Love ‘Beau’ for a boy but what if he’s not handsome?

Is every Leila dark haired?
Your Beau will be handsome in your eyes.
I think it’s a lovely name. I considered it for my dog, but the local accent means some people would have pronounced it as Boo, which put me off.

When I was a teenager I had a friend whose nickname was Bo. People still use “beau” to mean romantic partner (possibly mainly older people now) so things got a bit confusing for other people when I talked about her. For that reason I wouldn’t use it as a name.

Also there is the association with bow - hair bow, bow tie etc. If I really really liked it I would probably make it a nickname of Robert (- Bob - Bo) but not sure many people are having a little baby Robert in 2025.

If you are into unusual French names have you considered Balonz?

Sorry if I have confused posters, and also sorry for derailing the thread, OP!

@CrumpledBlouseyes, I appreciate and know that, but as it's being used as a name for a person...people who know or speak French, will have that association. Maybe I speak for only myself, but that's my association when it's being used as a name for a baby. If it's chosen as a name for a girl - it's misplaced. Certainly the mum I know admitted she'd got mixed up and regretted it, but couldn't change it. Everytime someone asked the name of the baby she replied "She's called Beau...it means beautiful in French!"

When someone had the guts to point out the facts to her she was mortified. This was many, many years ago.

I think you’re confusing me with another poster.

So, if you think it’s English, are you pronouncing it ‘Bew’ to rhyme with ‘blue’? It’s not French for ‘handsome’, it’s the masculine form of the French for ‘beautiful’, as you’d expect. Which can include ‘handsome’, obviously, but can also refer to the weather or anything gendered masculine in French (which, French being French, includes all kinds of things, including the vagina. ‘Il fait beau aujourd’hui’: it’s a lovely day today. ‘Mon vagin est beau’: my vagina is beautiful.)

@CrumpledBlousehow can you say "it's such a feminine name" then, if you know it translates to "handsome"?

Another one here who knows of a mother who named her daughter Beau, because she thought it was the French word for pretty.
It's such an unfortunate mistake to make, as the daughter is saddled with that name for life, knowing she was called that because the mum just didn't bother double checking & got mixed up. As I said upthread, I like it for a boy.

I'm not confused; I clearly explained above that being English it looks like a short form of Beautiful, although I'm perfectly aware that it's French for Handsome.

I've taught a few Beaus and they've never been teased for their names.

The only time I find it ridiculous is when people use it for a girl as it just shows that they haven't really understood the word in the first place. A cursory Google - perhaps the minimum expected research before you name a whole human - would show it is a masculine word and actually my Grandma always referred to people's boyfriends as their "beaus". Calling a girl Beau is a little bit like choose your own pronouns to me and creates huge cognitive dissonance. May as well call her Dave.

I really like Bodhi, Bo for short.

I know a Beau and he's one of the most intelligent, respectful, kind, funny and attractive people I've met.

Might suit a cute kid, but whenever have you heard of a handsome man called Beau.

I think you’re a bit confused. ‘Beau’ is literally the masculine form of ‘beautiful’, therefore it can’t be ‘feminine’. I think it’s a truly dreadful name, but by definition, it’s not ‘feminine’.

Her real name is Joanna!

You can't expect a child to fit the meaning of the name so if you like it, go for it.

(Shh, personally I think it's awful.)

That's not quite the same is it.
If they were shite at bobbing then it would be similar!

I really dislike the name. Unfortunately it has firmly moved in to the chavvy category now.

I’m sure your DS will be beautiful but please don’t burden him with such an awful name.

That just says you don’t know how languages work.

Maybe go with longer versions that have more nick name options:

Beaumont - Monty if he's ugly.
Bowen - Owen if he's ugly.
Bowie - Bowie if he's ugly.
Archer - Bow, or Arrow if ugly, Sharp if very clever.
Beauden - Den
Boding - Bo, Ding or Omen if ugly.
Bosun - Bo, or Sunny if ugly.

My friend is called Bo.
It's nice

I know a girl called Beau.
Call your son whatever you want, within the usual parameters of reason, consideration & common sense!

Sorry, I dont think it sounds chic at all. Reminds of Dynasty and shite, dramatic American TV straight out of the 80s.

Think of another name, it is not one I think you should consider.

This is not the same at all. Maybe saying what if he can’t swim and just sinks? That would be the same.