3-Letter Baby Boy Names
1308 names with meanings and origins.
1,308 boy names with exactly 3 letters, each with its meaning and origin. Very short names are easy to spell, travel well between languages and rarely get shortened further.
Popular 3-letter boy names: Eli, Leo, Kai, Ali, Rex.
Top picks
- Eli — “Eli comes from the Hebrew, meaning 'ascension' or 'high'. Eli is the priest who raised Samuel. It is also a short form of Elijah.”
- Leo — “Leo is Latin for 'lion'. It was the name of thirteen popes.”
- Kai — “Kai has several roots: in Hawaiian it means 'sea'; in Scandinavian it is a short form of names like Nikolai; in Welsh legend Cai is a knight of King Arthur.”
- Ali — “An Arabic name meaning high, exalted, or noble, widely used among Telugu-speaking Muslims.”
- Rex — “King”
- Ben — “Son of the right hand; bear”
- Fox — “Fox”
- Gus — “Great, venerable”
- Jai — “A short and powerful name meaning victory or triumph, representing success and a winning spirit.”
- Zev — “Wolf”
Boy · Dutch · “Noble; eagle”
Boy · Sanskrit · “Sanskrit root for atom; signifies the smallest, fundamental particle of existence. Used to denote something essential and powerful.”
Unisex · Indian · “A respectful prefix or term of address. Sometimes used as a unique, concise name reflecting social awareness.”
Boy · Indian · “Derived from Sanskrit, meaning the bringer of light. It is a modern choice used to represent someone who brings hope and clarity.”
Boy · Punjabi · “The act of waiting or having hope”
Boy · Sanskrit · “Derived from the Sanskrit term for the supreme soul. A highly spiritual name used to denote the ultimate essence of being.”
Boy · African · “Derived from abd, slave servant; a servant; a devotee; a slave”
Boy · Hebrew & Biblical · “Father of nations; diminutive of abraham: father of a multitude. in genesis the old testament patriarch abrams name was changed to abraham when it was revealed he would be father of the hebrew nation. further popularized by 19th century us president abraham lincoln”
Boy · Arabic · “Son”
Boy · Arabic · “A literal Arabic term that means father. It is commonly used as a prefix to form a kunya, an honorific name based on one's firstborn child.”
Boy · English · “Unity, one; unity; a nickname given to one who excels; also an english surname meaning noble”
Boy · Slavic · “Defender of man”
Boy · Latin · “Means "a thorn"; an English surname and masculine name of Latin origin.”
Boy · Slavic · “Noble or nobility”
Boy · Slavic · “A diminutive form of Adam or Adolf, meaning man or noble wolf.”
Boy · Slavic · “A diminutive form of Adam or Adolf, meaning man or noble wolf.”
Boy · African · “Crown, royal”
Unisex · Indian · “An Indian name representing a form or aspect of the ancient sage Vasishtha.”
Boy · Hungarian · “A diminutive form of Ádám, meaning man or earth.”
Boy · Taiwanese Indigenous · “Means "a common name for a man"; an indigenous Taiwanese name used in the Bunun culture.”
Boy · Hebrew & Biblical · “This Hebrew name translates literally to my brother, signifying a close and familial bond.”
Boy · Arabic · “Highly praised”
Boy · Albanian · “Support or help”
Boy · Scottish · “A Scottish name meaning 'from the stony place.' It is a short, nature-inspired name reflecting a rugged or rocky landscape.”
Unisex · English · “An English unisex name meaning to 'direct toward a target.' It signifies purpose, ambition, and a clear sense of direction in life.”
Unisex · English · “An English and Arabic name meaning eye. It figuratively implies someone who is as precious as sight.”
Boy · International · “Atmosphere; breath of life”
Boy · International · “Means "swift" or "quick"; an international name derived from various roots.”
Boy · International · “Means "a gift" or "given"; an international variant found across various languages.”
Boy · International · “Means "water"; an international name inspired by the French city of Aix.”
- Ajaअज
Boy · Sanskrit · “Unborn, eternal — an epithet of Brahma the creator, and the name of Rama's grandfather in the Ramayana's Raghu dynasty.”
