Three-letter names

Every name links to its full page: meaning, origin, and its real popularity curve since 1890.

Amy French · from Amée, "beloved"

Ann Hebrew · variant of Hannah, meaning 'grace, favor' in Hebrew

Eva Hebrew · "life," the Latin form of Eve, from the Hebrew Chava; the spelling most of Europe uses, from Spain to Scandinavia to the Slavic world, and a quiet constant in America for over a century. Two syllables of pure vintage warmth

Joe Hebrew · diminutive of Joseph, meaning 'God will add' in Hebrew

Lee English · means 'meadow, clearing', from Old English leah

Ray Germanic · short form of Raymond, 'wise protector'

Kim Korean · gold (金), the most common Korean surname and a real given name too; also an established standalone English name in its own right (from Kipling's novel, and 1950s-70s stars like Kim Novak); one name, two independent lives

Max Latin · "greatest," from the Latin Maximilian; also short for the Scottish Maxwell, "Maccus's well." A standalone classic for over a century, from Berlin to Brooklyn: one strong syllable that needs no nickname and lands the same in every language

Jay English · short form of J- names, or from the bird

Ken Japanese · a standalone Japanese given name, often written 健, "healthy, strong"; other kanji with the same reading are also used

Sam Hebrew · diminutive of Samuel, traditionally translated 'God has heard'

Ava Latin · traditionally linked to avis, "bird," though its root is debated: medieval Avas may have carried a Germanic name or a form of Eve, "life." Borne by a ninth-century saint and by the first named woman poet in German, and reborn as a sleek modern favorite

Ian Scottish · "Yahweh is gracious," as the Scottish form of John, from the Gaelic Iain; it kept John's whole inheritance in three letters and became a quiet standard from Edinburgh to America. Crisp, mild, and never trendy, which is its own kind of classic

Jim English · pet form of James, traditionally 'supplanter'

Mae English · possibly a form of Mary, or from the month of May; famously borne by Mae Jemison, engineer and physician who became the first Black woman in space

Don Scottish · short for Donald, 'world ruler'

Tom Aramaic · short for Thomas, 'twin'

Ben Hebrew · Hebrew word for 'son'; also short form of Benjamin ('son of the right hand')

Guy French · meaning uncertain, possibly wood or wide

Mia Scandinavian · mine (from Italian and Spanish), or a short form of Maria; became a standalone name in Scandinavia and is now a true crossover, at home from Milan to Mexico City

Dan Hebrew · judge

Jon Hebrew · short form of John/Jonathan, traditionally 'God is gracious' or 'gift of God'

Ana Spanish · Spanish, Portuguese and multi-language form of Anna, ultimately from the Hebrew Hannah family, favor or grace

Kay Greek · diminutive of Katherine, traditionally pure

Rex Latin · means 'king'

Ted Greek · diminutive of Theodore, gift of god

May English · the month of May; also a diminutive of Mary/Margaret

Joy English · joy, happiness; the go-to translation for Filipino families whose daughter carries the native Tagalog name Ligaya ("joy"), and also chosen by Korean American church families for its brightness

Van Dutch · surname element meaning 'of/from', also used as a nickname for Vance or Evan

Rae English · short form of Ray or Rachel, used as an independent name

Fay French · fairy

Iva Slavic · traditionally God is gracious (feminine of Ivan)

Leo Latin · lion

Ina Germanic · modern short form of names ending in -ina

Lou Germanic · traditionally famous warrior (diminutive of Louise)

Tim Greek · honoring God

Lea Hebrew · variant of Leah, traditionally translated as 'weary', though the meaning is debated

Luz Spanish · Spanish for 'light', from the title Maria de la Luz

Asa Hebrew · "physician, healer"

Gus Latin · short form of Augustus, 'exalted, venerable'

Ada Germanic · noble, nobility

Coy English · quiet, shy

Dee English · pet name from the initial 'D', or short for names like Deborah or Diana

Ace Latin · from the playing-card term, ultimately Latin "as" (unit)

Eli Hebrew · ascended, uplifted

Ned English · diminutive of Edward, 'wealthy guardian'

Noe Hebrew · French/Spanish form of Noah, traditionally translated as 'rest' or 'comfort'

Sol Latin · two names in one: a short form of Solomon (Hebrew shalom, "peace") and the word for "sun" in Spanish or Portuguese

Sue Hebrew · lily (short form of Susan); famously borne by Sue Bird

Abe Hebrew · father of many

Ali Arabic · "lofty, sublime" (Arabic root ʿalā, "to be high"); name of the fourth caliph, the central figure of Shia Islam

Hal Germanic · diminutive of Harold or Henry

Ivy English · ivy plant

Kai Hawaiian · "sea" in Hawaiian; also an independent name in Scandinavian, Japanese, and Chinese use, each with its own root and history. One crisp syllable that belongs everywhere, which is the secret of its global rise

Ron Scandinavian · short form of Ronald, 'ruler's counsel'

Tia Spanish · aunt; also short form of names like Tiana

Una Irish · meaning uncertain, possibly lamb; also Latin for one

Zoe Greek · "life," the word Hellenistic Jews chose to render Eve; borne by an early martyr and Byzantine empresses, then rediscovered by the modern world with all its brightness intact. Three letters, two sounds, one of the oldest meanings there is

Ari Hebrew · "lion"; also a short form of Ariel/Arianna

Bud English · American pet name meaning 'friend, brother'

