I love short boy names that are three to four letters long. As a matter of fact, I had the baby names Finn and Cam as top contenders when narrowing down a boy’s name for my son. And I’m not alone, other parents are loving short “minimalist” names for babies, too. So, if you love a short name for a baby boy, then you’ve come to the right place—especially if you want to use the shorter version of a namesake, like Oli for Oliver. Not only are short names sweet and simple, but sometimes, it’s easier to give a baby a nickname to begin with, like Wes, Nate, or Gus, and forgo the longer versions.
I’d define a short name to be comprised of three or four letters. Often, short names are also one-syllable boy names. Here, I’ve listed 110 short boy names for the cutest little boy in your life, with some of their meanings to give you some baby name inspo. These names are absolutely precious for babies, and they transition well into adulthood, too—even more of a reason to fall in love with them!
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Short boy names with meanings
Andy
This sweet boy’s name is a strong one for a little one, and it’s perfect if you’re paying tribute to someone in the family with the name Andrew, Andreas, or Alexander. Andy means “strong,” “manly,” and “brave.”
Arlo
If you’re looking for a short vintage name, Arlo is a great one for a little boy. The name Arlo means “rock hill” or “strong hill.”
Cal
This modern boy name is bringing in all the cool boy vibes. It means “devotion” and is oftentimes short for the names Callahan, Calvin, Caleb, and Callum.
Cam
A gender-neutral name that’s adorable for either a boy or a girl. This short boy’s name has multiple meanings, like “bent river,” “orange,” and even “crooked nose.” No matter the meaning, it’s undeniable that it’s a cute one, for sure. Cam is usually short for names like Camden, Cameron, and Campbell.
Cash
This famous moniker is often associated with the famous singer Johnny Cash. Cash is of Latin origin and means “maker of chests” and “wealthy man.”
Crew
Are you adding a new member to the crew this year? Then it’s fitting to add the name Crew to round out your family. It means a “team” or “a group of people.”
Dax
Dax is of French origin and means “leader.” If he’s the first child in the family, this name is a sweet one!
Enzo
Name your little king of the house “Enzo” because this kingly name means “home ruler.”
Flyn
If you’re looking for a cool surname as a first name, then Flyn might be in the running on your baby names list. It means “descendant of Flann.”
Gus
For the greatest little boy coming into your life, Gus is a cute one to consider. It’s of Latin origin and means “great,” “esteemed,” and “majestic.” This short name is usually derived from names like Augustus, Augustine, and Gustave.
Hays
Hays is an adorable Irish name and means “son of Hay.”
Jack
Jack is a well-loved name. In fact, it’s made the top 100 boy names since 1996 and has ranked in the top 20 boy names since 2019. Jack means “God is gracious.”
Jay
If you’re looking for a joyful name for a boy, then look no further than the name Jay. This short boy’s name means “to rejoice.”
Jude
Jude means “praised,” and if you’re a fan of the iconic pop-rock band, The Beatles, then name your baby boy Jude. The song “Hey Jude” can be sung as a sweet lullaby!
Leo
Are you wanting a name that exudes strength and courage? Leo means exactly that, and if you’re into zodiac signs, it’s the perfect name if you’re due anytime between July 23 and August 22.
Luca
Luca is a charming Italian name that means “illumination” and “bringer of light.” He’ll be the ‘light of your life’ with a name like Luca!
Mac
This short and sweet name literally means “son of.” How cute is this name if you’re welcoming the first boy into the family?
Nash
Nash is a precious baby boy name and means “by the ash tree.” Besides it being a precious name for a little one, consider the name Nash if you’re expecting a boy in the springtime—when ash trees bloom.
Noah
The baby name Noah has reigned supreme as one of the top two boy names since 2013. Obviously, you can’t go wrong if you choose the name Noah for your baby boy. Noah means “rest” and “comfort.”
Oli
Usually short for the name Oliver, Oli means “olive tree.” How adorable is this name if you’re extending the branches of your family?
Otto
The name Otto is of German origin and is tied to kings and emperors, like Otto the Great of the Holy Roman Empire. Otto means “wealth” and “prosperity.”
Pax
Pax is a gender-neutral name and means “peace” and “stability.” It’s a darling name!
Rhys
For the bibliophiles who love fantasy books like the ACOTAR series, you may want to name a baby after a treasured book character, like Rhys. This name means “enthusiasm” or “passion.”
Ross
This simple name is of Scottish origin and means “headland.”
Shea/Shay
The Irish name Shea can be used for a boy or girl and has a strong, nature-inspired meaning: “hawk-like” and “admirable.”
Von
Consider your little one noble with a name like Von. It’s most commonly associated with a title of nobility and means “son of.”
Wes
Do you like the name Wesley but want to shorten it even more? Pick the name Wes, which means “west meadow” or “west town.” It’s also short for the beloved names Weston and Wesley.
More short names for boys
- Ace
- Alex
- Ali
- Amos
- Ari
- Asa
- Bear
- Beau
- Ben
- Boyd
- Cade
- Case
- Cole
- Colm
- Dan
- Dane
- Dean
- Drew
- Eli
- Eric
- Finn
- Ford
- Fox
- Gage
- Gene
- Gino
- Gray
- Guy
- Hal
- Hugh
- Ian
- Ira
- Jax
- Jett
- Jo/Joe
- Joel
- Jon
- Jose
- Juan
- Kai
- Kent
- Koa
- Kyle
- Lee
- Leon
- Levi
- Liam
- Luis
- Luke
- Mark
- Matt
- Milo
- Nate
- Nick
- Nico
- Noel
- Obi
- Owen
- Paul
- Ray
- Reed/Reid
- Rex
- Rey
- Rio
- Roe
- Rory
- Ryan
- Sam
- Sean
- Teo
- Thad
- Theo
- Todd
- Trey
- Troy
- Tru
- Van
- Wade
- Walt
- Will
- Zane
- Zev
- Zion
Patty Schepel, Editorial Assistant
As the editorial assistant, Patty works with The Everymom’s team on pitches, creating original articles, updating existing content, photo sourcing, writing shopping product descriptions, inputting freelance articles, and more. With Patty’s passion for writing, experience as a mother of two, and expertise as a pediatric nurse, she brings a thoughtful and informative perspective to The Everymom.
