Bijou

♀ Girl

Pronounced bee-ZHOO /biˈʒuː/High

Meaning: From the French word bijou, 'jewel' - itself borrowed from Breton bizou, 'ring,' from biz, 'finger.' In English bijou also came to describe something small and exquisite.Medium

In 30 seconds: A jewel of a word-name: Bijou is French for 'jewel' (said 'bee-ZHOO'). Small, bright, and chic.

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Origin MediumFrench

MeaningFrom the French word bijou, 'jewel' - itself borrowed from Breton bizou, 'ring,' from biz, 'finger.' In English bijou also came to describe something small and exquisite.

U.S. rank (2024)#15627 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2010

Total births (all-time)≈ 292

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

Bijou is the ordinary French word for a jewel, and its own history is charming: French took it from Breton bizou, 'ring,' built on biz, 'finger.' English adopted bijou as an adjective for something small and beautifully finished, from a bijou cottage to a bijou theatre. As a given name it is chic, brief and unmistakable (said 'bee-ZHOO').

In the U.S. it appears only in very small numbers. Rare, chic, and word-name bright.

Did you know? French borrowed bijou from Breton bizou, a word for a finger-ring - and English later used bijou to describe anything small and exquisitely made.

Overall data confidence 55%

References - Bijou — French bijou 'jewel', from Breton bizou 'ring'

Variations

BijouxBijoueBijo

Nicknames

BeeJou

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

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By themeword-name french jewel chic

By meaningJewel / Gem

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Bijou mean?

Bijou is the French word for 'jewel,' borrowed from Breton bizou ('ring'); in English it also means small and exquisite.

How do you pronounce Bijou?

It's said bee-ZHOO /biˈʒuː/ - two syllables, stress on the last.

Is Bijou a boy or girl name?

Bijou is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Bijou?

Bijou is extremely rare in the U.S.