Boy · Scandinavian · “Derived from Old Norse meaning an ancestor or forefather.”
Unisex · Japanese · “Born in autumn.”
Unisex · Indian · “Means intellect or wisdom; a name of Arabic origin used in Indian contexts.”
- Ako亜子
Boy · Japanese · “Child of love”
Unisex · Scandinavian · “Father of peace”
Unisex · African · “A unisex name of African origin representing exalted status, prestige, and glory.”
Unisex · Taiwanese Indigenous · “Means "bright" or "shining" in various Taiwanese indigenous languages.”
- Aliఅలీ
Boy · Arabic · “An Arabic name meaning high, exalted, or noble, widely used among Telugu-speaking Muslims.”
Boy · English · “With roots in the Hopi tradition, this name translates to a spiritual guide. It implies a person who leads others through spiritual wisdom.”
Boy · Turkish · “Hero or brave person”
Boy · Scandinavian · “Elf or supernatural being”
Boy · German · “A short German name form meaning 'power of an eagle'.”
- Amiअमी
Unisex · Sanskrit · “Friend; eagle; saturdays child. (ghanaian); nectar”
Boy · Hebrew & Biblical · “This Hebrew name means a people that licks up. It is a rare biblical reference to a specific group or tribe.”
Boy · French · “Little eagle; power of an eagle; the eagle rules”
Boy · Arabic · “Life; name of a well-known sahaabi radhiyallaahu-anhu; old arabic name; by my life”
Unisex · English · “Beloved; dearly loved; beloved. from the old french amee, which derives from the latin amatus meaning loved. in common use after publication of american louisa may alcotts little women”
Boy · Vietnamese · “Peace, safety, or bright”
Boy · Vietnamese · “Vietnamese name meaning light or brilliance.”
Unisex · Hebrew & Biblical · “Merciful; name of a king; priceless; gracious; variant of hannah: favour or grace. god has favoured me. prayer”
Boy · Scandinavian · “Ancestor or grandfather”
Boy · English · “Priceless or highly valued”
- Anuअनु
Unisex · Sanskrit · “A versatile Sanskrit name meaning favor, an atom, or a prefix. In various cultures, it signifies something small or a divine blessing.”
Boy · Irish · “This mystical name connects to ancient lore as a 'mythical son of Lyr,' bestowing a sense of legend and wonder.”
Unisex · Japanese · “hollyhock; blue”
Boy · International · “A short, modern name likely derived from regional Asian naming trends meaning "fragrant" or "golden."”
Boy · Taiwanese Indigenous · “Means "the father" or a term of respect for an elder; a Taiwanese indigenous name.”
Unisex · Sanskrit · “A Sanskrit term with roots in water or primordial energy. It is a short, symbolic name often used to signify life-giving force.”
Boy · Arabic · “Means "the grandfather"; a common honorific name used in Tagalog and other cultures.”
Boy · African · “Of African origin, this name is derived from the title Agha, signifying a master, owner, or leader.”
Unisex · Arabic · “Of Arabic origin, this name describes someone who is opinionated or holds many strong opinions.”
Boy · Hebrew & Biblical · “A Hebrew name that refers to one who commands or one who descends. It is found in historical contexts within the Old Testament.”
Unisex · Hebrew & Biblical · “A versatile name of Hebrew origin meaning lion or eagle, it also shares roots with an Old Danish word for eagle.”
Boy · Indian · “The Sun, Lightening, Fire, Hymn, A sage”
Boy · Scandinavian · “Eagle”
Boy · Baltic · “Eagle”
Boy · Irish · “Short form of arthur; strong as a bear; rock; noble bear; diminutive of arthur: from the roman clan name artorius, meaning noble, courageous. famous bearer: legendary sixth century king arthur of britain and his round table of knights. this legend dates to the early 9th century”
Boy · German · “Diminutive of arvin, friend of the people”
Unisex · Japanese · “Born at dawn; physician. asa was the name of an old testament king of judah, and after disuse, the name was revived by 17th century puritans. famous bearer: historian asa briggs.healer”
Boy · Hebrew & Biblical · “Variant of asa: doctor; derived from asa, doctor”
Unisex · English · “From the ash tree; diminutive of asher: happy. in the old testament, asher was one of jacobs sons”
Boy · Scandinavian · “A Scandinavian name derived from the ash tree; in Norse mythology, Ask was the first man created by the gods.”
