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Baby names

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

Original poster

Bo. Please be gentle.

88 replies

applecore · 27/08/2008 15:24

Bo is a girl's name that caused both me and dp to go 'brilliant!' when we heard it. we haven't told anyone in rl because it's bound to cause huge issues. and i suspect because i'm not entirely convinced.

is it pretentious?
will she be bullied?
will i ever get over saying 'it's spelt B.O.'

the trouble is, i just love it so much and i can picture a funny feisty little girl with this name (no pressure on daughter then..) i have some other, more traditional names lined up - one is my grandma's name, and is a surefire winner with everyone.

any thoughts?

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louisejohnson87 · 10/11/2008 17:13

I work with a Bo, but she is Slovakian and it is shortened from Bozenka.

It's a nice name though!

crankytwanky · 07/11/2008 23:01

I wanted Bo for a girl or Beau for a boy!
Like baby Bo in the fimbles!
DP said no though. I like it anyway.
I was aware of the Ulrika connection, but I don't know her personally, so doesn't matter to me.

LynetteScavo · 05/11/2008 21:44

your choice

LynetteScavo · 05/11/2008 21:44

is it pretentious? - No, quite the opposite.

will she be bullied?- Possibly, but then as you say she will probably be feisty.

will i ever get over saying 'it's spelt B.O.' - probably not, but then it's our choice.

Jane79 · 05/11/2008 16:46

Bo is a lovely name. I'm due in March and have also chosen Bo as my daughter's name. If the Body Odour thing bothers you that much, why not spell it Bou? But for me, it's Bo all the way!

e14mum · 03/11/2008 10:31

I met a little girl called Bo Daisy once. She was lovely, sweet and a little feisty!
If you like it, go for it!

Nancy66 · 02/11/2008 12:14

I think it's cute for a little kid but not a name you'd really want as an adult

laughinglil · 01/11/2008 23:33

I don't think there is anything wrong with Bo. My dh really wanted my dd to be called Bo, but I wasn't too sure of it as a first name so she is Isla Bo. I do get a lot of what is her middle name? but I don't care I think its quirky and isn't as outrageous as some names lol!
If you really love it , go for it.. but if you have any doubts then you can't really love it as much as you think x

colander · 01/11/2008 12:12

someone I know called their ds Bo. When she told me I didn't hear properly and said "sorry, what was his name?" and I could tell by the look on her face that she was getting that a LOT.

Personally, I hate it, but your kid, your choice. Please remember though that they have to live with it.

And yes, they will get teased. And you'll get talked about in the staffroom.

You did ask.

nappyaddict · 01/11/2008 12:07

If it's a girl go for Bo. The spelling Beau is definitely a boy's name. Isabeau is a very old girl's name which comes from Elizabeth but they changed it to Isabelle when they realised Beau was the masculine word for beautiful in French and Belle the feminine.

MadBadandDangerousToKnow · 28/08/2008 23:40

Oops! Dud link. SeeIsabeau of Bavaria

MadBadandDangerousToKnow · 28/08/2008 23:38

I'm in the 'nice nickname but not a name for a grown woman' camp.

Isabeau is a long-established name in France - see the wikipedia entry for Isabeau of bavaria. How about that?

funnypeculiar · 28/08/2008 20:28

I know a little girl called Boe. BO connection never occured to me with the simple addition of a letter. Wasn't sure about it at first, but I like it - nicely feisty, imo.

ravenAK · 28/08/2008 20:26

Cute nickname but not much gravitas as a full name. Should she end up as Prime Minister Bo Applecore, say...would definitely work better as a diminutive imo.

handlemecarefully · 28/08/2008 20:21

Actually think you've made yourself look a bit of a prat Quattro

LadyThompson · 28/08/2008 18:50

Hmm. Bo is actually quite popular in Sweden. Don't think it's made up. Bo Derek must be, what, 60? There's always Bo Peep! She must be 300 if she's a day!

Think you're being a bit rough, Quattro

Original poster
applecore · 28/08/2008 18:49

no it's fine - you can call me a chav (if you must!) but it most certainly isn't a made up name..

unless you think any name that isn't a traditionally Anglo-Saxon one has been 'invented'!!

OP posts:
ShinyHappyPeopleHoldingHands · 28/08/2008 18:44

Hmm. Would we say that was gentle Quattro??

Original poster
applecore · 28/08/2008 18:43

why is it an invented name?

OP posts:
Quattrocento · 28/08/2008 18:37

Oh purlease

How totally absurd

Why invent a name that stands for sweat? Why invent a name at all?

See part of the issue with inventing names is that all the good ones have been taken. So your child gets a naff name. The other issue with invented names is that they are chavvy. Sorry about that.

Original poster
applecore · 28/08/2008 18:32

but you know, what if 'Beau' doesn't turn out to be a looker? It's a lot to live up to..!

OP posts:
Original poster
applecore · 28/08/2008 18:31

don't worry, i know the difference between Beau and Belle!!

Bo is a unisex Swedish name - Ulrika's dad was called Bo, and now her dd is. (I'm not obsessed with Ulrika)

Think Beau might be a compromise, if i'm lucky enough to have another and he's a boy.

But I still love Bo. Will get thinking on those long B names.

Thanks again everyone.

OP posts:
ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight · 28/08/2008 14:37

And really don't spell it Beau for a girl - it's masculine and is the boy's version of Belle.

ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight · 28/08/2008 14:34

B'oh no.

lulu1414 · 28/08/2008 10:54

Beau is a boys name. It is french for handsome- the female equivalent would be Belle.