Active discussions

Help end medical misogyny. Sign our petition.

Help end medical misogyny.
Sign our petition.

Sign the petition

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Bo. Please be gentle.

88 replies

applecore · 27/08/2008 15:24

Bo is a girl's name that caused both me and dp to go 'brilliant!' when we heard it. we haven't told anyone in rl because it's bound to cause huge issues. and i suspect because i'm not entirely convinced.

is it pretentious?
will she be bullied?
will i ever get over saying 'it's spelt B.O.'

the trouble is, i just love it so much and i can picture a funny feisty little girl with this name (no pressure on daughter then..) i have some other, more traditional names lined up - one is my grandma's name, and is a surefire winner with everyone.

any thoughts?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Pinkjenny · 27/08/2008 15:26

OK, I do like it, although I prefer it for a boy as Beau if I'm honest.

, but what about the Body Odour connotation??

bodiddly · 27/08/2008 15:27

I prefer it as beau for a boy too I am afraid even if my mumsnet name is bodiddly!

Shitehawk · 27/08/2008 15:28

Only ever heard it as a boy's name, tbh.

I think the body odour thing would put me right off using it for either sex though.

swiftyknickers · 27/08/2008 15:28

i actually do like it but reminds me of ali g when he clicks his fingers and goes BO!! sorry, my friends just called her little girl BIBI which i heart and covert

Tas1 · 27/08/2008 15:29

My Niece is named Bobbie and we call her Bo.

Original poster
applecore · 27/08/2008 15:30

yep, the body odour thing is a bit of a hurdle! I wonder how Ulrika gets around it (her dd is Bo)..who am I kidding, its a Swedish name so she has some more licence..

dp also likes bo/beau for a boy - it's something to think about.

thank you for replyng. i just wanted to talk about this before abandoning it for good.

OP posts:
fizzbuzz · 27/08/2008 15:36

I teach a Beau, she's a girl

kitsmummy · 27/08/2008 15:39

I honestly would have chosen Bo myself......but couldn't get over the body odour thing

HonoriaGlossop · 27/08/2008 15:58

I think it's really lovely and very cute for a little girl...

I wouldn't worry about the b.o thing. You can't let people with minds like that affect YOUR choices.

HonoriaGlossop · 27/08/2008 15:59

I also think it's cute to have one name for a boy or girl - Bo or Beau.

MrsMattie · 27/08/2008 16:00

....Selecta!

It's a no from Simon and it's a no from me.

Communion · 27/08/2008 16:04

is there anything it could be short for?
AS a nicknams it would eb lovely and reduce liklihood of BO jokes.

How about Beatrice with Bo for short.

I like Bo.

CantSleepWontSleep · 27/08/2008 16:07

I like it for a boy, but doesn't sound right for a girl.

lastboxoftampons · 27/08/2008 16:11

I love it for a girl and wonder if it can be spelled Beau for a girl too?

In the movie M. Night Shyamalan movie Signs, Mel Gibson's daughter is named Bo.

Original poster
applecore · 27/08/2008 16:13

oh its a complicated one. might use it as a middle name perhaps.

thanks for honest comments - they are really appreciated!

OP posts:
Original poster
applecore · 27/08/2008 16:15

is she, last box? i didn't know that. maybe i should start collecting them - there's diddly, derek, jangles, johnsson, ha ha.

OP posts:
Bronze · 27/08/2008 16:17

Isn't one of Ulrikakas children called Bo?

nooka · 27/08/2008 16:17

Nice nickname, but not for a full name. There's not enough of it IMO. I always think a good test is whether you would like to be called any given name (also like the high court judge/footballer type test too). You have to remember that you are imagining a little girl, but that girl will grow up to be a teenager and an adult, so any name has to have the flexibility to work throughout a lifetime.

Original poster
applecore · 27/08/2008 16:25

yes i agree nooka - i did mention the cute girl, but have also considered her if she decides to work in the city (unlikely, with my brains).

i think i like it because it isn't too girly and my first name is very similar - although mine is a short version of a classic girl's name (which sort of proves your point - and Communion's, who mentioned Beatrice/Bo)

i like having a short, no nonsense name, but who's to say she will?

what a responsibility!

OP posts:
usernametaken · 27/08/2008 16:30

My friend has a DD named Boh. Cute name.

mrswoolf · 27/08/2008 16:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bikerunski · 27/08/2008 16:55

My sister is Zoe and has been nicknamed Bo all her life - friends, family, school, college, work - everyone knows her as Bo. (I think Zoe became Zozo, became Bozo or something, but it was over 30 years ago!) The BO thing has never even been raised!

janeite · 27/08/2008 17:01

I like it (in fact, love it) as a nickname but not as a full name. I really like MrsWoolf's suggestion of Isabeau though; never come across that before and it's lovely.

LadyThompson · 27/08/2008 17:06

I think it's very nice. I wouldn't think of B.O., I don't think, but it did make me think of Ulrika's daughter. I dislike Ulrika.

However, Isabeau is rather lovely.

Communion · 27/08/2008 17:17

Isn't scarlett O'hara and Rhett Butlers daughter called Bo?

You called called her Boudicca, and Bo for short!

Now that would be daring.