Beau
Say it: BOH/bəʊ/
Boy and boyMeans from French beau, "handsome"4 letters1 syllable
#152
in Ireland (2025)
#147 with spellings combined
34
babies in 2025
#125
best rank (2023)
307
babies since 2004
Up 161
10-year rank change
Beau through the years
Compare with another name →boysgirls
Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 34 | #147 | 5 | #590 |
| 2024 | 30 | #165 | 4 | #714 |
| 2023 | 45 | #125 | 5 | #612 |
| 2022 | 32 | #169 | 4 | #730 |
| 2021 | 32 | #169 | 7 | #510 |
| 2020 | 20 | #237 | 3 | #806 |
| 2019 | 17 | #262 | - | - |
| 2018 | 22 | #238 | 4 | #715 |
| 2017 | 8 | #418 | 7 | #524 |
| 2016 | 9 | #389 | 7 | #518 |
| 2015 | 14 | #308 | 4 | #755 |
| 2014 | 9 | #403 | 10 | #430 |
| 2013 | 7 | #448 | 4 | #748 |
| 2012 | 7 | #457 | 5 | #679 |
| 2011 | 3 | #730 | 6 | #613 |
| 2010 | 3 | #720 | - | - |
| 2009 | 7 | #429 | - | - |
| 2007 | 5 | #473 | - | - |
| 2006 | - | - | 4 | #634 |
| 2005 | - | - | 3 | #690 |
| 2004 | 3 | #506 | - | - |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Beau mean?
From French beau, "handsome"
From French beau (handsome, fine), or shortened from surnames such as Beauregard and Beaumont.
Say it right
BOH
The story of Beau
Beau comes from the French word beau, meaning handsome or fine. In English it has also served as a short form of surnames that begin with it, such as Beauregard and Beaumont. It has been used as a boy’s first name since the middle of the twentieth century. In English, “a beau” is also an old word for a boyfriend or admirer.
It sounds the same as Bo, which is sometimes used as a separate name.
Beau first reached the CSO list for boys in 2004. It had its best year in 2023, with 45 boys, when it reached number 125. In 2025, 34 boys were named Beau. It is also growing in Northern Ireland, where it reached 149th in 2025, its highest place there. A small number of girls are given it too, with a high of 10 girls in 2014.
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Sources
- Wiktionary: Beau (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Beau (name)
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Beau | 34 | 307 |
In Northern Ireland
#149 in 2025 with 15 babies. Best rank #149 (2025); 118 babies since 2009.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.
Beau is also given to girls: 82 since 2005, 5 in 2025.