For each even dimension greater than or equal to 8, an infinite family of 3-step nilpotent Lie algebras over ℂ is constructed. In dimension m, the family contains isomorphism classes parameterised locally by approximately m3/48 essential parameters.
One particular case is studied further to get some global information about the variety of all nilpotent Lie algebras of dimension 8. Using the results obtained here, and some known facts, it is shown that there is a component consisting of algebras not having minimal possible central dimensions.