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Baby names

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

Original poster

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

107 replies

Lincolnlemons · 16/08/2025 23:01

I’m pregnant with a baby boy and love the name Beau, feels chic without being pretentious. My only worry is that what if DS doesn’t grow up to be conventionally handsome? Feels like a gamble and possibly an opening for bullies when he’s in school? Am I being ridiculous?

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PinkStarsandBlackWalls · 17/08/2025 21:16

There is a very French person from Made In Chelsea with a son called Beau so at least one French person must not vomit at the thought.

TiredAH · 17/08/2025 21:09

I wanted to call mine Bob, like the builder. But what if he’s not into it? Wtf. Absurd

Missj25 · 17/08/2025 21:04

Starbri8 · 16/08/2025 23:17

if you love it go with it ! Believe me he’ll always be handsome to you , my name technically means wide open plain …I called my girl Beau. Wishing you the very best ❤️

Absolutely ❤️ Beau for a girl 👌

DelilahMy · 17/08/2025 21:03

Great name. All little boys are cute and all ternagers/young adult men are handsome - so go for it.

Horsie · 17/08/2025 21:02

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That's unusual...family name?

Horsie · 17/08/2025 20:57

I don't like the name, because it looks like short for "Beautiful." Yes, I know that "beau" is the French for "handsome," but we're not French and it looks as if his full name is Beautiful. Can't imagine how much teasing boys named Beau must get, it's such a feminine name.

BabyDoge · 17/08/2025 20:57

I once saw a child at a toddler group whose name tag said "Beav". I spent an hour trying to figure out if it was short for Beaver until I realised it was Beau in bad handwriting.

JillyGiraffe · 17/08/2025 20:55

It really wouldn’t have occurred to me! It’s not my cup of tea, but if you love it, go for it!

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 17/08/2025 20:52

Regularmumm · 16/08/2025 23:23

There’s one at my son’s school but it’s spellt BO.

We had a girl at my school who was BOW

Grellow · 17/08/2025 20:48

I know a woman who named her daughter Beau, having confused it with the French Belle

Lilymumof2 · 17/08/2025 20:41

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Cobol · 17/08/2025 20:32

Am a seriously the only one here thinking "Dukes of Hazard"? 🤔😁

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 17/08/2025 20:25

To be fair, I know one Sienna and one Siena. Neither of them are a city in Tuscany. So if you like the name, you go for it.

Original poster
Lincolnlemons · 17/08/2025 20:22

Zapx · 17/08/2025 20:17

I’ve got no comment except to show my ignorance 🤣 how is it pronounced? Is it “Bo” to rhyme with go, or “Bew” to rhyme with new? Or a third option I haven’t thought of?!

Haha no worries, it’s pronounced ‘bo’ to rhyme with go 😊

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Zapx · 17/08/2025 20:17

I’ve got no comment except to show my ignorance 🤣 how is it pronounced? Is it “Bo” to rhyme with go, or “Bew” to rhyme with new? Or a third option I haven’t thought of?!

BoleynMemories13 · 17/08/2025 20:13

Lincolnlemons · 17/08/2025 19:04

Weird, I didn’t think it’d be a struggle to pronounce!

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I think it's because it's the first 4 letters of beautiful, so people who are unfamiliar with the French language often stumble over it as they automatically go to pronounce it the same (B-ew). Beau is becoming more popular, so I think people are naturally becoming more familiar with it, but I don't think the pronunciation is as obvious as you think.

bellocchild · 17/08/2025 19:49

As long as he has a normal name to choose if he prefers?!

Original poster
Lincolnlemons · 17/08/2025 19:49

deeahgwitch · 17/08/2025 19:39

I like the name Bonnie but wouldn’t use it in case she wasn’t.
I knew someone called Attracta and she wasn’t really - I feel mean saying it. Blush

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Attracta is a big gamble!

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deeahgwitch · 17/08/2025 19:39

RaraRachael · 16/08/2025 23:36

We've had a couple of Bonnies at school who weren't very bonny but nobody really cares.

I like the name Bonnie but wouldn’t use it in case she wasn’t.
I knew someone called Attracta and she wasn’t really - I feel mean saying it. Blush

heroinechic · 17/08/2025 19:29

We liked the name Romeo but didn’t go for it for the same reason. Felt like we could be setting him up a bit there!

How about Bodhi (nn Bo)

Original poster
Lincolnlemons · 17/08/2025 19:27

PinkStarsandBlackWalls · 17/08/2025 06:18

Beau means absolutely nothing to huge swathes of the population. It’s a word in another language that they might learn for a couple of years and hear once. Obviously the people of Mumsnet are far superior to the usual British plebs and will disagree in fluent French but to many it’s just a nice sounding name. They won’t think oh, that kid isn’t handsome why did they call him that.

😂😂😂Yes lots of francophiles on mumsnet!

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Ppale · 17/08/2025 19:21

MN really is a crappy place

HotAndHassled · 17/08/2025 19:13

I’m no help but knew I couldn’t call any daughter of mine Grace in case she turned out like her mother!!

Original poster
Lincolnlemons · 17/08/2025 19:04

Ymamiss · 17/08/2025 01:49

I have a Beau and whilst I love the name, it does get annoying when people can't pronounce it properly.
But I don't like BO (smelly pits anyone?)

Weird, I didn’t think it’d be a struggle to pronounce!

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Original poster
Lincolnlemons · 17/08/2025 18:56

Thanks for all your thoughts, I’m giggling at some of them! We have a list of names so I’ll wait until he comes out to decide what fits :)

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