Eve Hebrew · from Hebrew Ḥawwa, 'to breathe' or 'to live'

Mac Scottish · Gaelic prefix meaning 'son of', used as a standalone nickname

Mai Hmong · one of the most common Hmong female given names; often loosely associated with flowers, though precise etymology is debated

Mya Scandinavian · variant of Mia, a pet form of Maria

Cal Latin · short form of Calvin, from Latin 'calvus' meaning 'bald'

Era English · from the English word 'era', a span of time

Ike Hebrew · pet form of Isaac, traditionally 'he will laugh'

Isa Hebrew · short form of Isabel/Isabella, meaning 'God is my oath'

Lia Hmong · a traditional Hmong given name; precise etymology uncertain

Lon Germanic · short form of Alonzo or Alphonso, from Visigothic Adalfuns, noble and ready; familiar from actor Lon Chaney.

Oma Uncertain · of disputed origin: possibly an English pet form of Naomi, Hebrew for pleasantness; other languages claim unrelated meanings.

Ona Uncertain · Disputed origin: possibly the Lithuanian form of Anna, Hebrew, grace, or related to the Irish Oona/Una.

Rey Spanish · king (from Latin rex)

Roy Scottish · anglicized form of the Gaelic Ruadh, 'red', once a nickname for red hair; long associated with French roi, 'king'

Ely Hebrew · variant of Eli, Hebrew for 'ascended' or 'my God'

Ema Samoan · Samoan form of Emma; traditionally linked to whole, universal

Gia Italian · short form of Gianna/Giulia

Ima Uncertain · genuinely disputed: claimed as a Germanic variant of Emma/Irma, the informal Hebrew word for mother, or an American coinage

Jed Hebrew · short form of Jedidiah, "beloved of the Lord"

Lex Greek · short form of Alexander, Greek for 'defender of the people'

Lue Hmong · a traditional Hmong given name; precise etymology uncertain

Ara Armenian · legendary Armenian king Ara the Beautiful of Armenian mythology

Bob Germanic · bright fame (pet form of Robert); famously borne by Bob Dylan and Bob Marley

Eda Germanic · Of disputed origin: a Germanic short form of Edith or a name meaning wealth; also found independently in Turkish.

Ena Irish · variant of Eithne, "kernel, seed"

Von Germanic · from the German nobiliary particle 'von', meaning 'of, from'

Cam Scottish · short form of Cameron, from Scottish Gaelic, 'crooked nose'

Job Hebrew · traditionally 'persecuted' or 'hated', name of the biblical figure known for patient suffering

Liz English · short form of Elizabeth, ultimately Hebrew 'God is my oath'

Lyn Modern American · A clipped standalone form of Lynn or names ending in -lyn (Carolyn, Marilyn); Lynn itself is often traced to Welsh llyn, lake.

Sky English · the sky; nature/vocabulary word, ultimately from Old Norse sky

Ami Japanese · from Japanese 亜美, combining characters for second or Asia and beautiful; other kanji are possible

Edd English · a short form of Edward, Old English ead and weard, wealthy guardian

Ida German · hard-working

Jae Korean · often meaning 'wealth' or 'talent' as a name element

Loy Uncertain · either a short form of Eloy/Eligius, Latin electus, chosen, or a variant of Lloyd, Welsh llwyd, grey; sources are split

Tad Greek · a standalone form of Thaddeus, from Aramaic Thaddai, likely large-hearted or courageous; also a nickname for Theodore

Wes English · short form of Wesley, 'west meadow'

Avi Hebrew · my father; short form of names like Abraham

Gay English · from the English word gay, meaning joyful or carefree, from Old French gai; use as a first name faded after the word's meaning shifted

Kip English · English surname/nickname, traditionally 'pointed hill'; also short form of Christopher

Nan Thai · a common Thai girls' call-name; matches the English Nan exactly in sound and spelling, and is also a northern Thai province and river

Dax French · place name, the French town of Dax

Jax English · modern short form of Jack/Jackson, ultimately from John, traditionally 'God is gracious'

Joi English · variant spelling of Joy, from the English word for happiness

Kye Hawaiian · phonetic variant of Kai, meaning sea

Liv Scandinavian · life (Norwegian, short and strong; actresses Liv Ullmann and Liv Tyler)

Pia Latin · means 'pious' or 'devout'

Ria Latin · short form of Maria or Victoria

Tye English · variant of Ty, short form of Tyler, occupational surname 'tile maker'

Zev Hebrew · wolf

Aja Sanskrit · traditionally "goat, unborn," a name associated with the Hindu deity Brahma

Aya Hebrew · honey buzzard, a bird of prey, from Hebrew אַיָּה

Dov Hebrew · Hebrew for 'bear'

Dru English · short form of Drew/Andrew, Greek for 'manly'

Ean Scottish · variant spelling of Ian/Eoin, "God is gracious"

Jai Sanskrit · "victory"

Kia Hmong · a traditional Hmong given name; precise etymology uncertain

Nia Swahili · purpose, aim (Swahili, from Arabic nīya); one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa, a beloved short virtue name

Noa Hebrew · movement (Hebrew, the biblical daughters' name, distinct from Noah, 'rest'); today one of Spain's best-loved girls' names, a Dutch favorite, and a modern Japanese given name (乃愛, often read 'my love')

All 321 three letter names, A to Z

Three-letter names

All 321 three letter names, A to Z

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