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

[Lincolnlemons]

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?

If you think it’s chic because of the French association really I think it’s the opposite - it implies you don’t speak French or visit France because it would be weird to use there. The word doesn’t just mean handsome by the way, avoir beau as an expression means there’s no point in doing something for example.

Only ever met one beau- was female, which confused me! I wouldn't worry about if he is handsome, he will be to you.

Nobody calls their kids this in france. I find it odd to use a foreign word for a name that isnt a thing in the root word's country.
It'd be like Michel and Sandrine Dupont calling their son Handsome Dupont.

He might be a real minger and what then ?

🙀

It doesn’t matter because even if he’s butters you’ll think he’s the most handsome boy ever. It’s a mum thing.

I don’t think it’s chic because it’s french, I think it’s chic because I think it’s chic? I’ve lived in France, doesn’t feel like a flex

Why?

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 :)

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

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

MN really is a crappy place

😂😂😂Yes lots of francophiles on mumsnet!

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)

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.

Attracta is a big gamble!

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

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.

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 😊

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.

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

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

We had a girl at my school who was BOW

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