Beau

Beau is a given name of French origin, meaning "beautiful, handsome" (from the French adjective beau). Although it is grammatically masculine in French, it has been used as a unisex name in English-speaking countries and the Netherlands, with usage as a given name dating from the mid-20th century. In the United States, Beau is predominantly masculine, while in Britain and the Netherlands, it is also given to girls.

Etymology and History

The name derives from the French adjective beau, which itself comes from Latin bellus meaning "pretty, handsome." The word was adopted into English as a noun in the 17th century to refer to a fashionable man or a suitor, but its use as a given name began only in the 20th century. Puritan virtue names (e.g., Grace, Faith) influenced earlier English naming, but Beau, originally an aesthetic descriptor, aligns more with later trends of word names.

Notable Bearers

• Beau Bridges (born 1941), American actor
• Beau Maxwell Dodson (born 1968), American politician
• Beau Garrett (born 1982), American actress

In literature, the name features in Margaret Mitchell's novel Gone with the Wind (1936) as the son of Ashley and Melanie Wilkes. This usage likely contributed to its popularity as a given name in the English-speaking world.

Cultural Significance

Though not commonly used in France itself, Beau is especially popular in the Southern United States and among English speakers. It is sometimes considered a nickname for Beauregard (itself meaning "beautiful gaze" from French Beau regard), though Beau stands on its own as a given name. Its Dutch variant is Bo 3.

Key Facts

• Meaning: "Beautiful, handsome"
• Origin: French
• Type: Given name (word name), sometimes a nickname for Beauregard
• Usage regions: English-speaking countries (especially United States), Netherlands