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Baby names

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Original poster

Boy name help - Beau, Jacques or Miles

89 replies

afrenchmum · 11/06/2023 18:35

Hi all,

Due in September and struggling on a boys name. It’s between Beau, Miles and Jacques. What do we think of each name and which is your favourite. Thanks in advance for the help!

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Samzzz · 03/09/2023 08:00

Beau

RuthW · 02/09/2023 17:27

Miles.

I always think Beau is too feminine for a boy.

Jacques I dislike. Jack is better in the UK.

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 02/09/2023 17:07

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BakingBeanz · 02/09/2023 17:04

Seriously don't call your son Jacques and pronounce it Jacks. No one with any knowledge of French at all would pronounce it this way and he'll spend his life having to correct them and having people assume he's an idiot. Jacks is also Irish slang for the toilet (as in "I'm just going to the jacks").

Beau- really don't like this.

Miles- not bad, best by far.

NBF2 · 02/09/2023 16:38

My little boy is Beau :) I love the name.

MirandaBlu · 15/06/2023 17:33

I really like Miles - it feels basic but solid. Another name I like that strikes me as a similar vibe is Mason. Or (these are probably "marmite" names) how about Giles, Niles/Niall, or Piers?

Beau for some reason has a rural US south feel for me - probably the legacy of Bo 'n' Luke Duke. But the only real life Beau I know is a woman (Isabeau).

I wouldn't use Jaques unless you want to use the French pronunciation - even total non-French-speakers should at least be able to manage Zhock or Jock.

ohdelay · 15/06/2023 17:04

Bojack. You know it makes sense

ThatFraggle · 15/06/2023 17:02

Another vote for Jax.

Bodhi is hideous to me.

lauraslops · 15/06/2023 16:36

Personally i would go Miles or Beau. My mother is called Jacquelyn and is normally shortened to Jacque (Jackie) so Jacques just looks feminine to me.

AnIntrovert · 13/06/2023 22:00

I like Miles. Even if you don't live in France, you are likely to go and visit or spend holidays. Beau might be an issue.

thatsn0tmyname · 13/06/2023 21:58

Of your three, Miles is a sensible name for a man.

continentallentil · 13/06/2023 21:48

Miles is a great name - gentle and solid. You can trust a Miles.

I quite like Beau.. but I also think it’s slightly daft/a nn. Blaise maybe?

I don’t think you can pull of Jacques outside of France sadly, or at any rate he’s end up using Jack for short. Jules would work ok.

BinkyBeaufort · 12/06/2023 12:57

Miles, by 1760 yards

SourDoughToast · 12/06/2023 11:20

Miles is the only one I'd use. I really like it.

Beau and Jaques I don't like at all.

Beau - this is actually calling your son 'handsome' which would be cringe if he met a French person or went to a French speaking country - 'hello handsome' Hmm Bodhi is better.

Jaques- just sounds like you're trying hard to be different. As pp have said, it's not pronounced 'jacks'. It's not popular in France - considered v old fashioned and ugly in terms of a name. I know an English person with this name who pronounces it 'jakes'.

BlueMoonCity · 12/06/2023 11:08

Love Beau
Like Miles
Not a fan of Jaques Smile

AuntieJune · 12/06/2023 10:59

Beau is a silly name, why call a child Bo - why not Po, Mo, Ro etc? Sorry Peau, Meau, Reau. It's a silly name

Jacques sounds pretentious

Miles is ok

Honestly if there's one French grandparent do you need to signal this by having an ever-so-different French name? Like Thomas and Lucas and Leo and Paul are fairly popular French names as well? Would you call a child Robert and insist everyone says it Rob-erh like the French?

Pemba · 12/06/2023 10:46

afrenchmum · 12/06/2023 07:33

How about Bodhi?

Well it's a lot better than Beau, that's for sure! And still has the 'bo' sound you obviously like, so worth considering?

Bodhi has a surfer dude type of feel.

Daffodilwoman · 12/06/2023 08:17

Do not call your child Jaxon, Jackson or Jackson, I’ve seen them all- hideous name.
Go with Beau if you like it.
Plenty of children called names such as Grace who are anything but graceful.

EggInANest · 12/06/2023 08:12

Jude or Rafe

CrushOnJonah · 12/06/2023 08:01

Out of the three, Miles.

I think the other names you've listed as contenders are all better though.

Beau is hideous, I don't understand the popularity.

LolaSmiles · 12/06/2023 07:47

I know a couple of people who've called their children Jax or Jaxson with a nickname of Jax.

Most people would not pronounce Jacques as Jacks and the poor child will go through life having to correct people using the correct pronunciation to his parents' incorrect version.

Like PP I don't like Beau.

Miles, Jack or even Jackson would work.

Original poster
afrenchmum · 12/06/2023 07:33

How about Bodhi?

OP posts:
Roselilly36 · 12/06/2023 07:21

I have always liked the name Beau, did not use it for either of my DS’ and we knew a Beau (US)

Scirocco · 12/06/2023 07:18

'Beauden'... 🤦🏻‍♀️

Theoldwoman · 12/06/2023 02:33

No a fan of Beau. Beauden is nicer.

Love Jacques.

Miles is sort of a dull name to me.