Hebrew name Ariel, meaning “lion of God,” or from the Old Norse word “ari,” meaning “eagle.”
Meaning: The name Ari translates to “lion” or “eagle,” depending on the origin.
46. Art
Origin: Art is of Celtic origin.
Derivation: The name Art is derived from the Irish name “Artúr,” which is related to the name Arthur.
Meaning: The name Art translates to “bear” or “stone” in Celtic.
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45. Avi
Origin: Avi is of Hebrew origin.
Derivation: The name Avi is derived from the Hebrew word “Av” meaning “father,” often a diminutive of Avraham or other names beginning with Av.
Meaning: The name Avi translates to “father” or “my father” in Hebrew.
44. Ben
Origin: Ben is of Hebrew origin.
Derivation: The name Ben is derived from the Hebrew word “Ben” meaning “son,” often used as a standalone name or a short form of Benjamin.
Meaning: The name Ben translates to “son” in Hebrew.
43. Bud
Origin: Bud is of English origin.
Derivation: The name Bud is derived from the English word “bud,” meaning a young shoot or blossom, and is often used as a term of endearment or a nickname.
Meaning: The name Bud translates to “friend” or “buddy,” representing a term of affection.
42. Cam
Origin: Cam is of Scottish and Latin origin.
Derivation: The name Cam is derived from the Scottish name Cameron (meaning “crooked nose”) or the Latin name Camillus (meaning “young ceremonial attendant”).
Meaning: The name Cam translates to “crooked nose” (from Cameron) or “young ceremonial attendant” (from Camillus).
41. Coy
Origin: Coy is of Irish and English origin.
Derivation: The name Coy is derived from the Irish surname McCoy, meaning “son of Aodh” (Aodh meaning “fire”), or it can be an English word meaning “shy” or “reserved.”
Meaning: The name Coy translates to “shy” or “reserved,” and in some contexts, it is associated with the meaning “fire” from the surname McCoy.
40. Dan
Origin: Dan is of Hebrew origin.
Derivation: The name Dan is derived from the Hebrew name “Dan,” which comes from the root word “din,” meaning “to judge.”
Meaning: The name Dan translates to “judge” in Hebrew.
39. Dax
Origin: Dax is of French origin.
Derivation: The name Dax is derived from a town in southwestern France named Dax. It was also popularized as a given name in modern times.
Meaning: The name Dax doesn’t have a traditional meaning, but it is associated with a place name.
38. Dev
Origin: Dev is of Sanskrit origin.
Derivation: The name Dev is derived from the Sanskrit word “Deva,” which means “god” or “divine.”
Meaning: The name Dev translates to “god” or “divine” in Sanskrit.
37. Dom
Origin: Dom is of Latin origin.
Derivation: The name Dom is a short form of Dominic or Dominick, derived from the Latin word “Dominicus,” meaning “of the Lord.”
Meaning: The name Dom translates to “of the Lord” in Latin.
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36. Dre
Origin: Dre is of Greek origin.
Derivation: The name Dre is often a short form of Andre or Andrew, derived from the Greek name “Andreas,” which means “man” or “warrior.”
Meaning: The name Dre translates to “manly” or “warrior” in Greek.
35. Eli
Origin: Eli is of Hebrew origin.
Derivation: The name Eli is derived from the Hebrew word “Eli,” meaning “ascended” or “my God.”
Meaning: The name Eli translates to “ascended” or “high” in Hebrew.
34. Fox
Origin: Fox is of English origin.
Derivation: The name Fox is derived from the English word “fox,” which refers to the cunning and clever animal. It has become popular as a unique given name.
Meaning: The name Fox translates to “fox” in English, symbolizing cunning or cleverness.
33. Gil
Origin: Gil is of Hebrew and Spanish origin.
Derivation: The name Gil is derived from the Hebrew name “Gilead,” meaning “eternal joy,” or from the Spanish name “Gil,” derived from “Aegidius,” meaning “young goat” or “shield-bearer.”
Meaning: The name Gil translates to “joy” in Hebrew or “shield-bearer” in Spanish.
32. Guy
Origin: Guy is of French and Germanic origin.
Derivation: The name Guy is derived from the Old French name “Guillaume” (related to William), or from the Germanic name “Wido,” meaning “wood” or “wide.”
Meaning: The name Guy translates to “guide” or “leader” in French, and “wood” in Germanic.
31. Ian
Origin: Ian is of Scottish origin.
