According to tradition dating back to medieval times, their names were Balthasar, Gaspar (or Casper), and Melchior. They are often depicted as representing the three races. The Bible says they came from the East, but exactly where is not known. Arabia, Babylon, and Persia are popular choices. According to one tradition, Balthasar was king of Arabia, Gaspar was king of India, and Melchior was king of Persia. Reference Link: http://www.royalty.nu/history/religion/Magi.html

The Myth says that the names of the three wise men are: Balthazar, Gasper and or Casper, and Melchior

Alex, Brian and Dave i think :)

No, I think it was Larry, Moe, and Curly Joe

Since no one even knows how many there were, no one knows their names either. There is no mention of their number or names in the Bible and they were not called wise men there but astrologers, star gazers, sorcerers.

Larry,Mo and Curly.

Marx, Nietzsche and Freud! ;-)

Washington, Lincoln, and Reagan.

Manny. Moe and Jack

Moe, Larry, and Curly.

Back then almost everybody was named Joseph or a derivation thereof. Therefore I'm sure that their names were Joseph Sixpack, Joe t. Plumber, and Joe Biden. :p

Does anyone know the source of the "traditional names"? There must be some text that gives them these names. I know it's not the Bible but there are other apocryphal books that possibly contain them.

The Bible only says the 'magi'(Greek - meaning astrologers, [plural form]) came from the east. - Since the plural form of the noun is used we know that there were at least two,... There is no record in the bible of how many came, nor of what their names were. 'Three' may have been settled upon because the account lists three different gifts, (gold, frankincense and myrrh). - It's also interesting to note that the 'star' that guided the astrologers did not lead them to Jesus UNTIL it had FIRST led them to King Herod. This visit resulted in the slaughter of all the male infants in Bethlehem. By the time they reached him, Jesus was not an infant in a manger, (as nativity scenes depict), but was a "young child" and lived in a house. - Here's the account: (Edited for length and the most relevant portions in CAPS) (Matthew 2:1-5,7,9-11,16) After Jesus had been born in Beth′le‧hem of Ju‧de′a in the days of Herod the king, look! astrologers from eastern parts CAME TO JERUSALEM, 2 saying: “Where is the one born king of the Jews? For we saw his star [when we were] in the east, and we have come to do him obeisance.” 3 At hearing this King Herod ,... began to inquire ,... where the Christ was to be born. 5 They said to him: “In Beth′le‧hem of Ju‧de′a; for this is how it has been written through the prophet, ...7 Then Herod secretly summoned the astrologers and CAREFULLY ASCERTAINED FROM THEM THE TIME OF THE STARS APPEARING ,...9 When they had heard the king, they went their way; AND, LOOK! THE STAR THEY HAD SEEN[when they were] IN THE EAST WENT AHEAD OF THEM, UNTIL IT CAME TO A STOP ABOVE WHERE THE YOUNG CHILD WAS. 10 On seeing the star they rejoiced very much indeed. 11 And when THEY WENT INTO THE HOUSE they saw THE YOUNG CHILD WITH MARY IT'S MOTHER, and, falling down, they did obeisance to it. They also opened their treasures and presented it with gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. ,...16 Then Herod, seeing he had been outwitted by the astrologers, fell into a great rage, and he sent out and had all the boys in Beth′le‧hem and in all its districts done away with, from two years of age and under, according to the time that he had carefully ascertained from the astrologers.