Bijou
A girl's name with 292 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
jewel; piece of jewelry
Bijou is a girl's baby name of French origin, meaning "jewel" or "trinket" — from the Breton "bizou" (ring for the finger). In French, "bijou" also means something small and exquisite, and the word has entered English as an adjective meaning "attractively small and elegant."
Bijou is a name of pure French luxury — small enough to hold in your hand, precious enough to keep forever. It suits a child who is both rare and irreplaceable, a gem in the fullest sense.
EtymologyShow more
Bijou is built from 5 letters and two syllables — a mid-length form that balances memorability with distinctiveness.
The interplay of consonants and vowels in Bijou creates its characteristic open, approachable quality. Two-syllable names are the most common length in American naming, hitting a natural speech rhythm that works across formal and informal contexts.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Bijou was #11773 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #15627, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 42 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 128 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 117 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 5 | — |
The Story of Bijou
A Gen Z name
Peaking in 2010, Bijou is a name that defines a generation. Girls named Bijou are most likely born between 2000 and 2020.
How rare is Bijou?
Only about 1 in every 720,000 babies born in 2024 was named Bijou — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1998, peaked in the 2010s with 128 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Bijou by the numbers
- Would fill 6 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(26 years, 1998–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 | #15627 |
| 2023 | 8 | #11337 |
| 2022 | 9 | #10523 |
| 2021 | 13 | #8100 |
| 2020 | 7 | #12351 |
| 2019 | 8 | #11535 |
| 2018 | 8 | #11579 |
| 2017 | 10 | #10081 |
| 2016 | 11 | #9515 |
| 2015 | 10 | #10266 |
| 2014 | 10 | #10258 |
| 2013 | 18 | #6779 |
| 2012 | 15 | #7871 |
| 2011 | 16 | #7492 |
| 2010 | 22 | #6008 |
| 2009 | 19 | #6852 |
| 2008 | 11 | #10191 |
| 2007 | 20 | #6601 |
| 2006 | 14 | #8309 |
| 2005 | 15 | #7565 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1998–2024