Bosco

♂ Boy

Pronounced BOSS-koh /ˈbɔs.koʊ/High

Meaning: From Italian bosco, 'wood, forest' — famous as St. John Bosco, patron of youthHigh

In 30 seconds: The forest that raised a saint: Bosco — Italian 'woods' — is Don Bosco, the magician-priest who built schools for street kids. Leafy and large-hearted.

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Origin HighItalian, Latin

MeaningFrom Italian bosco, 'wood, forest' — famous as St. John Bosco, patron of youth

U.S. rank (2024)#3791 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births29 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2022

Total births (all-time)≈ 394

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

History & Origin

Bosco comes from Italian bosco, 'wood, forest' — the surname of St. John Bosco (1815-1888), founder of the Salesians and patron of youth. Schools worldwide bear it.

In the U.S. it appears in Catholic and Italian-heritage families. Rare, woodland at the root, and kindly.

Did you know? Don Bosco juggled and walked tightropes to draw Turin's street boys to lessons — the patron saint of editors, apprentices, and stage magicians.

Overall data confidence 82%

References — St. John Bosco — saint background

Variations

BoschettoBosko

Nicknames

Famous Bearers

★John Bosco (1815–1888)
Italian priest and educator, patron saint of youth.

If you like Bosco…

Bruno— a fellow warm Italian classic

Rocco— the companion saint-name

Enzo— another sturdy Italian -o

Forrest— the English 'woods' twin

Browse the whole category: All Italian names → · All Latin names → · All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Bosco mean?

Bosco is Italian for 'wood, forest' — famous from St. John Bosco.

How do you pronounce Bosco?

It's said BOSS-koh /ˈbɔs.koʊ/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Bosco a boy or girl name?

Bosco is a boy's name.

How popular is Bosco?

Bosco is a rare name in the U.S.