Beau

Beautiful; handsome.

Beau comes from the French word for “beautiful” or “handsome”. As a given name it is used in English and Dutch, so its French origin tells you where the word comes from rather than where the name is most at home. The word itself goes back to Latin bellus. In English, Beau is said in one syllable, rhyming with “go”; the French word has a steady o sound, /bo/. The three letters eau belong together, rather than forming separate beats. The name is used for both boys and girls in Britain and the Netherlands, while American use is mainly masculine. The masculine grammar of the French adjective does not set an absolute rule for the given name. There is a pleasing contrast between Beau’s spare sound and its openly complimentary meaning. The rounded ending can feel gentle, while the four-letter spelling has a little more visual flourish than the spoken name suggests. It may appeal if you like a brief, affectionate sound but want a name whose meaning makes a clear statement.

Etymology: From the French adjective beau, meaning “beautiful” or “handsome”, ultimately from Latin bellus. The French word is the linguistic source; Beau is also an established given name in English and Dutch.