Bo is a distinctive boys' name in United States, ranking #769 in 1996 with 191 recorded births. The name reached its all-time peak in 2025 with 698 births ranking #449. In 1996, approximately 1 in every 9,917 boys born was named Bo. RISING Recent data shows the name is currently rising.
Bo is a very short name with more than one background. In Scandinavian use it has an older history of its own, while in English-speaking use it is often treated as a short form of Beau or another longer name.
The name's simplicity is part of its appeal, but it also means context matters more than usual. Its modern use spans everything from Nordic tradition to relaxed cowboy-style nickname naming.