Unisex · Indian · “Origin, root, or essence”
Boy · African · “Ghanian name given to the first-born twin; gift, present”
Boy · Baltic · “Means "noble strength"; an Estonian form of Adam or Arthur.”
Boy · African · “Ghanian name given to a boy born on saturday”
Boy · Scandinavian · “Wealthy; diminutive of audrey: originally a diminutive of etheidreda from the 16th century. famous bearer: famous 20th century actress audrey hepburn”
- Aufعوف
Boy · Arabic · “Derived from the Arabic word for guest. It signifies hospitality and welcoming nature, reflecting cultural values of generosity.”
Boy · Germanic · “Means a ruler of all; a short form of various Germanic names.”
Unisex · Sanskrit · “From the sacred Sanskrit syllable representing the primordial sound of the universe. A spiritually significant name for any gender.”
Boy · African · “Help assistance.”
Unisex · Spanish · “Hail; diminutive of averill: fighting boar”
Boy · Indian · “The Sun and air”
Boy · Arabic · “Derived from Arabic roots, this masculine name signifies a guest or a pleasant fragrance.”
Boy · Arabic · “To help, assist.”
Boy · Arabic · “This Arabic name refers to a type of tree and carries the additional meaning of giving.”
Boy · English · “Source of life.”
Boy · African · “A popular Nigerian name of African origin that simply and beautifully means happiness.”
Unisex · Hebrew & Biblical · “Strong, comfort”
- Balबाल
Boy · Indian · “An Indian name typically used for a male child, literally meaning baby. It specifically refers to a young child with a full head of hair.”
- Bamबम
Boy · Nepali · “A sharp or pungent sound”
Boy · Hungarian · “Derived from an ancient word meaning official or noble.”
Boy · Vietnamese · “To order, to bid.”
Unisex · Vietnamese · “Refers to a storm or a powerful, turbulent wind.”
Boy · English · “Short for bartholomew; diminutive of bartholomew: ploughman. son of talmai (talmai is a variant of tolmai, meaning abounding in furrows.) famous bearer: st bartholomew was an apostle of jesus christ”
Unisex · English · “Born on a saturday; variant of bayard auburn-haired”
Unisex · Indian · “A Persian loanword used in Indian contexts meaning 'falcon'; associated with speed, vision, and hunting prowess.”
Boy · Arabic · “An Arabic masculine name associated with Egyptian mythology, specifically identifying the bearer as the firstborn son of the god Osiris.”
Boy · International · “Chieftain or lord”
- Belबेल
Unisex · Sanskrit · “Sacred wood; fair. lovely one. sometimes used as an independent name associated with the french word belle, meaning beautiful; diminutive of isabel: devoted to god. a spanish variant of elizabeth; diminutive of annabel: variant of the latin amabel. edgar allan poes poem annahel lee made the form annabel popular through”
Boy · German · “Son of the right hand; bear”
Unisex · Indian · “Means knowledge or insight; an Indian name derived from Sanskrit.”
Boy · Punjabi · “Bik is a shortened form related to 'Bikram,' meaning 'stride' or 'strength.' It is an informal, punchy name used occasionally for boys.”
Boy · International · “Resolute protector”
Unisex · African · “Second born son”
Boy · English · “An English name usually derived from the surname Bingham, referring to a homestead or a hollow.”
- Birபீர்
Boy · Tamil · “A bold name meaning brave or a hero, representing courage and a fearless spirit in the face of challenges.”
Unisex · International · “Short form for Elizabeth or business-related slang”
Boy · English · “An English female name meaning to be a tall child or simply tall. It is a descriptive name relating to stature and physical growth.”
Boy · English · “Abbreviation of robert; famous, bright fame”
Boy · Scandinavian · “Ready or able”
Boy · International · “An international name often used as a short, friendly form of various names.”
