boy's name · in the US
Bow
BOH (English)
- Gender Boy (US)
- Syllables 1
- Letters 3
- Popularity Rare
- Births on record 591
Bow is a boy's name in the United States, with 1 syllable. It is given to both girls and boys — about 50% of recorded births with this name are girls. In 2025 it was given to 13 babies in the United States. It is a rare choice.
- Peaked in England and Wales in 2012, when 30 babies were given the name.
- It has been rising over the past decade in England and Wales.
- Today about 1 in 43,912 babies in England and Wales is given this name.
- First appears in birth records in 2005.
- 1 syllable, with the stress on syllable 1.
Bow Over Time
Births per decade in England and Wales, 2000s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 2000s | 22 |
| 2010s | 219 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 80 |
How Popular Is Bow?
In 2025, Bow was given to 12 babies in England and Wales. It is a rare choice.
Where Bow Is Used
Figures for England and Wales leave out any name given to fewer than three babies in a year, so a gap means the name fell below that floor rather than went unused. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Bow
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Bow Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Bow over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
Boys' or Girls' Name?
Bow is used differently depending on where you are. Each figure is the share of babies given the name who were girls, over the last ten years of that country's records.
- England & Wales Both 86% girls · 179 babies
- United States Boys' 0% girls · 132 babies
How to Say Bow
- English BOH
Sibling Names for Bow
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Bow — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Bow
How popular is the name Bow?
In 2025, Bow was given to 12 babies in England and Wales. It is a rare choice.
Is Bow a girl's or a boy's name?
Bow is used for both girls and boys. About 50% of recorded births with this name are girls.
How many syllables are in Bow?
Bow has 1 syllable.
When was Bow most popular?
Bow peaked in 2012, when 30 babies were given the name. It has been rising over the past decade.
Is Bow a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Bow currently ranks #2,994 in England and Wales. It has been rising over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.