3 Letter Boy Names (Including Meanings And Origins)
They say some of the best things come in small packages and these tiny names for boys are no exception. 3 letter boy names are short, simple, and cute. Even though they’re small, they can still have big meanings.
Shortened versions of names have been a trending choice for parents for a while now. Maybe you want a name for your child that’s easy to write in school, or maybe you just prefer the shorter version of a particular name.
Either way, if you’re searching for boys names with three letters, our list is all you need! Not sure if you’re having a girl just yet? Check out this list of 3 letter girl names too!
Three Letter Boy Names
Including (origins) and “meanings”
The names on our list were researched on websites like BabyCenter to find their origins and meanings. Remember that some names can have different meanings in several languages.
A
Abe (English) “father of nations”
Abe is short for Abraham
Abu (Arabic) “father”
Ace (Latin) “one; unity”
Adi (Hebrew) “jewel; ornament”
Aio (Maori) “peace”
Aja (Indian) “to drive; propel”
Ala (Arabic) “excellence; praise”
Ale (Italian, Greek, Swedish) “defender of man; noble; bright one”
Ale is short for Alejandro
Alf (English) “noble peace”
Alf is short for Alfred
Ali (Arabic) “supreme; exalted”
Anu (Indian) “the mercy of God is great”
Anu is short for Anuoluwapo
Apu (Indian) “pure; divine; virtuous”
Ara (Arabic, Hebrew, Armenian) “king”
Ari (Hebrew) “lion of God”
Ark (Indian) “the sun; lightening; fire; hymn; a sage”
Aro (Finnish) “swampy area; infertile ground”
Art (English) “bear”
Art is short for Arthur
Asa (Hebrew, Japanese) “healer; born in the morning”
Ash (English) “ash tree” - Ash is also on our list of short names for boys
Ash is short for Ashton or Asher
Ata (Arabic) “gift; present”
Ata is short for Ataur
Avi (Hebrew) “father”
Avi is short for Avraham
Axl (Scandinavian) “father of peace”
B
Ben (Hebrew) “son of my right hand”
Ben is short for Benjamin
Bif (Old Norse) “movement; air; water” - Check out more names that mean water
Bil (English) “sword; halberd”
Bil is short for William
Bob (German) “famed; bright; shining”
Bob is short for Robert
Boe (French, Scandinavian) “handsome”
Bry (Irish, English) “hill, high”
Bry is short for Brian
C
Cam (Scottish) “crooked nose”
Cam is short for Cameron
Cas (Dutch) “imperial”
Cas is short for Casandro
Chi (Chinese) “tree twig”
Coy (English) “quiet; still”
D
Dan (English) “God is my judge”
Dan is short for Daniel
Dax (French) “leader”
Del (English) “small valley”
Del is short for Delbert
Des (English) “gifted ruler”
Des is short for Desmond
Dev (Indian) “God”
Dev is short for Devin
Dom (Latin) “of the Lord”
Dom is short for Dominic
Don (English) “world leader; man”
Don is short for Donald
Dre (French, Greek) “man; warrior”
Dre is short for Andre
Dru (Greek, Welsh, French) “man; warrior”
Dru is short for Andrew
E
Ean (Scottish) “God is gracious”
Ebb (American) “stone of help; foundation stone”
Efe (Turkish) “older brother”
Efe is short for Efetobore
Eko (Indonesian) “first child”
Eli (Hebrew) “elevated; high”
Eon (Greek) “longest period of time” - Eon is also on our list of names meaning time
F
Fil (Greek) “friend of horses”
Fil is short for Filip
Fin (Irish, Gaelic) “fair; from Finland”
Fin is short for Finlay
G
Gar (Anglo-Saxon) “spear”
Geo (Greek) “earth”
Geo is short for George
Gil (Hebrew) “bright promise, small goat”
Gil is short for Gilbride
Gio (Italian) “God is gracious”
Gio is short for Giovanni
Gus (English) “great”
Gus is short for Gustav, Angus, or Agustus
Guy (French) “guide; leader”
H
Hal (English) “army ruler”
Hal is short for Harry or Henry
Han (Scandinavian) “God is gracious”
Han is short for Hancock or Hanson
I
Ian (Scottish) “God is gracious”
Ian is short for John
Ido (Hebrew) “to evaporate and be mighty”
Ike (Hebrew) “laughter”
Ike is short for Isaac or Isaiah
Ion (Russian) “God is good”
Isa (Hebrew) “salvation of God”
J
Jad (Arabic) “generous”
Jai (Indian) “victory”
Jax (English, Hebrew) “God is merciful”
Jax is short for Jackson
Jay (Latin) “jaybird”
Jay is short for Jason, Jacob, or Jayden
Jeb (Hebrew) “beloved friend” - Jeb is also on our list of baby names that mean friend