Boy · African · “A name of African origin, often found in Sudan, meaning a person of high standing or importance.”
Boy · Vietnamese · “Vietnamese name referring to the number four.”
Boy · Scandinavian · “Father of odin.”
Boy · Irish · “Diminutive of bowen, small son; diminutive of bowen: small son”
Unisex · Indian · “Box is an English surname derived from the box tree, through Old English box from Latin buxus.”
Boy · English · “A surname of English origin derived from the nickname for a boisterous or bold person.”
Boy · African · “Brother or respectful title”
Boy · Indonesian · “An Indonesian term often used as a friendly, informal name, meaning "brother."”
Boy · Catalan · “Means bear; a Catalan name derived from the Latin Brucus.”
Boy · English · “A traditional English nickname for a boy, often meaning "young lad."”
Boy · Albanian · “A name possibly related to a specific local nickname or trait.”
Boy · English · “Messenger, friend; derived from bud, a colloquial term of address used in the united states; short for buddy, meaning friend. common as a nickname, but less common as a first name. american comedian bud abbotts real name was william abbott”
Boy · Hebrew & Biblical · “A Hebrew male name found in ancient contexts that carries the somber meanings of old age or perishing.”
Boy · English · “Means "cloth"; a diminutive of various names or an English occupational surname.”
Boy · Hebrew & Biblical · “A masculine Hebrew name meaning despised or plundered. In the Bible, Buz was a son of Nahor and a nephew of Abraham.”
Boy · Welsh · “Means battle or spirit; a short form of the Welsh name Cadell.”
Unisex · English · “Full of color; rejoice; a diminutive of cajus, frequently used as an independent name in wales. rejoicer”
Unisex · English · “Short for names beginning with cal; bald; abbreviation of names beginning with cal-”
Boy · Irish · “From the name cameron; crooked or crooked mouth; diminutive of campbell: crooked mouth; and of cameron: bent nose; crooked river”
Boy · English · “Cas means 'Legendary son of Seidi', connecting your child to a storied lineage and the echoes of ancient tales.”
Boy · Scottish · “A Scottish name belonging to a legendary giant. It also carries the meaning of being full of joy and exuberance.”
Boy · Arabic · “Means "master" or "sir"; an Arabic name often used as a term of respect.”
Boy · Turkish · “Ruler or king”
Boy · Hebrew & Biblical · “God will multiply; god will increase; god will add. abbreviation of jose; latin-american revolutionary che guevara”
Unisex · Chinese · “Nigerian word for god; youthful, young at heart”
Unisex · English · “Diminutive of christie: diminutives of any masculine or feminine name begining with christ-, for example christahel, christian, or christopher; hard difficult straw for age”
Boy · International · “Lame or crippled”
Boy · Irish · “Young child.”
Boy · Irish · “High, mighty; diminutive of conrad: brave adviser; mythical son of lir: wise; high; mighty”
Boy · Dutch · “Heart”
Boy · English · “Woods.”
Boy · French · “A modern name derived from the French word for cross, representing a sleek style.”
Boy · Scottish · “Name of a king.”
Unisex · Greek · “A public hill; variant abbreviation of sydney, meaning from st. denis”
Unisex · Indian · “Means dog; a short, modern-sounding Indian name that is a phonetic variant of longer Sanskrit names.”
Unisex · Korean · “Greatness.”
Unisex · Scandinavian · “The day; from old norse dagr meaning day”
Unisex · African · “A name of West African origin often meaning a gift from God.”
Unisex · Irish · “The beloved; large; generation; shines. a welsh diminutive of david, meaning beloved or friend”
Unisex · Vietnamese · “Refers to a platform, a tower, or a station.”
Boy · International · “A modern American name, often used as a short form of Dakota, meaning friend.”
Boy · English · “Derived from dallin blind; diminutive of david: beloved or friend, adopted from the hebrew. david was a common name of scottish kings in the middle ages; diminutive of dale: lives in a dale/valley; diminutive of david: beloved or friend, from the hebrew. sixth century st david (or dewi) was patron saint of wales”
Boy · Indian · “Calf, Gentleness, Wife”
Boy · Punjabi · “To give to charity”
- Dao道
Unisex · Chinese · “Path or way”
Boy · Hebrew & Biblical · “Dark; pearl; diminutive of darby: place where deer graze”
Unisex · Indian · “Dau is a Hindi and Braj term meaning 'elder brother,' also used affectionately for Balarama.”
