Bo Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Bo is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Bo?
Bo is spelled B-O. The name has 2 letters.
Bo at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Bo can mean “to live” or “to dwell” in some Scandinavian languages.
- Origin
- Bo is commonly associated with Scandinavian usage, where it functions as a short form or standalone name.
- Pronunciation
- boh · 1 syllable
Bo Popularity in 2025
Rank#4,546
Recorded Births30
Rank#449
Recorded Births698
- Girls usage rose 2,096 places to #4,546 and recorded 13 more births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage rose 3 places to #449 and recorded 6 more births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Bo Mean?
Bo can mean “to live” or “to dwell” in some Scandinavian languages.
Origin: Bo is commonly associated with Scandinavian usage, where it functions as a short form or standalone name.
How Do You Pronounce Bo?
Pronunciationboh
Syllables1
What Is the History of the Name Bo?
- History
- Records indicate the use of Bo as a given name in Nordic countries over several centuries.
Bo Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 30 | #4,546 |
| 2025 | Boys | 698 | #449 |
| 2024 | Girls | 17 | #6,642 |
| 2024 | Boys | 692 | #452 |
| 2023 | Girls | 22 | #5,549 |
| 2023 | Boys | 633 | #478 |
| 2022 | Girls | 29 | #4,671 |
| 2022 | Boys | 614 | #497 |
| 2021 | Girls | 42 | #3,614 |
| 2021 | Boys | 622 | #480 |
| 2020 | Girls | 20 | #5,850 |
| 2020 | Boys | 525 | #540 |
| 2019 | Girls | 31 | #4,437 |
| 2019 | Boys | 493 | #566 |
| 2018 | Girls | 32 | #4,357 |
| 2018 | Boys | 483 | #572 |
| 2017 | Girls | 21 | #5,821 |
| 2017 | Boys | 432 | #610 |
| 2016 | Girls | 27 | #4,990 |
| 2016 | Boys | 453 | #595 |
| 2015 | Girls | 17 | #6,977 |
| 2015 | Boys | 434 | #618 |
| 2014 | Girls | 14 | #8,053 |
| 2014 | Boys | 414 | #633 |
When Was Bo Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2025 · Boys
698 recorded births
National rank #449
2024 · Boys
692 recorded births
National rank #452
2023 · Boys
633 recorded births
National rank #478
2021 · Boys
622 recorded births
National rank #480
Where Bo Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| MT | #173 | 7 |
| SD | #192 | 7 |
| UT | #193 | 28 |
| WV | #200 | 9 |
| TN | #217 | 41 |
| OR | #230 | 18 |
| ID | #256 | 10 |
| NE | #266 | 9 |