Beau Boy

Popularity: #68 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: BOH //boʊ//

Origin: French; English

Meaning: French: handsome; English: beautiful

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Beau originates from the Old French word "beau," meaning "handsome" or "beautiful." This term can be traced back to the Latin word "bellus," which also conveys the idea of beauty or attractiveness. The transition from Latin to Old French occurred during the medieval period, particularly following the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, which introduced many French words into the English language.

As a result, the name Beau entered English usage, primarily as a descriptive term rather than a personal name initially. Historically, the name Beau has been associated with various cultural and literary figures.

In the 18th century, it became more common as a given name, particularly in England and America, often used to denote a charming or attractive young man. The term was popularized in literature, where characters described as "beau" often embodied the ideals of gallantry and elegance.

The name's usage can be seen in works from this period, reflecting the social values of the time, where appearance and charm were highly regarded. Culturally, the name Beau has resonated with notions of nobility and grace, often linked to the idea of a gentleman or a dandy.

This association has allowed the name to endure through generations, maintaining its appeal as a symbol of aesthetic and social refinement. Additionally, the diminutive form "Bea" has occasionally been used, although it is less common.

Overall, the name Beau encapsulates a rich linguistic heritage and cultural significance that has evolved over centuries.

Famous people named Beau

In this section, you will find notable people named Beau. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Beau who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Beau who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Beau Bridges is an actor best known for The Fabulous Baker Boys, The Descendants, and The Landlord.

Beau Mirchoff is an actor best known for Awkward, The Night Shift, and The Last Summer.

Fictional characters named Beau

The following list of fictional characters named Beau is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Beau is a fictional character from the video game series Fire Emblem. He is a charming and skilled archer who plays a significant role in the story of Fire Emblem: Three Houses.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Beau, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Beau. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Beau was first seen in the United States in 1932.

Beau has ranked as high as #108 nationally, which occurred in 2024, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Ohio, Florida, and Louisiana.

In the past 5 years the name Beau has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Beau is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Beau was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Beau (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.

State Births Share
TX 374
8%
CA 334
7%
OH 209
5%
PA 206
5%
FL 194
4%
MI 166
4%
IL 158
4%
GA 157
4%
NC 154
3%
MO 151
3%
TN 140
3%
WI 139
3%
IN 135
3%
MN 126
3%
NY 118
3%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Beau.

YearBirths
20244,694
20234,098
20223,955
20213,815
20203,344
20192,932
20182,597
20172,511
20162,124
20151,980
20141,634
20131,300
20121,069
2011852
2010766
2009751
2008749
2007691
2006624
2005645
2004649
2003612
2002452
2001453
2000507
1999469
1998498
1997469
1996528
1995520
1994587
1993535
1992585
1991693
1990732
1989574
1988594
1987514
1986664
1985661
1984698
1983558
1982677
19811,027
19801,207
1979666
1978478
1977489
1976373
1975251
1974207
1973186
1972155
1971175
1970167
196989
196853
196756
196652
196547
196441
196336
196244
196139
196015
195922
195815
19568
195520
19546
195320
195213
19519
195010
19495
19486
19476
194610
19455
19446
19435
19425
194112
19408
19325