Bo
Bo is a boy's name of Norse origin.
Meaning
To live, to dwell, or householder.
Origin and history
Bo originated from the Old Norse name Búi, meaning 'to live' or 'dweller'. In modern English-speaking countries, it is used both as an independent given name and as a diminutive for names like Robert, Beau, or Bodhi. It has seen a steady rise in popularity in the United States in recent years.
Popularity in the United States
14,984 babies in the United States have been named Bo since 1880. It ranks #971 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #479.
States where it is most popular
- TX (10 %)
- CA (8.1 %)
- OH (6.2 %)
- TN (4.5 %)
- GA (3.7 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 5 |
| 1910-1920 | 23 |
| 1920-1930 | 42 |
| 1930-1940 | 24 |
| 1940-1950 | 51 |
| 1950-1960 | 140 |
| 1960-1970 | 258 |
| 1970-1980 | 566 |
| 1980-1990 | 1,868 |
| 1990-2000 | 2,135 |
| 2000-2010 | 2,222 |
| 2010-2019 | 3,866 |
| 2020-2029 | 3,784 |
Famous people named Bo
- Bo Jackson: Athlete, Baseball Player
- Bo Burnham: Comedian, Musician
Fun facts
- The name stems from the Old Norse verb 'búa', which meant 'to live' or 'to settle'.
- Besides its Scandinavian origin, Bo is a widely recognized nickname across Southern and Western U.S. regions.
- Bo has experienced a resurgence in the U.S., entering the top 500 male names in recent years.