The baby name Beckett combines modern style with serious literary roots.
Thanks to September for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
ETT MARKS THE SPOT
Beckett debuted in the US Top 1000 in 2006 at #753.
It fit right in with established names like Garrett, as well as fast-rising newcomers, including Benett, Everett, Emmett, and the similar Wyatt and Elliot/Elliott.
It terms of stylish surnames, the baby name Beckett just plain fit.
MULTIPLE MEANINGS
When it comes to meaning, Beckett is most often a place name.
It’s found on the map in England, where “beck” refers to a stream. Or possibly, it comes from a phrase meaning “bee” and “cottage.”
Or perhaps it’s not a place name at all. In Middle English, beke meant beak. The French word was bec. It’s possible that Beckett referred to someone with a prominent nose.
It’s been around for ages, though, and other origins and meanings are possible.
THOMAS A
The notables bearers of the surname Beckett really color the name’s image.
First up: Archbishop Thomas à Becket, who served in the twelfth century under King Henry II of England. Incidentally, in his lifetime, he was plain old Thomas Becket. The ‘à’ was added centuries later.
In any case, Becket went toe-to-toe with the king over the rights of the monarch to exercise authority over the church. After much drama, they had reached a compromise, and Becket returned from exile in France.
But just as they patched things up, Becket set Henry II off again. And the king muttered something like this: Will no one rid us of this pesky priest?
The king’s loyal followers took it as an order, and off they went to kill the archbishop.
Within two years, Thomas had been canonized, adding him to a long list of saints named Thomas.
SAMUEL
Fast-forward to the twentieth century and there’s Nobel Prize-winning author Samuel Beckett, a native of Dublin, Ireland, famous for his play Waiting for Godot.
Along with Edward Albee, Tom Stoppard, Eugene Ionesco, Jean Genet, and a number of others, Beckett’s works are usually considered “Theater of the Absurd” – plays where the characters fail to find meaning or reach a defined goal. They’re not exactly bedtime stories.
But it does lend the baby name Beckett quite a bit of literary cachet. The writer was a major force in twentieth century literature. Beyond his accomplishments on the page, he also earned the recognition of the French government for his work in the resistance during World War II, with a Croix de Guerre. The award recognizes bravery in combat.
POP CULTURE BECKETTS
On a far lighter note, over the last few decades, pop culture has made the baby name Beckett familiar through frequent use as a first and last name.
- The hero of time travel series Quantum Leap was Sam Beckett. The series debuted in 1989 and ran through 1993.
- Singer Beck scored his first hit in the 1990s.
- Lord Cutler Beckett is a villain in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. He last appeared in 2007.
- Crime drama Castle gave us Detective Kate Beckett, often referred to by her surname only. It ran from 2009 to 2016.
- In 2018, Solo: A Star Wars Story, we meet a young Han Solo and his reluctant mentor, Tobias Beckett, played by Woody Harrelson.
- Artemis Fowl has a little brother named Beckett in the book series, though he didn’t appear in the movie.
BABY NAME BECKETT: STYLISH AND LITERARY
Overall, the baby name Beckett benefits from its most famous bearers. It sounds principled, intelligent, creative, and bold. And while it’s undeniably stylish now, with the -ett ending, it sounds like a name that will stand the test of time.
Since debuting in the US Top 1000 in 2006, the has climbed to #215 as of 2019. That’s still relatively uncommon. If you’re after something modern, but with roots; familiar, but slightly unexpected, then the baby name Beckett could be exactly right.
Would you consider the baby name Beckett for a son?
First published on December 2, 2011, this post was revised substantially republished on October 28, 2020.
My son is a “Beckett” (currently 8-year-old) and likes his name. He gets a lot of compliments on it when he meets someone new. My husband and I chose it because it’s not very common (which I like) but still sounds traditional (which my husband likes). Only a very few insensitive adults have called him “bucket” in his lifetime (what kind of an adult makes fun of a kid’s name to his face?). As far as kids go, playground smack talk hasn’t gone in that direction yet. But if we are talking about nicknames, just about every name could birth a nickname. I feel for my husband who inherited the family name “Hoyle” — sounds like hole so you can imagine what his childhood was like. 🙂
I have a 3 year old Beckett who I think wears his name perfectly. I had never met a Beckett until about two or three years before he was born. I taught a little blond boy at a Montessori school and absolutely loved him and his unique name. I knew I wanted to use it someday. It seems appropriate that my guy is a towhead too.=)
We named our son Beckett in November. I know of 3 other people that named their son, as we found when ppl asked his name. We weren’t trying to be trendy or unique, just really liked the name. I am surprised by some of the responses here, as we have gotten overwhelmingly positive response. Only negative was more of hesitation from my husband’s more traditional parents. His mom recently admitted that it fits him, her boyfriend said he loves it (he’s 75). One person told my husband we made it up, haha. Some call him Beck, which is fine by us.
