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?

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.

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.

That's unusual...family name?

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

Absolutely ❤️ Beau for a girl 👌

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

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.

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

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

I realised that this week and funnily enough that put me more off the name because I don’t like MIC haha but yes, I agree with your point

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

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

My friend is called Bo.
It's nice

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.

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

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

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.)

Her real name is Joanna!

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’.

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

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

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'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.

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.