Jeb is short for Jebediah
Jed (Hebrew) “blessing” - Here are more boy names that mean blessing
Jed is short for Jedidiah
Joe (Hebrew) “God will give”
Joe is short for Joseph
K
Kai (Hawaiian) “sea” - Kai is also on our list of attitude names
Kal (Finnish) “strong”
Kal is short for Calvin
Ken (Scottish) “handsome”
Keo (French) “superior; extraordinary; precious”
Kip (English) “pointed hill”
Kit (Greek) “bearing Christ”
Koa (Hawaiian) “warrior; brave one”
Kye (American) “ocean”
L
Lad (English) “manservant; young man”
Lal (Indian) “beloved”
Lee (English) “clearing in the woods; meadow”
Len (English, German) “lion strength”
Leo (Latin) “lion”
Leo is short for Leonardo, Leon, and Leopold
Lev (Hebrew, Russian) “heart; lion”
Lex (Greek) “defending men”
Lyn (Welsh) “leader"
M
Mat (English) “gift of God”
Mat is short for Matthew
Max (German, English) “greatest”
Max is short for Maximilian or Maxwell
Moe (English) “delivered
Moe is short for Maurice or Morris
N
Nat (Hebrew) “gift of God”
Nat is short for Nathaniel or Nathan - Nathan is also on our list of boy names that mean gift of God
Neo (Latin) “new; gift”
Nic (Greek) “people of victory”
Nic is short for Nicholas
Noe (Hebrew) “peaceful”
Noe is short for Noah
RELATED: 80 Noah Middle Names
Nox (Latin) “night”
Nye (Welsh) “honor”
O
Oak (English) “meadow of oak trees”
Obi (African) “heart”
Ode (English) “born along a road; a lyric poem”
Oli (German) “elf warrior”
Oli is short for Oliver
RELATED: 57 Oliver Middle Names
Ori (Hebrew) “my light”
P
Pat (English) “noble; patrician”
Pat is short for Patrick
Pax (Latin) “peace”
Paz (Spanish) “peace”
Pio (Latin) “pious”
R
Raf (Dutch) “God heals”
Raf is short for Rafael
Raj (Hindi) “king”
Ram (Sanskrit) “archer; pleasing”
Ras (Dutch) “nimble; swift”
Ren (Latin) “rebirth”
Ren is short for Rene or Reginald
Rex (Latin) “king”
Rex is short for Rexford
Rey (Spanish) “king”
Rio (Spanish) “river”
Rob (English) “bright fame”
Rob is short for Robert
Roy (French, Celtic) “red-haired”
Roy is short for Leroy or Elroy
Rui (Spanish) “famous ruler”
Ryu (Japanese) “dragon”
S
Sai (Japanese) “paint”
Sam (Hebrew) “told by God”
Sam is short for Samuel
Sid (English) “wide meadow”
Sid is short for Sidney
Sol (Spanish) “sun”
Sol is short for Solomon
Stu (English) “household guardian”
Stu is short for Stuart
T
Tad (English) “heart”
Tad is short for Thaddeus
Tag (Irish) “handsome”
Tai (Chinese) “great; extreme”
Taj (Arabic) “crown”
Tam (Aramaic) “twin”
Tam is short for Thomas
Tan (Vietnamese) “new”
Taz (Latin, English) “gift from God”
Taz is short for Theodore
Teo (Italian) “divine gift”
Teo is short for Matteo, Teodoro, or Theodore
Tim (Greek) “honoring God”
Tim is short for Timothy
Tom (English) “twin”
Tom is short for Thomas
Tre (English) “three”
U
Ugo (Italian) “mind; spirit” - Ugo is also on our list of boy names meaning spirit
Ugo is short for Hugo
Uzi (Hebrew) “power; strength” - Uzi is also on our list of over 200 two-syllable boy names
V
Val (Latin) “strong; healthy” - Val is also on our list of over 100 boy names that mean strong
Val is short for Valentine
Vic (Latin) “victory; winner”
Vic is short for Victor
W
Wes (English) “western meadow”
Wes is short for Wesley
Wil (German) “resolute protector”
Wil is short for William
Wyn (Welsh) “fair; blessed”
Wyn is short for Wynne
Z
Zac (Hebrew) “the Lord has remembered”
Zac is short for Zachary
Zak (Hebrew) “the Lord has remembered”
Zak is short for Zachary
Zan (Greek) “defending men”
Zeb (Hebrew) “a gift of Jehovah”
Zeb is short for Zebadiah or Zebedee
Zed (English) “God is righteousness”
Zel (Arabic) “private; special”
Zen (Japanese) “meditation”
Zev (Hebrew) “wolf”
Zhi (Chinese) “wise person”
Ziv (Hebrew) “brilliance”
Zon (Yiddish) “little son”
Zvi (Hebrew) “deer”
Not sure if you’re having a boy or girl? Here are more baby name posts to consider:
BABY GIRL NAMES LISTS
100+ Beautiful Girl Names And Meanings
Over 100 1-Syllable Baby Girl Names
NAME LISTS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS
388 Names With Four Letters For Girls And Boys
Middle Names Lists
We’d love to hear if you have any favorite baby names from our list. Or maybe you’ve got a name suggestion that you’d like added?
Either way, leave a comment and let us know!