Derivation: The name Ian is derived from the Scottish Gaelic form of “John,” which originates from the Hebrew name “Yochanan,” meaning “God is gracious.”
Meaning: The name Ian translates to “God is gracious” in Scottish Gaelic.
30. Jaq
Origin: Jaq is of French origin.
Derivation: The name Jaq is a modern, short form of the French name “Jacques,” which is derived from the Hebrew name “Yaakov” (Jacob).
Meaning: The name Jaq translates to “supplanter” in Hebrew.
29. Jax
Origin: Jax is of English origin.
Derivation: The name Jax is a modern diminutive of “Jackson” or “Jaxon,” which is derived from the name “John” and means “son of Jack.”
Meaning: The name Jax translates to “God is gracious” (from John) and “son of Jack” in English.
28. Jet
Origin: Jet is of English origin.
Derivation: The name Jet is derived from the English word “jet,” which refers to the black mineral or a fast aircraft. It is also a short form of the name “Jethro.”
Meaning: The name Jet translates to “black mineral” or “excellence” (from Jethro) in English.
27. Joe
Origin: Joe is of Hebrew origin.
Derivation: The name Joe is a short form of “Joseph,” which is derived from the Hebrew name “Yosef,” meaning “He will add.”
Meaning: The name Joe translates to “God will add” or “God will increase” in Hebrew.
26. Jon
Origin: Jon is of Hebrew origin.
Derivation: The name Jon is a short form of “Jonathan” or “John,” derived from the Hebrew name “Yochanan,” meaning “God is gracious.”
Meaning: The name Jon translates to “God is gracious” in Hebrew.
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25. Kai
Origin: Kai is of Hawaiian, Scandinavian, and Japanese origin.
Derivation: The name Kai is derived from multiple origins: in Hawaiian, it means “sea”; in Scandinavian, it is a short form of “Kaimbe,” meaning “warrior”; and in Japanese, it means “forgiveness” or “ocean.”
Meaning: The name Kai translates to “sea,” “warrior,” or “forgiveness,” depending on the origin.
24. Kip
Origin: Kip is of English origin.
Derivation: The name Kip is derived from the English word “kip,” meaning “pointed hill,” or it can be a short form of “Kipling,” meaning “cured salmon.”
Meaning: The name Kip translates to “pointed hill” or “cured salmon” in English.
23. Koa
Origin: Koa is of Hawaiian origin.
Derivation: The name Koa is derived from the Hawaiian word “koa,” meaning “warrior” or “brave.”
Meaning: The name Koa translates to “warrior” or “brave” in Hawaiian.
22. Lee
Origin: Lee is of English origin.
Derivation: The name Lee is derived from the Old English word “leah,” meaning “clearing” or “meadow.”
Meaning: The name Lee translates to “meadow” or “clearing” in English.
21. Leo
Origin: Leo is of Latin origin.
Derivation: The name Leo is derived from the Latin word “leo,” meaning “lion.” It has also been used as a short form of Leonard or Leopold.
Meaning: The name Leo translates to “lion” in Latin.
20. Lou
Origin: Lou is of German and French origin.
Derivation: The name Lou is a short form of Louis (from the French name “Ludovicus”) or Louise, both derived from the Germanic name “Ludwig,” meaning “famous warrior.”
Meaning: The name Lou translates to “famous warrior” in Germanic.
19. Mac
Origin: Mac is of Scottish and Irish origin.
Derivation: The name Mac is derived from the Gaelic word “Mac,” meaning “son of.” It is commonly used as a prefix in Scottish and Irish surnames.
Meaning: The name Mac translates to “son of” in Gaelic.
18. Max
Origin: Max is of Latin origin.
Derivation: The name Max is a short form of “Maximus,” meaning “greatest,” or “Maximilian,” a combination of “Maximus” and “Aemilianus.”
Meaning: The name Max translates to “greatest” in Latin.
17. Neo
Origin: Neo is of Greek and Tswana origin.
Derivation: The name Neo is derived from the Greek word “neos,” meaning “new,” and in Tswana (a Bantu language), it means “gift.”
Meaning: The name Neo translates to “new” or “gift” depending on the origin.
16. Oak
Origin: Oak is of English origin.
Derivation: The name Oak is derived from the English word “oak,” referring to the sturdy and long-living tree.
Meaning: The name Oak translates to “strong” or “enduring” in English.
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15. Obi
Origin: Obi is of Igbo (Nigerian) origin.
