Boe

Primarily a boy's name of Old Norse origin with 1,043 recorded births. Also given to 22 girls.

Boy's nameAlso girl's#3522 in 2024Rising fast

Meaning & Origin

A surname.

Boe is a boy's and girl's baby name of Old Norse origin, from the Old Norse bói or bý meaning 'settlement,' 'farm,' or 'dweller' — a common element in place names across Scandinavia and Norse-settled Britain.

Boe has the minimalist cool of Scandinavian two-and-three-letter names — clean, crisp, and completely distinctive. It's the same root as names like Bøe in Norwegian, with the natural warmth of a name that sounds like 'bow' — both the instrument and the gesture.

EtymologyShow more

The ending of a name often carries more etymological information than the beginning. Boe's final sounds are open, approachable — ending on a vowel softens the overall impression. In English-language naming, masculine names frequently end on harder consonants or closed syllables, creating a sense of decisiveness and strength. Boe softens that pattern, giving it a more versatile feel.

Explore the ending-based name pages on this site to find names that share Boe's suffix pattern — names with similar endings often share a style and era, even when they come from different linguistic backgrounds.

At a Glance

1,043

Total births

Since 1971

2015

Peak

40 births

1971

First recorded

54 years of data

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Popularity Over Time

Boe climbed 1755 spots in the last 20 years — from #5277 to #3522.

First appeared: 1971Peak: 2015 (40 births)Current: #3522

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Boe
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	168	#3421	▼
2010s	337	#3343	▲
2000s	169	#5151	▲
1990s	104	#5491	▼
1980s	166	#3182	▲
1970s	99	#3444	—

The Story of Boe

A Gen Alpha name

Peaking in 2015, Boe is a fresh, modern favorite. Boys named Boe are most likely born between 2005 and 2024.

How rare is Boe?

Only about 1 in every 112,500 babies born in 2024 was named Boe — a truly uncommon choice.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1971, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 2010s with 337 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.

Boe by the numbers

Would fill 22 school buses
Meeting one Boe per day would take 2.9 years

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(54 years, 1971–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Boe
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	32	#3522	-5 (-13.5%)
2023	37	#3231	+2 (5.7%)
2022	35	#3344	-2 (-5.4%)
2021	37	#3184	+10 (37.0%)
2020	27	#3826	-6 (-18.2%)
2019	33	#3431	-3 (-8.3%)
2018	36	#3175	+2 (5.9%)
2017	34	#3318	-5 (-12.8%)
2016	39	#3001	-1 (-2.5%)
2015	40	#2924	+3 (8.1%)
2014	37	#3042	+3 (8.8%)
2013	34	#3193	+11 (47.8%)
2012	23	#4264	-12 (-34.3%)
2011	35	#3174	+9 (34.6%)
2010	26	#3905	+10 (62.5%)
2009	16	#5583	-15 (-48.4%)
2008	31	#3492	+12 (63.2%)
2007	19	#4828	-3 (-13.6%)
2006	22	#4238	+3 (15.8%)
2005	19	#4489	+4 (26.7%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Boe as a Girl's Name

While overwhelmingly a boy's name, Boe has also been given to 22 girls in the U.S. since 2013.

Unranked

Current rank

Total births

2013

Peak year

Compare Boe as boy vs girl

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Boe a boy's or girl's name?

Boe is primarily a boy's name. It is also used as a girl's name, with 22 recorded births.

When was Boe most popular?

Boe reached its peak popularity in 2015 with 40 births that year. It is currently ranked #3522 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Boe?

Boe is currently ranked #3522 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 1,043 babies since 1971.

Can Boe be used for both boys and girls?

Yes, Boe is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name, it currently ranks #3522. As a girl's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Explore More

By Length3-letter names By OriginOld Norse names By EndingNames in -e TrendingRising names RankingsFull rankings

Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1971–2024

Boe