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Original poster

Oh wise Mumsnetter's please help settle this argument- Beau.

105 replies

PirateJelly · 30/09/2013 18:05

A friend has recently name her gorgeous newborn DD Ava-Beau, all as one name like Ellie-May. Now she is adamant it is pronounced Ava 'Bew' like the start of ' beautiful'

Now I am sure Beau is pronounced bow

For the sake of my sanity please tell me who is correct?
It wouldn't be so bad if it was just her (and I would never get into an argument with her about it, as I know how sensitive she will be right now) but a mutual friend of mine text me the name when she was born and then when I saw her I said "oh so she's called her Ava Bow?" And was told don't be daft that's a stupid name, it's definitely Ava Bow Hmm and to stop taking the piss out of our friends DD's name Confused. I was going to argue that that is how most people will read it but wanted to be sure first incase I'm wrong.

Thanks Smile

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Tattiesthroughthebree · 30/09/2013 21:15

I know a Beau. His name is pronounced Bow.

WinteronPluto · 30/09/2013 20:56

I agree - Bow and it's masculine.

JimmyCorkhill · 30/09/2013 18:58

Ha ha - Isla is correct! I have 'loved' every baby name I've heard, in public. I think I've only truly liked one in the last 3 years Grin.

Original poster
PirateJelly · 30/09/2013 18:58

There has been a surge of corkers recently with my fb friends, not that I'm one to judge ofcourse Grin But I definitely feel a new shift of style in baby names with people I know Smile

OP posts:
DiaryofaHollandParkParent · 30/09/2013 18:57

Well if they are happy with the name - leave it be. I was speaking to a colleague recently who had given her child an Irish name but pronounced it totally wrong - similar to nee-am for Niamh (Neve); she was very pleased with her choice. I did say that in Ireland they pronounce it like xxxx, but didn't tell her it was wrong. Up to her I guess.

IslaValargeone · 30/09/2013 18:50

Aye well, there you have it Pirate, your friends 'appear to love it' trust me, behind closed doors they are having the same conversation as you are having here. :o

Original poster
PirateJelly · 30/09/2013 18:47

hollandpark and Isla without sounding a cow- trust me she is not posh. I'm not sure where this new name has come from and I never heard her mention it pre birth when we were discussing names she liked but tbh she kept her last dc's name a secret too so that no one would steal it Hmm

I keep saying it over and over and it just doesn't seem to go at all but within our friendship group it would appear I am in the minority and everyone else appears to love it. Glad I'm not the only one who thinks it doesn't exactly roll off tongue.

OP posts:
BackforGood · 30/09/2013 18:46

Agree with everyone else - it's said "bow" and it's masculine. 'Belle' is the french feminine for beautiful

IslaValargeone · 30/09/2013 18:34

Although I'd say Bow myself, not being from posh stock and all that.

MrsSchadenfreude · 30/09/2013 18:33

Bow, definitely. And Beau is masculine!

IslaValargeone · 30/09/2013 18:33

I was going to suggest the Beaulieu (bewley) pronounciation.

VBisme · 30/09/2013 18:27

I thought it was Bo, and male.

lottiegarbanzo · 30/09/2013 18:27

Oh dear. Ava-Belle would sound ok.

DiaryofaHollandParkParent · 30/09/2013 18:23

Maybe it is meant to be a pronunciation so posh that only certain in the know pronounce it correctly like Beaulieu (bewly?)

Original poster
PirateJelly · 30/09/2013 18:22

Thanks for the quick replies. She has posted it on facebook and I've just noticed a couple of replies have said " do you mean Boo or Bow? And isn't that a boys name?" To which my friend and a few other have angrily replied it's pronounced "It's Beau like Beautiful you idiots!" Oh dear.

Hopefully she'll just drop the Beau part for every day and call her Ava Grin

I would like to add that this is the same friend who insisted on calling my DS Lewis for the best part of a year and still slips up occasionally Angry it's Louis not Lewis. I think she should have steered clear of French names altogether tbh!

OP posts:
MyNameIsAnAnagram · 30/09/2013 18:20

Yup Beau (bo) is the masculine version of Belle.

ReginaldBlinker · 30/09/2013 18:18

dated a Beau in high school (guy), and it was pronounced "Bow"

lottiegarbanzo · 30/09/2013 18:18

Yes, surely il est beau, elle est belle? So it's masculine, as well as mispronounced.

Bew, rhyming with view, sounds like ewww and seems a very odd name to choose. I can't easily think of anything like it that would be a girl's name.

comedaygoday · 30/09/2013 18:16

I would pronounce it bow too and the only Beau I know is pronounced bow. I also think it's a boy's name though (unhelpful).

DiaryofaHollandParkParent · 30/09/2013 18:16

Beau as in French so "Bo". Only heard as a boys name - Beauregard (US) or Beau Brummell?

PrincessFlirtyPants · 30/09/2013 18:16

You are correct in your pronunciation, OP.

I agree with PP's that's a boys name.

D0G · 30/09/2013 18:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bundaberg · 30/09/2013 18:13

and it's a boys name isn't it?

bundaberg · 30/09/2013 18:12

you are right, it's pronounced bo

PrincessRomy · 30/09/2013 18:12

Yes I would have thought 'bo' and also think that sounds better than 'bew' (is she meaning to pronounce it 'bew' or 'boo')?