Nickname help!
We want to name our baby Penelope but we can’t decide on a nickname? Help!
Three-letter baby girl names may be short, but that doesn’t mean they don’t pack a punch.
Whether you’re looking for something sweet, rare, or badass, we’re sure you can get the job done in just three letters.
Here are our favorites.
In this article: 📝
- What are some 3 letter names for a girl?
- What is a three letter name of a goddess?
- What are some rare girl names?
- What is a legendary girl’s name?
- What’s a badass name for a girl?
What are some 3 letter names for a girl?
Having fewer letters does not mean skimping on beauty or depth.
Check out these popular three-letter girl names that have stood the test of time.
- Ava. The most popular of all three-letter girl names, Ava either comes from the Germanic word ‘aval,’ meaning ‘guarantee,’ or from the Latin word ‘avis’ which means ‘bird’ or ‘birdlike.’
- Mia. Another super popular name for baby girls — number eight in the US in 2020 — Mia means ‘mine’ in Italian.
- Zoe. This Greek origin name simply means ‘life’.
- Eva. Of Hebrew origin, this adorable name also means ‘life.’
- Ivy. Just like the vine plant, the name is growing in popularity in the US.
- Mya. More commonly spelled ‘Maya,’ this Greek origin name means ‘good mother.’
- Amy. This French name means ‘beloved.’
- Lia or Lea. This super cute name means ‘delicate,’ ‘weary,’ ‘meadow’ or ‘pasture.’
- Mae. This name derives from the Roman goddess Maia, the daughter of the Titan Atlas. Mae also means ‘mother’ in Portuguese.
- Eve. Not only the early night, this name also means ‘life’ or ‘living’ in Latin.
- Bea. It means ‘blessed,’ and is often a nickname for Beatrice or Beatrix.
- Gia. An Italian name meaning ‘God is gracious.’
- Liv. An Old Nordic name which means ‘shelter’ or ‘protection,’ it can be an adorable nickname for Olivia or stand on its own.
- Isa. This Hebrew name means ‘salvation of god.’ It can also be a nickname for Isabel or Isadora.
- Fay. A French origin name meaning ‘fairy’ or ‘elf.’
- Una. This Irish name means ‘lamb.’
- Ann. This name never goes out of style, and means ‘favor’ or ‘grace’ in Latin.
- Dot. Originally a nickname for Dorothy, this name also works on its own. Dorothy means ‘gift of god.’
- Meg. A short version of the name Margaret, Meg has Greek origins and means ‘pearl.’
- Cat or Kat. It means ‘pure’ in Latin and is a sweet derivative of the name Catherine.
- Jem. Meaning ‘supplant,’ or ‘replace.’
- Gem. A precious stone or jewel.
- Imi. Of Greenlandic origin, it means ‘water.’ It’s also a nickname for Imogen.
- Ema. An alternative spelling of Emma, it means ‘whole’ or ‘universal’ in old German.
What is a three letter name of a goddess?
After something with a heavenly ring to it?
These 3 letter girl names are also names of goddesses from different cultures around the world.
- Ada. Babylonian goddess of fertility and war. This Germanic origin name also means ‘nobility’ and belonged to mathematician and computer pioneer Ada Lovelace.
- Aja. Yoruba goddess of forests and animals.
- Ama. Japanese goddess of the sea and fishermen.
- Ana. Celtic goddess of fertility and prosperity. This alternative to ‘Anna’ is also the more common way to spell the name in some European countries. It means ‘grace’ in Latin.
- Ash. Sumerian goddess of grain and harvest.
- Eir. Norse goddess of healing and medicine.
- Dia. Basque goddess of the sun.
- Dru. Celtic goddess associated with oak trees.
- Eos. Greek goddess of dawn.
- Gae. Greek goddess of the earth.
- Hec. Greek goddess of magic and witchcraft.
- Ida. Greek mountain goddess. Ida’s ancient Germanic roots mean ‘industrious’ or ‘prosperous.’
