What does Leroy mean?
From the Old French 'le roi', meaning 'the king', originally a Norman nickname or occupational byname. A literal 'the king' name.
What does Beau mean?
Beau comes directly from the French for “handsome” or “beautiful.”
Leroy vs Beau
Which is more popular?
Beau is more popular than Leroy today: about 5,165 US babies were given the name Beau in 2025, compared with 0 named Leroy.
| Leroy | Beau | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | the king | Handsome |
| Origin | french | French |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | luh-ROY | BOH |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| First appeared | 0 | 1932 |
| Peak year | 1924 (3,922) | 2025 (5,165) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 5,165 |
| Trend | Vintage | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Leroy
Beau
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Leroy | Beau |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 1,596 | 25,086 |
| 2010s | 2,173 | 17,768 |
| 2000s | 2,159 | 6,134 |
| 1990s | 3,554 | 5,617 |
| 1980s | 5,600 | 7,174 |
| 1970s | 8,408 | 3,145 |
| 1960s | 15,220 | 472 |
| 1950s | 24,588 | 123 |
| 1940s | 33,864 | 68 |
| 1930s | 36,255 | 5 |
| 1920s | 37,871 | 0 |
| 1910s | 21,275 | 0 |
| 1900s | 4,300 | 0 |
| 1890s | 2,544 | 0 |
| 1880s | 1,574 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Leroy or Beau more popular?
Beau is more popular than Leroy today: about 5,165 US babies were given the name Beau in 2025, compared with 0 named Leroy.
What is the difference between Leroy and Beau?
Leroy means the king (french origin), while Beau means Handsome (French origin).
Which name is older, Leroy or Beau?
In US records, Leroy first appears in 0 and Beau in 1932, so Leroy has the longer recorded history.