Derivation: The name Obi is derived from the Igbo word “Obi,” meaning “heart” or “king” in certain contexts.
Meaning: The name Obi translates to “heart” or “king” in Igbo.
14. Raj
Origin: Raj is of Sanskrit origin.
Derivation: The name Raj is derived from the Sanskrit word “Raja,” meaning “king” or “ruler.”
Meaning: The name Raj translates to “king” or “ruler” in Sanskrit.
13. Red
Origin: Red is of English origin.
Derivation: The name Red is derived from the English word “red,” often used as a nickname for someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion.
Meaning: The name Red translates to “red” or “ruddy” in English.
12. Rex
Origin: Rex is of Latin origin.
Derivation: The name Rex is derived from the Latin word “rex,” meaning “king.”
Meaning: The name Rex translates to “king” in Latin.
11. Rio
Origin: Rio is of Spanish origin.
Derivation: The name Rio is derived from the Spanish word “río,” meaning “river.”
Meaning: The name Rio translates to “river” in Spanish.
10. Sal
Origin: Sal is of Latin and Hebrew origin.
Derivation: The name Sal is a short form of “Salvatore” (meaning “savior” in Latin) or “Salomon” (from the Hebrew name “Shlomo,” meaning “peace”).
Meaning: The name Sal translates to “savior” in Latin and “peace” in Hebrew.
9. Sam
Origin: Sam is of Hebrew origin.
Derivation: The name Sam is a short form of “Samuel” (meaning “God has heard”) or “Samantha.”
Meaning: The name Sam translates to “God has heard” in Hebrew.
8. Sid
Origin: Sid is of English origin.
Derivation: The name Sid is a short form of “Sidney” or “Sidon,” derived from the Old English name meaning “wide island” or from the ancient Phoenician city Sidon.
Meaning: The name Sid translates to “wide island” in Old English.
7. Sol
Origin: Sol is of Hebrew and Latin origin.
Derivation: The name Sol is a short form of “Solomon” (meaning “peace” in Hebrew) or derived from the Latin word “sol,” meaning “sun.”
Meaning: The name Sol translates to “peace” in Hebrew and “sun” in Latin.
6. Ted
Origin: Ted is of Greek and English origin.
Derivation: The name Ted is a short form of “Theodore” (meaning “gift of God” in Greek) or “Edward” (meaning “wealthy guardian” in Old English).
Meaning: The name Ted translates to “gift of God” in Greek and “wealthy guardian” in Old English.
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5. Tim
Origin: Tim is of Greek origin.
Derivation: The name Tim is a short form of “Timothy,” derived from the Greek name “Timotheos,” meaning “honoring God.”
Meaning: The name Tim translates to “honoring God” in Greek.
4. Tom
Origin: Tom is of Hebrew origin.
Derivation: The name Tom is a short form of “Thomas,” derived from the Aramaic word “Ta’oma,” meaning “twin.”
Meaning: The name Tom translates to “twin” in Aramaic.
3. Vic
Origin: Vic is of Latin origin.
Derivation: The name Vic is a short form of “Victor” or “Victoria,” derived from the Latin word “victor,” meaning “conqueror.”
Meaning: The name Vic translates to “conqueror” or “victory” in Latin.
2. Von
Origin: Von is of German origin.
Derivation: The name Von is derived from the German word “von,” meaning “from,” often used as a prefix in German surnames indicating nobility or origin.
Meaning: The name Von translates to “from” in German.
1. Wes
Origin: Wes is of English origin.
Derivation: The name Wes is a short form of “Wesley,” derived from the Old English words “west leah,” meaning “western meadow.”
Meaning: The name Wes translates to “western meadow” in Old English.
Will Your Son Sport One of These 3 Letter Boy Names?
Whether chosen for their simplicity, meaning, sound, or family tradition, 3 letter boy names are a true testament to the fact that sometimes, less is more – and the names above are perfect examples of that.
They also serve as a creative foundation for parents who may wish to pair them with longer middle names or last names, creating a balanced and harmonious full name that carries both significance and flair.
For example, the given name Leo pairs well with the middle name Donovan, the first name Kai fits very well with the middle name Benjamin, and the name Rex pairs nicely with the last name Montgomery.
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With that said, we understand that 3 letter boy names aren’t for everyone. And if you’re one of those people, then don’t worry – we have thousands of more baby name ideas at our Mamas Uncut blog, and a baby name generator that spits out a variety of names that you can consider for your newborn son!
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Baby Name Generator
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