Home › Baby Names Directory › Beckett

Beckett

♂ Boy

Pronounced BEK-it /ˈbɛk.ɪt/High

Meaning: Beehive or bee cottage; from Old English beo-cotMedium

In 30 seconds: An aristocratic English surname meaning 'beehive cottage,' associated with playwright Samuel Beckett and martyr Thomas Becket. A rising literary first name with strong, crisp sounds.
💕 Browse more names
Origin MediumOld English
MeaningBeehive or bee cottage; from Old English beo-cot
Peak year2016
Total births (all-time)≈ 13,427

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201619922017

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Beckett is an English surname of uncertain but likely Old English origin, possibly from beo-cot ('bee cottage') or from a Middle English diminutive of bec ('stream'). The surname was made famous by Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, and in the 20th century by Irish-French playwright Samuel Beckett, author of Waiting for Godot.

Beckett as a first name has risen sharply in the United States in the 21st century as part of the broader trend for literary English surnames. It pairs strong consonant sounds with an intellectual pedigree. It entered the U.S. top 200 boys' names in the 2010s and continues to climb.

Did you know? Thomas Becket (1118–1170), Archbishop of Canterbury who was murdered on the orders of King Henry II, bore one of the most famous versions of this surname in history.

Variations

BecketBeck

Nicknames

BeckBex

Famous Bearers

  • ★Samuel Beckett (1906–1989)
    Irish-French playwright and Nobel laureate, author of <em>Waiting for Godot</em>.

If you like Beckett…

Barrett— another sophisticated English surname turned first name
Maddox— similarly punchy surname-first-name with a literary link
Bentley— English surname with an aristocratic feel
Tucker— old English occupational surname in the same style

Frequently Asked

What does the name Beckett mean?

Beckett is an English surname likely meaning 'bee cottage' or 'bee enclosure' from Old English, though the exact origin is debated.

How do you pronounce Beckett?

Beckett is pronounced BEK-it (/ˈbɛk.ɪt/) — two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Beckett a boy or girl name?

Beckett is used predominantly as a boy's name.

How popular is Beckett?

Beckett entered the U.S. top 200 boys' names in the 2010s and has been rising steadily since.