Favourite spelling of the name Beau

[mummarichardson]

Just found out we are having a girl, our favourite name is Beau but I am stuck on the spelling as since Beau has become more popular as I know a few boys called Beau and that spelling feels more like a boys name to me.

I really like Bo but husband hates the fact that when she spells it, she will have to say B O as in 'I have bad BO'. Do get his point to be fair.

Then there is Bow but to me that just looks like an object rather than a name.

Which do you think is best?

[ChardonnaysPrettySister]

How about Beau-L'eau?

Definitely unique.

[Pigeonpost]

I know of a girl Bo spelt Bou. I simply cannot get my head round it every single time I see her name. No foreignness in there to account for it either. Inexplicable.

[allthegoodusernameshavegone]

Boe ?

[Aquamarine1029]

Op, I doubt many people in real life would comment on a girl's name being spelled Beau, and even if they do, who cares what they think? I know 2 females named Beau. One is an adult and one is 6. The adult is a former work colleague and everyone loved her name and she did, too.

[IsabelleSE19]

I knew someone who called their daughter Bo, short for Boadicea/Boudicca (can't actually remember which one!), which is to be honest an awesome name if you've got the guts!

[ProfessorCat]

What does it say about my intelligence?

[WhatInTheWorldIsGoingOn]

I don't realise the drama around Beau for a girl. Someone said about giving a child a name with a Frech meaning. Pippa means blowjob in another language. We still use it.

[SerfTerf]

Maybe OP believes that rudeness is a sign of stupidity Professor 🤷🏻‍♀️

[NinonDeLenclos]

Isabeau is an French girl's name.

[NinonDeLenclos]

If you're attached to the misspelling of Belle I mean.

[AuntyEstablishment]

What does it say about my intelligence?


I wonder... 😂😂

[AuntyEstablishment]

OP
I couldn't deal with having people give such strong comments on it in real life so that is definitely out.

I don't know how long you've been on Mumsnet but it often has little or no baring (bearing?🤔) on real life.

[Ontopofthesunset]

But beau isn't just a (masculine) adjective in another language, it is also a word in this language. We've imported the word to mean both a dandy (as in Beau Brummel) and also to mean 'boyfriend' or 'admirer'. Granted, it's a bit old fashioned, but I've certainly heard it used relatively frequently, often jokingly - "Has she got a new beau?" "Can't say I think much of your new beau".

[AdalindSchade]

Beau is a boy's name. Only thickos would use it for girls. Beaux is double thicko. Soz

[mummarichardson]

@ProfessorCat I believe it takes someone with a really low level of emotional intelligence to respond to a thread in a unhelpful, rude and baseless way rather than just answering the specific question.

[NinonDeLenclos]

But the word Beau in this language is only used of men - it being masculine and all.

[AdalindSchade]

ontop use of the word beau in English and means 'handsome man' (admirer) so how does that make it any more suitable for a girl?

[user1499786242]

You can't call your child 'bo' ????
Maybe a nickname but not their actual first name???

[ProfessorCat]

I see. I believe that it takes someone of a low general intelligence to name a little girl Beau.

I can assure you it would be the subject of mockery in the staff room at school. The parents of the female "Beau" I taught were. Bless them, they were lovely people but quite dense.

[MiniAlphaBravo]

It does I'm afraid suggest a low level of education not to realize that beau is a masculine adjective in both English and French. Sorry. And Bo would be awful as you've said.

So I think it's good you've posted here even though you may not like the responses becaus you are avoiding giving your kid a name that would create negative connotations. Back to the drawing board!

[MiniAlphaBravo]

because

[Chrisinthemorning]

I know a girl named Beau. I do think of it as usually a boy's name though, wasn't there a Beau in Gone with the Wind?
I also know a boy named Bo. I feel quite sorry for him.
Personally I would choose something else.

[Branleuse]

As has been said, its masculine. The female would be Belle.

To call a girl Beau, would make me think you were uneducated.

[ProfessorCat]

I've also taught a boy named Bo. He was actually Bojack. Yes, really.