NameCensus.

UK name, mostly girls

Bo

A short Scandinavian name meaning "to dwell" or "to live".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Also recorded as a boys' name in the UK, with 263 boys.

Bo is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Bo popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2689, with 9 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2012, with 63 births.

This profile covers 682 England and Wales registrations across 25 recorded years from 1997 to 2023. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 14% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 684 living people in the UK are called Bo. 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 2024 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Bo ranked #2689 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 9 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2012, when 63 girls were registered as Bo.
  • Bo ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #765 in 2020.
  • Bo is also recorded for boys, but the girls side is the larger UK variant in these records.
  • About 684 living people in the UK are estimated to have Bo as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 72.2% of Bo registrations are for girls.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2689

2023

Births in 2023

9

Latest year

Peak year

2012

63 births

Estimated living

684

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Bo

In England and Wales birth records, Bo has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 27.8% of registrations are for boys and 72.2% 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.

28% boys
72% girls
Boys263 (27.8%)Girls682 (72.2%)

Bo registered for boys

  • Ranked #2,263 in 2024
  • 10 boys registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2021 (25 births)

Bo registered for girls

  • Ranked #2,689 in 2023
  • 9 girls registered in 2023
  • Peak: 2012 (63 births)

Meaning

What does Bo mean?

The name Bo has its origins in several different cultures and languages around the world. It is believed to have first emerged as a diminutive or nickname form of longer names in various regions.

In Scandinavian countries, Bo is a shortened version of the Old Norse name Böðvarr, which means "messenger of war" or "warrior." This name was commonly used in ancient Viking societies and can be found in Norse sagas and historical records.

In China, Bo is a common surname that can also be used as a given name. It is derived from the Chinese character "波," which means "wave" or "ripple." The name has been used in Chinese culture for centuries and is found in various historical texts and records.

In Vietnam, Bo is a diminutive form of the name Bảo, which means "precious" or "treasure." It has been a popular name in Vietnamese culture for many generations.

In India, Bo is sometimes used as a short form of the Sanskrit name Bodhi, which means "enlightenment" or "awakening." This name has significant importance in Buddhist traditions and is found in various religious texts and scriptures.

Some notable historical figures with the name Bo include:

1. Bo Diddley (1928-2008), an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter, known as a founding father of rock and roll. 2. Bo Guagua (born 1987), the son of former Chinese politician Bo Xilai, who gained notoriety during his father's political scandal. 3. Bo Burnham (born 1990), an American comedian, musician, and actor, known for his satirical comedy and social commentary. 4. Bo Jackson (born 1962), a former American professional baseball and football player, known for his exceptional athleticism in both sports. 5. Bo Svenson (born 1941), a Swedish-American actor and martial artist, best known for his roles in various action films and TV shows.

While the name Bo has diverse roots and meanings across different cultures, it has been used throughout history as a shortened or diminutive form of longer names, often carrying connotations of strength, valor, or enlightenment.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Bo over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Bo in England and Wales, from 1997 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 Bo, the clearest high point is 2012. The latest England and Wales figure is 9 births in 2023, compared with 63 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
019385675199720102024

Decades

Bo by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Bo 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 #2341 45 4
2010s #1342 299 10
2000s #1072 335 10
1990s #3824 3 1

Geography

Where Bo is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Bo. 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.

Bo ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #765 in 2020.

Scotland
3

Across the UK

Bo in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#765 in 2020

2 years of NRS records, 6 total registered

Notable bearers

Famous people named Bo

  • Bo Bragason

    actor

    British actress

    2004-

  • Bo Westcombe-Evans

    rugby union player

    English rugby union player

    2002-

  • Bo Bruce

    singer; singer-songwriter

    singer

    1984-

  • Bo Cheesman

    ice hockey player

    British ice hockey player

    1981-

  • Bo Fowler

    writer

    British writer

    1971-

Related

Names similar to Bo

FAQ

Bo: questions and answers

How popular is the name Bo in the UK right now?

In 2023, Bo was ranked #2689 for girls in England and Wales, with 9 births registered.

When was Bo most popular?

The peak year on record was 2012, with 63 babies registered as Bo in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Bo?

A short Scandinavian name meaning "to dwell" or "to live".

How many people are called Bo in the UK?

A total of 682 babies have been registered as Bo across the 25 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 6 more in Scotland.

Where is Bo most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Bo ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #765 in 2020. 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.