He was named after his grandfathers, and his mother, Melissa O'Rourke, said on the campaign trail during his U.S. Senate run that "Robert"  her father's name  didn't seem to fit when he was a baby. The family has deep roots in El Paso, and Beto is a common shortening of the name Roberto or Robert.

Beto O'Rourke earned a national reputation running against Ted Cruz for the Texas Senate seat, and he is now running for the Democratic Party's nomination for President in 2024. His wife, Amy O'Rourke, has had a significant presence on the campaign trail, aking appearances in Iowa, New Hampshire, and New York.