So I rather like Beckett. Not one that I’d use, but it sounds handsomely boyish to me and it doesn’t bother me really that it’s a last-name. (Sometimes that would bother me.) Totally doesn’t make me think of buckets – mainly makes me think of the guy who played Sam Beckett, though I couldn’t remember which character of his was associated with Beckett.
I’m honestly surprised by all the Beckett-hate! And the thoughts of buckets. Then again, I’m one who can’t be bothered by the Violet-violent and Charlotte-harlot associations, either. Why is it that ends-in-t names seem to have these associations for people?
I’m not bothered by the violent/harlot thing with Violet and Charlotte at all, so I can’t speak for anyone else on that, but I think part of the reason Beckett is so reminiscent of buckets for me is that it’s a surname name not traditionally used as a first name. Violet and Charlotte have hundreds of years’ worth of associations on actual people, and the only person I know with the last name Beckett is the medieval Thomas (well, obviously I don’t actually KNOW him ;)).
That is a really good point, Rosy. Charlotte and Violet certainly have more first name use. But, to me, Beckett doesn’t even sound like “bucket,” at all! I do get the Thomas Becket and Samuel Beckett connections, though…
Yuck. I’ve always hated Beckett; it’s extremely trendy and I just think of buckets.
One of Maria’s classmates has a baby sibling named Beckett. They have a surname like “Floyd” and little Becket’s mom told me people are frequently flipping the names around.. as if “Floyd” was a typical baby name. If Beckett gets any closer to the top100, they probably won’t have this problem anymore.
I prefer Albee 😉 , but I could warm up to Beckett.
I know of a little girl (born in 2007) and little boy named Beckett (born in 2006). Are there any stats on Beckett for girls?
There were 21 girls named Beckett in 2010 – I haven’t looked back, but I’m guessing there have never been more. The possibility of using Becky as a nickname makes her feel like Emerson or Ellison or Elliot, I think … and yet, she isn’t catching on in big numbers – yet.
in the Boston/New England area at least, the Red Sox’s phenom pitcher Josh Beckett definitely led to what seemed to be a surge in wee Becketts running around. likely that was a passing influences, though. I kind of like the name, but I’m not sure if I could articulate clearly why…
Interesting – funny how that kind of influence can really make a difference!
Not a huge fan of this name, reminds me of “bucket”. But I can see why it’s trendy, most -tt names are all the rage these days.
Well, I love Beckett! It’s probably my second-favorite boy name after Jude. I grew up really adoring Bennett, but my brother is Ben, so that would be weird. To me, Beckett has this smart-but-comfy vibe going on that I really like. I’m attracted to surname-names (e.g., Archer) and names that aren’t really surnames but sound that way (e.g., Holden) – Beckett really fits the bill. I think Beck and Becks are handsome nicknames – not just because of the David Beckham connection, which I really don’t care about – and for something cutesy, Bee seems fitting. I just think Beckett is a great name!
I don’t really understand the appeal of Beckett. I’m sorry, but all I hear is bucket and beckon. And I’m not big on surnames as first names.
Wyatt is the only -tt ending name I really like.
Too close to ‘bucket’ for me personally, but I absolutely see the appeal.
I went to University where Thomas Becket is buried, so the name is out for me. Also, in England the name is too associated with the saint, and that’s what people will think of first. Saying that, I really do like it.
Name of my former secondary school, and since most of my friends hated the place, it’s unlikely that I’d use the name, despite liking the short form of Beck. Thanks to the school, I also know more about Thomas Becket than is really advisable.
We considered this as a middle name because my mother-in-law’s maiden name has ‘beck’ in it. I just prefer Beck by itself, but that doesn’t flow well in combos. Darn you Beck Hansen, for making me like this one so much! 😛
Another Sci Fi reference for Beckett would be Dr. Carson Beckett in Stargate Atlantis.
Beck Weathers is another bearer of the name. He was one of the surviving members of the doomed Everest expedition that killed Scott Fischer and several others…Jon Krakauer wrote a book on this expedition. Beck is actually his middle name, his full name being Seaborn Beck Weathers, which turned me on to both Seaborn and Beck as names. Just love them as a combo or individually. But seeing how popular Beckett is getting, that makes me less likely to use it…maybe just as a middle name. 🙁
Oh, I read that years ago – funny, I had “Beck Weathers” floating through my head at one point while I was writing this, but I kept thinking he was a musician. Beck is handsomely rugged, isn’t he? And Seaborn … over-the-top preppy, but Seaborn has a certain outdoorsy vibe, too. I just read an old interview with him and WOW! http://climb.mountainzone.com/interviews/2001/weathers/html/index.html
Wow! Thanks for the link, I haven’t read that one yet. It’s quite deep. I’ve always admired Beck Weathers and thought his name was quite fitting. You’re right about Seaborn seeming over-the-top preppy, but I look at it more as an outdoorsy name. Makes me think of salt water spraying onto my face as I ride a boat across the sea. 🙂 also, it’s an old, old name…that appeals all the more to me!