Beau

♂ Boy

Pronounced BOH /boʊ/High

Meaning: Handsome; beautiful — from French beau (beautiful, fine)High

In 30 seconds: A dashing French name simply meaning 'beautiful' or 'handsome.' Once a nickname for a dapper man-about-town, Beau has become a confident standalone first name in the American South and beyond.

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Origin HighFrench

MeaningHandsome; beautiful — from French beau (beautiful, fine)

U.S. rank (2025)#60 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births5,165 boys (0.30% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2025

Total births (all-time)≈ 65,574

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Beau is a French adjective and noun meaning 'handsome' or 'beautiful,' used in English as a term for a fashionable male admirer since the 17th century. It was popularized as a nickname before becoming a given name.

Beau has been used as a given name in the American South for generations. It entered the U.S. top 200 boys' names in the late 20th century and continues to climb.

Did you know? 'Beau Brummell' — George Bryan Brummell (1778–1840) — was a Regency-era arbiter of men's fashion whose nickname perfectly matched his given name's meaning.

Variations

BoBeaumont

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Beau Bridges (1941–)
American actor and member of the Bridges acting dynasty.

If you like Beau…

Ace— one-syllable concept name with the same breezy American confidence

Brett— shares Beau's French roots

Blaise— another French name

Brice— shares Beau's French roots

Bleu— another French name

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Beau mean?

Beau is a French word and name meaning 'handsome' or 'beautiful.'

How do you pronounce Beau?

It is said BOH /boʊ/ — one syllable.

Is Beau a boy or girl name?

Beau is used almost exclusively as a boy's name.

How popular is Beau?

Beau has been climbing the U.S. charts and now ranks in the top 200 boys' names.