Beauregard
Beauregard Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity
/ˈboʊ.ɹə.ɡɑɹd/
Meaning of Beauregard: Beauregard is a French compound surname meaning “beautiful view” or “beautiful aspect,” composed of French beau (beautiful, handsome) and regard (view, look, aspect).
It belongs to the large family of French place-name surnames formed from descriptive topographic elements—Beaulieu (beautiful place), Beaumont (beautiful mountain), Beauclair (beautiful light), Beauregard (beautiful view). These French surnames were adopted as place names across France and spread through French-speaking territories in Europe and North America.
Pierre Gustave Toutant-Beauregard (1818–1893) is the name’s defining American historical bearer. Born in Louisiana to a Creole family, Beauregard was a West Point-trained U.S. Army officer who resigned his commission when Louisiana seceded and became one of the Confederacy’s eight full generals.
What Does Beauregard Mean? Origin & Etymology
He commanded the Confederate forces at the bombardment of Fort Sumter on April 12–13, 1861—the action that began the American Civil War—and later commanded at the First Battle of Bull Run (1861) and the Battle of Shiloh (1862). His name is inseparably linked with the opening of the Civil War.
Beauregard peaked in US SSA records around 1870, shortly after the Civil War, when its association with the Southern Confederate cause gave it regional popularity in the American South.
It is rare today outside Louisiana and the Deep South, where it maintains a presence as a traditional Creole and Southern name. For parents with Louisiana heritage or Southern genealogical connections, Beauregard offers a distinctly regional American name with a specific and consequential place in American Civil War history.
Further reading: etymology records and US popularity records from SSA.
Numerology & Symbolism of Beauregard
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Beauregard – Similar Names & Alternatives
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Frequently Asked Questions about Beauregard
What does Beauregard mean?
Beauregard derives from the French surname Beauregard meaning beautiful aspect or beautiful view, from beau (beautiful) and regard (aspect, view, regard). It is associated with Confederate General P. G. T. Beauregard (1818-1893).
How popular is Beauregard?
Beauregard is rare as a given name in the US, used primarily in the South and among families who appreciate its antebellum Southern character. It offers the popular nicknames Beau and Bo.
Is Beauregard a boy or girl name?
Beauregard is exclusively a masculine name. The general's name and the masculine beau (handsome man) element establish it as firmly masculine.
What nicknames does Beauregard have?
Beauregard offers Beau and Bo as nicknames. Beau is in the 2024 US top 200 as a standalone name, making Beauregard a formal long form with an extremely fashionable short form.