To say that 'Beau' is not a girls' name?

[mrsb26]

Over the past few months, I've come across an increasing number of baby girls named 'Beau.'

Am I wrong on assuming that this is French in origin, meaning 'handsome?' (or the masculine form of beautiful). Surely Belle is then the feminine form?

One was even spelt Beaux. This is the plural, right? The X doesn't make it feminine?!

Idk, maybe people don't really focus on definitions of names. Just found it a bit odd that it's becoming a bit of a trend.

[wulfy1010]

I think Belle would be the feminine version but I can't get worked up about odd names

[ReggaeShark]

YADNBU

[IndridCold]

I read a Josephine Tey book, written in the 1940s, where one of the young women is called Beau, so it's not new I guess. I did think it was unusual at the time though, and I can't say I would choose it myself.

[Levatrice]

Agree, its hideous

[Fatfreefaff]

I think there was a thread on this a few months ago. I guess it is a name where people don't really think about the origin of the word.

[HeavyFrost]

YANBU. It's ghastly and illiterate. Not everyone speaks French, obviously, but if you're goingbto give your child a name that is a vocab word in a widely spoken modern language which has gendered adjectives, wouldn't you at least do some minimal research?

[Fratelli]

Yanbu at all. It's definitely the masculine version.

[FireCrotch]

My cousins dd is Bo. It really suits her. She was talked out of "Beau".

[mrsb26]

I think Belle would be the feminine version but I can't get worked up about odd names

I don't lose sleep over it, I think I just assumed that if you'd chosen an obviously French name at least you'd look into its definition?

[OttiliaVonBCup]

I think people either find a combination of letters that looks attractive to them or like a name as sound and make up a vaguely fitting spelling and then pass off the whole exercise as naming a child.

I wouldn't do it even to a dog, all of mine have real names.

[BikeRunSki]

I agree with you completely.

I know a man and a woman called Bo though, which works much better. Both are long established nicknames, one short for a longer Asian name which I forget, and 1 a childhood corruption of Zoe.

[onecurrantbun1]

It isn't to my taste at all and I think Belle is very pretty so would opt for that instead. There are so many silly made up names around that I wouldn't get too worked up by it as at least it's a name!

[OhShutUpThomas]

Errrmaageeerrrrd you are NBU! It means 'handsome.' It's a masculine word. It's not a girl's name.

This should be stickied.

[FlysInDreams]

I did meet a baby girl called Beau at a baby group and it did think it strange at the time.

[AuntieStella]

Yes, I would find this very odd.

[Grilledaubergines]

Couldn't get worked up over another person's name choice. It's fine.

All names are 'real' ffs. The fact the name has been given to someone makes it so.

[Branleuse]

YANBU.

[LeaLeander]

I think people either find a combination of letters that looks attractive to them or like a name as sound and make up a vaguely fitting spelling and then pass off the whole exercise as naming a child.

I wouldn't do it even to a dog, all of mine have real names.

^This!

[waxweasel]

I'm so glad you said it 😊 I know a woman in her 20s called Beau - very educated, intelligent woman. And all I could think was wtf was wrong with your parents? Are they illiterate? How did two idiots who thought Beau was a good female name make such an educated and intelligent person? It makes my teeth itch every year when I have to write it in her Christmas card.

Anyway. Since then I have met another two female Beaus (Beaux?) who are only babies.

I'd like to add it would also make a stupid male name. But at least it would be grammatically correct.

[GraciesMansion]

I do like it as a boys name, def not a girls name. I once came across a child (girl) called Bo Yummy.

[banff82]

Definitely wrong. I know someone who named their female dog Beau and I found that bad enough, let alone to do it to a child.

[x2boys]

doesnt ulrika johnson have a daughter Bo? i know a male Beau.

[Alisvolatpropiis]

Yanbu. But I suspect it will grow in popularity for girls in the same way Dylan is, because people are stupid/ignorant of the culture the name is from.

[Doublebubblebubble]

Beau is a boys name - Bo is the girls varient (I think Ulrika Johnsson has a little girl called Bo spelled this way) Bo does remind me of B.o though when written down. I like Beau for a boy though.

[SquinkiesRule]

All the Beau and Bo's I've met have been boys/men. It's a male name.