Boy · English · “Beloved (short form of David)”
Unisex · English · “Light and hope.”
Boy · English · “A common English short form or nickname often derived from the name Darren or David.”
Unisex · Hebrew & Biblical · “Diminutive of deborah: bee. deborah was the biblical prophetess who summoned barak to battle against an army of invaders. after the battle she wrote a victory song which is part of the book of judges; divinity”
Boy · Albanian · “Faithful or devoted”
Unisex · English · “Initial d; dark; a diminutive of any name beginning with d, also frequently used as an independent name”
Boy · English · “A short form of delbert”
Boy · Albanian · “An Albanian name meaning "earth" or "ground," symbolizing stability and humility.”
Boy · Japanese · “A Japanese name meaning a bequest from ancestors, representing a legacy or something handed down through generations.”
Boy · German · “A German short form of the name Derek, which means ruler of the people. It carries the sense of a powerful leader.”
Boy · French · “From the south (short form of Desmond)”
- Devदेव
Boy · Indian · “A divine being or a god, representing light, holiness, and the celestial aspects of the universe.”
Boy · International · “Fresh, morning moisture”
Unisex · Indian · “Dib is a form of Dhi'b, an Arabic name meaning "wolf."”
Boy · African · “Of African origin, this name signifies religion, faith, or a strong system of belief.”
Boy · Taiwanese Indigenous · “An indigenous Taiwanese name used in various tribal cultures to represent a small treasure.”
Boy · Indian · “Pleasant, Gentle”
Boy · French · “Ten; variant of dick from richard strong ruler”
Boy · Arabic · “An Arabic name often used as a shortened form of Joseph, meaning "God will increase."”
Boy · English · “A learned person or teacher”
Boy · Albanian · “An Albanian name meaning "a gift," often given to represent a blessing to the family.”
Boy · Spanish · “Belonging to god; diminutive of dominick: lord”
Boy · Irish · “Dark stranger; world leader; a diminutive of donald, meaning world mighty, or donovan, meaning dark brown. frequently used as a name on its own.abbreviation of any name beginning with don-. in mythology the irish donn was known as king of the underworld; diminutive of donato: present; diminutive of donald: great cheif,”
Unisex · Hebrew & Biblical · “A home.”
Unisex · English · “Manly, courageous; variant of drew: wise; variant of andrew manly”
Boy · English · “A nickname used as a formal name, originating from the English word meaning a double or repetition.”
Boy · English · “Diminutive of dudley: from the peoples meadow. from a surname and place name derived from the old english, meaning duddas clearing. famous bearer: actor dudley moore”
Boy · International · “Means two or second; an Italian name derived from the word for the number two.”
- DukДюк
Boy · Slavic · “Means leader or duke; a Slavic name derived from the title for a regional ruler.”
Boy · Scottish · “Diminutive of duncan, brown-skinned soldier”
Boy · African · “A name of African origin, often used in various regions meaning strength.”
Boy · Irish · “God is gracious.”
Boy · English · “Means tide; a traditional English name that serves as a short form of Ebenezer, meaning stone of help.”
Boy · Persian · “My father”
Boy · Arabic · “Son”
Boy · Arabic · “Born on tuesday; ghanian name given to a child born on tuesday”
Boy · German · “A German pet form for names beginning with Eber, such as Eberhard, meaning brave boar.”
Boy · Dutch · “Means "the earth"; a Dutch name derived from the Greek root for nature and soil.”
Boy · Slavic · “Rich or wealthy guardian”
Boy · Hungarian · “Rich or wealthy”
Common questions
Want a name that blends both parents? Try the Baby Name Combiner.
Following Hindu naming traditions? Browse baby names by rashi & nakshatra, names by meaning, names by origin or names by numerology number.
Curious how names break down by origin, first letter and length? See our baby name statistics (free CSV download) and the most popular names this year.
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