Bo

Bo has several independent origins. In Scandinavian use, it comes from an Old Norse name connected with the verb “to live.” In Chinese, the meaning depends on the character being represented; one possible character means “wave.” English-speaking families may also use Bo as a nickname or as a spelling related to Beau.

Those routes should be kept separate: “handsome,” associated with French Beau, is not the historical meaning of Scandinavian Bo. With only two letters, Bo has very little spelling to manage but may need a longer explanation of its background. Choosing the tradition that matters to your family gives this compact name a much more precise story.