Beto is a short form of the Spanish name 'José María', which means 'God will increase'. It is also a popular nickname for 'José'. The name gained significant attention when used by José 'Beto' O'Rourke, an American politician and former businessman who served as the U.S. Representative for Texas's 16th congressional district from 2013 to 2019. He is known for his run in the Democratic Party primaries for the 2020 U.S. presidential election. The name Beto is also commonly used in Spanish-speaking countries and has been ranked among the most popular boys' names in Mexico, Chile, and other Latin American nations.
"Beto experienced peak popularity as a baby name in the late 1960s and early 2020s, with eight births each recorded in 1963 and 2023. The name's usage has generally remained stable over time, with five or six births per year being common since the late 1990s."