Home › Baby Names Directory › Becket

Becket

♂ Boy

Becket Pronunciation

Becket is pronounced BEK-it /ˈbɛk.ɪt/High

Meaning: From an English surname meaning 'little brook' (from bec, 'stream') or 'little beak'; immortalized by Thomas Becket, archbishop and martyrMedium

In 30 seconds: One t and eight centuries of drama: Becket is the surname of Thomas Becket, the archbishop murdered in his own cathedral — etymologically just a 'little brook' that history made an ocean.

💕 Browse more names

Origin MediumEnglish

MeaningFrom an English surname meaning 'little brook' (from bec, 'stream') or 'little beak'; immortalized by Thomas Becket, archbishop and martyr

U.S. rank (2024)#3325 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births35 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2016

Total births (all-time)≈ 559

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

History & Origin

Becket is an English surname from Old French bec — 'little brook' or, as a nickname, 'little beak' — that Thomas Becket fixed in history when his defiance of Henry II ended in martyrdom at Canterbury in 1170, making his shrine medieval England's great pilgrimage (Chaucer's pilgrims were headed there). The single-t spelling points straight at the saint; double-t Beckett honors the playwright.

As a first name it rides the surname wave with unusual depth behind it. American use is rare, split between the two spellings and their two famous ghosts.

Did you know? Four knights took Henry II's exasperated outburst — 'Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?' — literally, and Canterbury Cathedral's most famous murder made Becket a saint within three years.

Overall data confidence 78%

Dictionary of American Family Names — Beckett — surname origin, debated

Variations

BeckettBecketts

Nicknames

Beck

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Becket…

Beckett— the double-t playwright spelling of the same name

Beckham— the fellow Beck- surname with sports gloss

Canon— a church-history word name in the same key

Crosby— another crisp two-syllable surname pick

→ See all names like Becket

Browse the whole category: All English names → · All origins →

Frequently Asked

How do you pronounce Becket?

Becket is pronounced BEK-it (/ˈbɛk.ɪt/). Press play above to hear Becket said aloud.

How do you say Becket?

Becket is said BEK-it (/ˈbɛk.ɪt/). Press play above to hear Becket said aloud.

What does the name Becket mean?

Becket comes from an English surname meaning 'little brook' or 'little beak', famous through Thomas Becket of Canterbury.

Is Becket a boy or girl name?

Becket is a boy's name.

How popular is Becket?

Becket is a rare spelling in the U.S.; Beckett is the popular form.