Anu
Anu is a given name and surname found independently in several cultures. The Finnish and Estonian name is derived from the Karelian variant of the name Anna, which became popular after Kersti Bergroth's play Anu ja Mikko of 1932. The Sanskrit name is a short form of Anuradha, Anurag, Anubhooti, etc. The Nigerian name which means 'Mercy', is a short form of Anuoluwa, Anuoluwapo, etc.
- Finnish
- Estonian
- Semitic Mythology
Meaning & Origin of Anu
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Anu is a given name and surname found independently in several cultures. The Finnish and Estonian name is derived from the Karelian variant of the name Anna, which became popular after Kersti Bergroth's play Anu ja Mikko of 1932. The Sanskrit name is a short form of Anuradha, Anurag, Anubhooti, etc. The Nigerian name which means 'Mercy', is a short form of Anuoluwa, Anuoluwapo, etc.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Finnish
- Estonian
- Semitic Mythology
The Story of Anu
As a girl name
American parents first put Anu on the record books as a girl name in 1972, with 6 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 2004, when 15 Anus were born — ranking #7,391 that year. The 2000s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 27% of all recorded Anus. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2024 (8 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 282 Anus have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Anu first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 2005, with 5 babies given the name that year. The name hit its high-water mark in 2023: 18 births, good for #5,249 nationwide. The 2020s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 73% of all recorded Anus. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #6,523 among boy names with 12 births, rising sharply (+24% over the past five years). In total, more than 99 Anus have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Anu
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Anu. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Names that sound like Anu
Phonetically similar names — useful when Anu is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Anu
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About the name Anu
Anu is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1972 and has accumulated 282 births in the dataset. Anu's peak popularity came in 2004 when it ranked #7,391. Use the chart and map above to compare Anu's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2004 →
- Names of the 2000s →
- Names starting with "A" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.