UK name, mostly boys
Beau
Masculine name of French origin meaning "handsome" or "beautiful".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 3,231 girls.
Beau is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Beau popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #110, with 477 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2021, with 507 births.
This profile covers 6,722 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 94% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 6,989 living people in the UK are called Beau. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Beau ranked #110 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 477 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2021, when 507 boys were registered as Beau.
- • Beau ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #160 in 2024.
- • Beau is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 6,989 living people in the UK are estimated to have Beau as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 67.5% of Beau registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#110
2024
Births in 2024
477
Latest year
Peak year
2021
507 births
Estimated living
6,989
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Beau
In England and Wales birth records, Beau has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 67.5% of registrations are for boys and 32.5% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Beau registered for boys
- Ranked #110 in 2024
- 477 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2021 (507 births)
Beau registered for girls
- Ranked #432 in 2024
- 99 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 2012 (302 births)
Meaning
What does Beau mean?
Beau is a French name derived from the Old French word "beau" meaning "handsome" or "beautiful." The name has been in use since the Middle Ages and was initially used as a nickname or descriptive term rather than a formal given name.
The earliest recorded use of Beau as a given name dates back to the 13th century in France. During this time, it was common for people to adopt descriptive nicknames based on physical characteristics or virtues, and Beau likely emerged as a complimentary term for an attractive individual.
One of the earliest notable individuals with the name Beau was Beau Brummell (1778-1840), an influential English gentleman and arbiter of men's fashion in the Regency era. His impeccable style and attention to detail set the standard for men's dress in the early 19th century, and the term "Beau Brummell" became synonymous with elegance and refinement.
Another famous Beau in history was Beau Nash (1674-1761), a celebrated English dandy and master of ceremonies at the city of Bath. He played a significant role in establishing Bath as a fashionable resort town and was known for his wit, charm, and love of extravagance.
In the realm of literature, Beau Tibault is a prominent character in William Shakespeare's play "Henry VI, Part 2." Tibault is a French nobleman and a supporter of the House of York during the Wars of the Roses. The name Beau was likely chosen to reflect his noble and handsome character.
One of the earliest recorded instances of Beau as a given name in the United States was Beau Brummell Browne (1779-1861), an American soldier and politician from Kentucky. He served in the War of 1812 and later became a prominent figure in Kentucky politics.
Another notable American with the name Beau was Beau Hickory (1913-1964), a professional wrestler from Texas. He was known for his flamboyant persona and showmanship in the ring, embodying the spirit of the name Beau.
Over time, the name Beau has transcended its original French roots and has been adopted globally, particularly in English-speaking countries. While it retains its association with attractiveness and charm, it has also become a popular choice for parents seeking a unique and stylish name for their children.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Beau over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Beau in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Beau, the clearest high point is 2021. The latest England and Wales figure is 477 births in 2024, compared with 507 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Beau by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Beau was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #118 | 2,322 | 5 |
| 2010s | #182 | 3,060 | 10 |
| 2000s | #351 | 1,217 | 10 |
| 1990s | #589 | 123 | 4 |
Geography
Where Beau is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Beau. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Beau ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #160 in 2024.
Across the UK
Beau in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#160 in 2024
18 years of NRS records, 206 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#164 in 2024
14 years of NISRA records, 103 total registered
Related
Names similar to Beau
- Benjamin 90,412
- Ben 36,356
- Bradley 30,230
- Brandon 26,411
- Billy 18,608
- Bobby 16,904
- Blake 16,337
- Bailey 16,014
- Brody 7,230
- Barnaby 5,284
- Brodie 4,801
- Bilal 4,114
FAQ
Beau: questions and answers
How popular is the name Beau in the UK right now?
In 2024, Beau was ranked #110 for boys in England and Wales, with 477 births registered.
When was Beau most popular?
The peak year on record was 2021, with 507 babies registered as Beau in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Beau?
Masculine name of French origin meaning "handsome" or "beautiful".
How many people are called Beau in the UK?
A total of 6,722 babies have been registered as Beau across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 206 more in Scotland and 103 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Beau most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Beau ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #160 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.