Boaz
Boaz was the 891st most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 268 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 417 places. More babies were named Boaz in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Meaning Origin uncertain · Hebrew
Say it BOH-az /ˈboʊæz/
- Rank in 2025
- #891 boys, up 220 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 268boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2025268 babies
- Total since 1880
- 3,476babies recorded
What does the name Boaz mean?
Boaz is a Hebrew name from the Bible, best known as the landowner who marries Ruth (Ruth 2:1); it is also the name of one of the two bronze pillars at the entrance of Solomon's Temple (1 Kings 7:21). Its meaning is not certain. Wikipedia reports that many have explained it as "in him is strength", from a root meaning "to be strong", while others suggest "quickness" or, following Martin Noth, "of sharp mind".
בֹּעַז (Hebrew, “Boaz”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. Several explanations; none is agreed.
Related names: Boas.
See also: Hebrew names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Boaz', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Hebrew Bible, Ruth 2:1, JPS translation with notes (via Sefaria), Sefaria
- Hebrew Bible, 1 Kings 7:21, JPS translation with notes (via Sefaria), Sefaria
- Wikipedia, 'Boaz', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation)
Nicknames for Boaz
The usual nicknames for Boaz are Bo. Some parents skip the long form: for every 100 boys named Boaz in the last five years, 280 were named Bo, against 483 twenty years earlier.
| Nickname | Kind | Rank 2025 | Boys, 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bo | Modern | #449 | 3,259 |
Nicknames reviewed by our editors; counts are boys given the nickname as their legal first name. Nobody records how many Boazs go by each one.
Boaz popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #891 | 268 |
| 2020 | #1,111 | 177 |
| 2010 | #1,816 | 80 |
| 2000 | #2,924 | 30 |
| 1990 | #5,027 | 10 |
| 1980 | #3,879 | 10 |
| 1970 | #4,281 | 6 |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Boaz, counting every spelling?
Boaz has no other common spelling that sounds the same. Counting every name's spellings together, it ranks #860 for boys in 2025, against #891 on the official list.
How many kids will share the name Boaz?
268 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Boaz (0.07 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Boaz born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 31 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Boaz.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Boaz?
About 3,400 people born in the US named Boaz are alive today, with a median age of 9; half are between 4 and 16. That makes Boaz a young name: most people with it are children.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Boaz by state
How common Boaz was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Oregon (3.3×), Missouri (2.2×), Washington (1.9×), Virginia (1.8×), Michigan (1.8×). In 23 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Boaz: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Boaz, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Boaz · Sibling names for Boaz
Questions about the name Boaz
What does Boaz mean?
The origin of Boaz is uncertain: several explanations; none is agreed.
How popular is the name Boaz?
Boaz was the 891st most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 268 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 417 places. More babies were named Boaz in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Is Boaz a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Boaz in the US.
Where is Boaz most popular?
In 2021–2025, Boaz was most common in Idaho (0.46 per 1,000 boys), followed by Oregon and Missouri.