Beau Boy
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 | |
| CA | 334 | |
| OH | 209 | |
| PA | 206 | |
| FL | 194 | |
| MI | 166 | |
| IL | 158 | |
| GA | 157 | |
| NC | 154 | |
| MO | 151 | |
| TN | 140 | |
| WI | 139 | |
| IN | 135 | |
| MN | 126 | |
| NY | 118 |
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.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 4,694 |
| 2023 | 4,098 |
| 2022 | 3,955 |
| 2021 | 3,815 |
| 2020 | 3,344 |
| 2019 | 2,932 |
| 2018 | 2,597 |
| 2017 | 2,511 |
| 2016 | 2,124 |
| 2015 | 1,980 |
| 2014 | 1,634 |
| 2013 | 1,300 |
| 2012 | 1,069 |
| 2011 | 852 |
| 2010 | 766 |
| 2009 | 751 |
| 2008 | 749 |
| 2007 | 691 |
| 2006 | 624 |
| 2005 | 645 |
| 2004 | 649 |
| 2003 | 612 |
| 2002 | 452 |
| 2001 | 453 |
| 2000 | 507 |
| 1999 | 469 |
| 1998 | 498 |
| 1997 | 469 |
| 1996 | 528 |
| 1995 | 520 |
| 1994 | 587 |
| 1993 | 535 |
| 1992 | 585 |
| 1991 | 693 |
| 1990 | 732 |
| 1989 | 574 |
| 1988 | 594 |
| 1987 | 514 |
| 1986 | 664 |
| 1985 | 661 |
| 1984 | 698 |
| 1983 | 558 |
| 1982 | 677 |
| 1981 | 1,027 |
| 1980 | 1,207 |
| 1979 | 666 |
| 1978 | 478 |
| 1977 | 489 |
| 1976 | 373 |
| 1975 | 251 |
| 1974 | 207 |
| 1973 | 186 |
| 1972 | 155 |
| 1971 | 175 |
| 1970 | 167 |
| 1969 | 89 |
| 1968 | 53 |
| 1967 | 56 |
| 1966 | 52 |
| 1965 | 47 |
| 1964 | 41 |
| 1963 | 36 |
| 1962 | 44 |
| 1961 | 39 |
| 1960 | 15 |
| 1959 | 22 |
| 1958 | 15 |
| 1956 | 8 |
| 1955 | 20 |
| 1954 | 6 |
| 1953 | 20 |
| 1952 | 13 |
| 1951 | 9 |
| 1950 | 10 |
| 1949 | 5 |
| 1948 | 6 |
| 1947 | 6 |
| 1946 | 10 |
| 1945 | 5 |
| 1944 | 6 |
| 1943 | 5 |
| 1942 | 5 |
| 1941 | 12 |
| 1940 | 8 |
| 1932 | 5 |