NameRealm
Bo

Bo: name meaning, origin & popularity

Meaning
“to live; dwelling”
Origin
Scandinavian
Say it
BOH · 1 syllable
Used for
Boys (94% of all uses)

Used in Scandinavia as a given name from Old Norse búi or related elements meaning resident or dwelling. Also used in English as a short form or independent name.

Scandinavian namesEnglish namesNames meaning lifeShort namesInternational names

How popular is Bo?

2024213 per million US babies
1880192019602000
Drag the line or the slider to read any year. Values are per million US births recorded by Social Security. Records before about 1937 undercount births, so early peaks can look taller than they were.

Babies named Bo in 2024708

2024 rank#451 boys

Peak year2024

Total US babies since 188015,116

Bo is rising: use over the last five years is 2.1× what it was a decade earlier.

Names like Bo

Variants, related forms and names with the same roots.

  • Axelfather of peace · Scandinavian
  • Jensenson of Jens · Scandinavian
  • Ericketernal ruler · Scandinavian
  • Gunnerbold warrior · Scandinavian
  • JohanGod is gracious · Scandinavian
  • Sorenstern · Scandinavian
  • Andersmanly; brave · Scandinavian
  • Henrikhome ruler · Scandinavian

Bo questions

What does the name Bo mean?

Bo means "to live; dwelling". It comes from Scandinavian. Used in Scandinavia as a given name from Old Norse búi or related elements meaning resident or dwelling. Also used in English as a short form or independent name.

Is Bo a boy or girl name?

Bo is mainly a boy's name in US records (95% of uses since 1880).

How popular is Bo?

708 US babies were named Bo in 2024. Its peak year was 2024.

How do you pronounce Bo?

Bo is usually pronounced BOH.

Birth counts: US Social Security Administration national data, 1880–2024 (names given to 5+ babies of a sex in a year). How we write meanings.