- Lua. Roman goddess of destruction and dissolving.
- May. Roman goddess of spring and growth. Also perfect for a baby girl born in May.
- Nan. Chinese goddess of the sea and protector of sailors.
- Nut. Egyptian goddess of the sky and heavens.
- Oya. Yoruba goddess of winds, lightning, and storms.
- Rhi. Welsh goddess associated with horses and fertility.
- Sif. Norse goddess associated with earth and fertility.
What are some rare girl names?
Looking for unique three-letter girl names?
While the letters are limited, the options certainly aren’t. Let’s dive in.
- Ani. A Slavic origin name which means ‘very beautiful.’
- Aya. Another name with more than one meaning, Aya is ‘colorful’ or ‘beautiful’ in Japanese and ‘wonderful’ or ‘miracle’ from its Arabic roots.
- Blu. A shorter version of Blue.
- Chi. Meaning ‘smart’ in Chinese.
- Ife. This adorable West African name means ‘lover of art and culture’ — perfect for the more discerning peanut.
- Joy. For the happiest baby in the world.
- Kai. A gender-neutral Hawaiian name meaning ‘sea’.
- Koa. Meaning ‘brave’ in Hawaiian.
- Noa. There are two meanings for this little name. In Hebrew, it comes from the word for ‘rest’, while in Japanese, it means ‘my love.’ Although this name is growing in popularity, Noas are still pretty rare.
- Rae or Rey. A diminutive of the Hebrew name, Rachel, it has become more popular since Rey from Star Wars hit our screens in 2015.
- Rei. Meaning ‘lovely’ in Japanese.
- Ren. A Japanese origin name that means ‘lotus.’
- Ria. Meaning ‘river’ in Spanish.
- Rio. A Spanish origin name which means ‘river,’ this gender-neutral name is still quite rare as a girl’s name.
- Rue. From Greek origins, Rue means ‘herb’ or ‘regret.’
- Sky. This super cute modern name will ensure your little one is always on the up and up.
- Uma. The name of a Hindu goddess, Uma is also Sanskrit for ‘tranquility.’
- Zia. Meaning ‘light’ in Arabic.
What is a legendary girl’s name?
If you want to draw inspiration from ancient legends and their warriors, there are some names with three letters that do just that.
- Ino. A lesser-known queen in Greek mythology, Ino was called ‘Queen of the Sea.’
- Nyx. In Greek mythology, Nyx was the powerful goddess of the night.
- Ola. Meaning ‘ancestor’s relic’ in Scandinavian.
- Pia. A Latin name which means ‘pious’ or ‘honorable,’ Pia also refers to someone ‘from Mount Olympus.’ Yep, that means your little peanut can be any Greek god they want to be.
- Sia. An ancient Egyptian god of wisdom and knowledge, Sia also means ‘victory’ in Old Norse.
What’s a badass name for a girl?
Three-letter female names can be pretty badass, too.
Here are some high-powered options.
- Lux. A gender-neutral name which means ‘light’ in Latin, the name Lux just oozes cool.
- Nia. This name has multiple meanings depending on the origin. In Swahili, it means ‘lustrous’ or ‘purpose’ and in Welsh, it means ‘bright’ — now that’s a pretty badass mix.
- Lou. It doesn’t get more power-packed than this. From its German origins, Lou means ‘famed warrior.’
- Ari. This Hebrew name means ‘lion.’
- Ara. Looking for something simultaneously badass and sweet? Ara derives from the Sanskrit word for ‘flames,’ but in Korean, means ‘elegant and beautiful.’
- Max. This name, which can be short for Maxine, means ‘the greatest’ in Latin.
- Aza. A gender-neutral name, Aza means ‘triumph’ or ‘victory’.
And there you have it: three-letter girl names to suit every baby girl and their unique personality.
Fancy something a little longer?
How about these 4-letter girl names or even other one-syllable girl names?