4-Letter names have certainly stood the test of time. While no modern baby list is complete without a Noah or a Liam, quippy, short names have actually been all the rage for the past century.
Since 1922, thirteen 4-letter names have popped up on the top 100 popular names according to American statistics. The most common boy names have included:
- John at number 3,
- Mark at number 15,
- Paul at 18,
- Ryan at 30,
- Gary at 32,
- Eric at 34,
- Jack at 48,
- Jose at 53,
- Kyle at 60,
- Noah at 63,
- Sean at 71,
- Carl at 73,
- Alan at 87,
- Juan at 88.
The 2010’s have also favored strong 4-letter names for boys although most of the actual names have changed.
- Noah (1)
- Liam (2)
- John (26)
- Luke (32)
- Ryan (35)
- Jack (40)
- Levi (45)
- Evan (60)
- Jose (69)
- Adam (77)
- Jace (88)
- Luis (99)
Read more: 144 4-Letter Girl Names That Are Cute, Cool And Classy
Table of Contents
Most Time-Tested 4-Letter Names For Boys
Noah, John, Ryan, Jack, and Jose have been popular American 4-letter names for both the past decade and the past century, so we’ll give a special deep dive into their meanings and history.
Noah.
The name Noah carries a modern charm and a deep Biblical history. Noah has Hebrew origins, meaning rest or repose. Of course, the name also carries a heavy religious significance, as Noah was chosen by God to survive the great flood.
Ryan.
This popular name never seemed out of style. It means “little king” through Irish origins which is the perfect meaning to bestow on your little one.
John.
John is not only a popular name, it carries a strength that rolls off the tongue. The name means “God is gracious” through Hebrew origins, and it will continue to be a beloved name all over the world with variations like: Evan, Juan, Ian, Sean, Giovanni, Ivan, Johan, and Gianni.
Jack.
Speaking of John’s popularity, Jack is actually a UK-based variation of that name.
Jose.
Jose is the Spanish form of Joseph which means “He will increase” through Hewbrew and Biblical origins.
More 4-Letter Names For Boys
A
- Abel
- Adam
- Adan
- Aden
- Alan
- Aldo
- Alec
- Alex
- Amir
- Amos
- Andy
- Ares
- Arlo
- Aron
- Axel
- Ayan
B
- Beau
- Bill
C
- Cade
- Cain
- Carl
- Case
- Cash
- Chad
- Clay
- Cody
- Coen
- Cole
- Colt
- Cory
- Crew
- Cruz
D
- Dane
- Dash
- Dave
- Dean
- Drew
- Duke
E
- Eden
- Elio
- Eloi
- Enzo
- Eric
- Erik
- Evan
- Ezra
F
- Finn
- Ford
G
- Gael
- Gage
- Gary
- Gray
- Grey
H
- Hank
- Hugh
- Hugo
I
- Iker
- Ivan
J
- Jace
- Jack
- Jake
- Jase
- Jaxx
- Jett
- Joel
- Joey
- John
- Jose
- Juan
- Jude
K
- Kace
- Kade
- Kane
- Kase
- Kash
- Kian
- King
- Knox
- Kobe
- Koda
- Kody
- Kole
- Kyle
- Kyng
L
- Lane
- Leif
- Leon
- Levi
- Liam
- Loic
- Loik
- Luca
- Luis
- Luka
- Luke
- Lyam
- Lyle
M
- Mack
- Marc
- Mark
- Mike
- Milo
- Musa
N
- Nash
- Neil
- Nico
- Niko
- Noah
- Noel
- Nova
O
- Odin
- Omar
- Otis
- Otto
- Owen
P
- Paul
R
- Raul
- Reed
- Reid
- Remy
- Rene
- Rhys
- Rory
- Rudy
- Ryan
S
- Sage
- Saul
- Sean
- Seth
T
- Tate
- Theo
- Toby
- Tony
- Trey
- Troy
W
- Wade
- Will
Z
- Zack
- Zaid
- Zain
- Zane
- Zayd
- Zayn
- Zeke
- Zion
