Bo
Bo is a unisex name of Norse origin meaning “to live, wave, castle.” It ranked #449 in the United States in 2025. A Scandinavian name derived from the Old Norse 'bua' meaning to live or dwell.
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how do you pronounce Bo?
BOH
where does the name Bo come from?
Bo has more than one origin. It can be a spelling variant of the male name Beau, or come from a word for a dweller or long-time resident, originally a medieval byname.
In Chinese it can mean wave or precious. Used throughout Scandinavia as a standalone name, Bo has become a jaunty, friendly single-syllable choice in English-speaking countries.
how popular is this name?
Bo has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 48 years since 1977, and fell outside it for 1. It peaked at #449 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #449 |
| 2024 | #452 |
| 2023 | #478 |
| 2022 | #497 |
| 2021 | #480 |
| 2020 | #540 |
| 2019 | #566 |
| 2018 | #572 |
| 2017 | #610 |
| 2016 | #595 |
| 2010 | #834 |
| 2000 | #977 |
| 1990 | #602 |
| 1980 | #568 |
| 1977 | #975 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Bo fell outside the top 1,000.
who are famous people named Bo?
- Bo Diddley (musician)
- Bo Jackson (athlete)
- Bo Derek (actress)
what are the nicknames and variants of Bo?
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Bo?
what names go well with Bo?
Sibling names that share Bo's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Bo
What does the name Bo mean?
Bo means “to live, wave, castle”.
What is the origin of the name Bo?
Bo comes from the Norse naming tradition. Related forms include Beau.
How popular is the name Bo?
Bo ranked #449 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 2025, at #449, and it has spent 48 years in the top 1,000 since 1977.
Is Bo a boy or girl name?
Bo is a unisex name, used for both boys and girls.
How do you pronounce Bo?
Bo is pronounced BOH, with 1 syllable.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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