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.
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! https://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!