Beau or Bo?

CocoR04 · March 2015

We love the name Beau/Bo for a boy, but can't decide which spelling is better as a standalone name. I am afraid of Beau being mispronounced and Bo being related to "body odor".

Thoughts? Anyone else have a Beau/Bo?

4N6s · March 2015

Beau or Bodhi

Sassenach1743 · March 2015

Either spelling is proper and has the same pronunciation. However the origins and meanings are different, if that makes any difference to you.

Beau is French and means beautiful or handsome

Bo is Nordic (Swedish, Danish) and means "to live"

I prefer the French spelling, Beau. It looks better when written out and I would not question is as a stand alone name. Bo, on the other hand, looks like a nickname or short spelling for something longer or more formal.

Just curious, why are you worried that Beau will be mispronounced? How could it be?

Kate0034 · March 2015

I greatly prefer Beau. In my mind, Beau is distinguished and Bo is country bumpkin. Just my opinion! But I just really hate Bo.

I can't imagine anyone mispronouncing Beau either.

CocoR04 · March 2015

@brita722 Thanks for the insightful response!

My worry over mispronunciation comes from a Ben Stiller movie I saw a few years ago, The Heartbreak Kid. There was a character in the movie named Beau and Ben Stiller kept calling him "Bue". I don't know why that's stuck with me!

I have always leaned towards Beau, but wanted to see what others thought, as well.

samanthaj0e · March 2015

My brother's name is Bo so I'm pretty partial to it.

I would be less worried about body odor though and more about Bo Peep! And you're right, @Kate0034 it is more of a country feel. Fits him to a T. It's a NN though, I'm not sure about just Bo for a name.

Kate0034 · March 2015

@samanthaj0e actually it doesn't bother me that much as a NN! But a stand-alone.. Just no. Ha

@CocoR04 if I'm remembering that movie correctly, I think his name IS pronounced "Bue" and that's the joke! I would have to re-watch it though!

CocoR04 · March 2015

@Kate0034 hah! I guess I remembered it backwards? That's hilarious!

ckalm5 · March 2015

I say beau for sure...someone would have to be pretty dumb to mispronounce it

dancingmatilda · March 2015

Beau

wassuphoes · March 2015

Beau.

nurse714 · March 2015

Beau

==N== · March 2015

Beau.

Sassenach1743 · March 2015

CocoR04 said:
@brita722 Thanks for the insightful response!

My worry over mispronunciation comes from a Ben Stiller movie I saw a few years ago, The Heartbreak Kid. There was a character in the movie named Beau and Ben Stiller kept calling him "Bue". I don't know why that's stuck with me!

I have always leaned towards Beau, but wanted to see what others thought, as well.

I wouldn't worry about that. Most people recognize the name Beau and know how to pronounce it. Of the odd few that may not be familiar with this name, a quick correction will suffice.

After all, Beau is a pretty classic name even though it's not used too often. It's been around for many years so I don't think you'll have much of a problem.

magsugar13 · March 2015

Beau

carolyn219 · March 2015

Beau. My Bichon Frise is named Beau, and he's one very handsome and very smart guy! Bo says country to me, like the old tv show Dukes of Hazzard.

frankengibbs · March 2015

There was a kid in my first grade class who's name was Bo. He use to pull on my pigtails so I would call him B.O. as in body odor, just like you fear for your LO. Needless to say, that's the first time I ever got in trouble at school, my defense argument was "I didn't name him that, it's not my fault" ...granted, I was known for being a smart ass but please go with Beau, only an idiot would say that wrong and I would rather have my name mispronounced over being called B.O. my whole life.

arduaaa · March 2015

Beau!

CocoR04 · March 2015

@frankengibbs omg! So funny! I think we will go with Beau. No body odor jokes for my kid!

LuvLoveXo · March 2015

Beau

Shickmama · March 2015

Beau for sure!!!!!

skittkle · March 2015

Beau 100%!

homediva · March 2015

carolyn219 said:
Beau. My Bichon Frise is named Beau, and he's one very handsome and very smart guy! Bo says country to me, like the old tv show Dukes of Hazzard.

I love Beau!

@carolyn219 that's too funny - My bichon frise is named Bogart but we call him Bo or Bobo, (thanks to my 3 year old!).