My ds is called Beau!
Wow, I can't believe this post - what a coincidence. The name was on my long-list and in the end, it was the only one ex-p and I agreed on.
I have to say I have had second thoughts about it since. I love it, but almost everyone I've met has had a neutral or negative reaction. In fact, I've posted about this before - have come close to changing it! People ask his name and when I tell them, they either say 'What?' or, 'Oh.' Very demoralising when you're expecting a 'That's lovely' (which is what people are supposed to say, out of politeness at least). Ds has just learned how to say his name (he is 2.8) but when he tells folk they always say, "What?" as though he is just making a nonsensical toddler noise, which is quite disconcerting for him.
On the other hand I'm glad he's got an unusual name. It's cute, it suits him, and the snob in me enjoys explaining it to people ("...as in the French..." Actually it's not used as a first name in France, occasionally as a surname though). I have a fairly unusual name and always got stick for it growing up, but I can honestly say I never cared, because I really like my name and always have.
Also when we chose it we had a couple of instances of 'synchronicity' (and I'm daft so put a lot of store by such things). We had just decided on the name and minutes late a film came on tv with a hero called Beau (he was a rent boy, but nonetheless...actually one notable criticism I've had from people is that the name Beau sounds a bit 'gay'). Then I went into a shop to buy a baby record book and the woman who served me had a son called Beau! I was still worried about the name and asked her if her son had ever had any stick; she said no, but he was raised in Australia and apparently they are more 'tolerant' of unsual names over there, ie they don't take the piss.
Hope this hasn't put you off, hearing about another Beau! I remember when I was pg and wanted the name Eden for a girl, reading another mum's birth announcement on the net, she'd chosen the name too and I was so pissed off! Completely illogically!
As a last point, this is going to sound really shallow but people obviously ask what the name means; consider the fact that you have to reply 'handsome'. Could raise a few sniggers if you have a weird looking baby. Which I'm sure you won't! Ds is lucky as the men in my family are pretty gorgeous (sadly not the women...!). But I've often considered how I'd cringe telling people his name if he was totally not handsome. It'd be kind of like having a slutty daughter called Chastity...IYKWIM.