Beau
Beau is a boy's name of French origin.
Meaning
Handsome, beautiful.
Origin and history
Beau is a masculine given name derived from the French word for handsome or beautiful. Historically used as a nickname or secondary name, it gained substantial standing as an independent given name in the United States during the late 20th century. Recent Social Security data shows a significant rise in popularity, placing it among the top 100 names for boys in the 2020s.
Popularity in the United States
65,592 babies in the United States have been named Beau since 1880. It ranks #426 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #80.
States where it is most popular
- CA (9.1 %)
- TX (8.7 %)
- OH (4.4 %)
- FL (4.2 %)
- LA (3.7 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 5 |
| 1940-1950 | 68 |
| 1950-1960 | 123 |
| 1960-1970 | 472 |
| 1970-1980 | 3,145 |
| 1980-1990 | 7,174 |
| 1990-2000 | 5,617 |
| 2000-2010 | 6,134 |
| 2010-2019 | 17,768 |
| 2020-2029 | 25,086 |
Famous people named Beau
- Beau Bridges: Actor, Director
- Beau Biden: Politician, Attorney General
Fun facts
- The name gained initial cultural exposure in English-speaking nations through literary characters such as Beau Geste in the 1914 novel by P. C. Wren.
- While historically steady in usage, Beau entered the U.S. top 100 list for baby boys during the 2020–2025 period.