Boy · #9,752 in 2026

Kalu

The Kalu or The Kanu is both a surname and a given name for male child in Igbo or Ibo land located in the eastern part of Nigeria. Among the Igbo people it refers to the traditional Igbo god of thunder and lightning, Kamanu or Kamalu, which was then shortened to Kanu. In the Newar community of Nepal this term is used as the surname for the tribal caste under "Shrestha" Community.

Current Rank
#9,752
Peak Rank
#8,731 (2020)
Total Babies
33
5-Yr Trend
Stable
2008
First Year
2023
Last Year
2020
Peak Year
#8731
Peak Rank
33
Total Count
5
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Kalu

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

The Kalu or The Kanu is both a surname and a given name for male child in Igbo or Ibo land located in the eastern part of Nigeria. Among the Igbo people it refers to the traditional Igbo god of thunder and lightning, Kamanu or Kamalu, which was then shortened to Kanu. In the Newar community of Nepal this term is used as the surname for the tribal caste under "Shrestha" Community.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

The Story of Kalu

Kalu first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 2008, with 7 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2020, when 8 Kalus were born — ranking #8,731 that year. As of 2026, Kalu ranks #9,752 for baby boys with 7 births, with steady use. In total, more than 33 Kalus have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

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Top 10
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No data

Names that sound like Kalu

Phonetically similar names — useful when Kalu 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 Kalu

What does the name Kalu mean?
The Kalu or The Kanu is both a surname and a given name for male child in Igbo or Ibo land located in the eastern part of Nigeria. Among the Igbo people it refers to the traditional Igbo god of thunder and lightning, Kamanu or Kamalu, which was then shortened to Kanu. In the Newar community of Nepal this term is used as the surname for the tribal caste under "Shrestha" Community.
How popular is Kalu in 2026?
In 2026, Kalu ranks #9,752 among boys' names in the U.S., with 7 babies given the name that year.
When was Kalu most popular?
Kalu reached its peak popularity in 2020, ranking #8,731 that year with 8 babies given the name.
Is Kalu a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Kalu is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Kalu?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Kalu include Ives, Wellesley, Keaven. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

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Ives
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Wellesley
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Keaven
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Cashawn
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Banning
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Tierney
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Nickolous
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About the name Kalu

Kalu is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2008 and has accumulated 33 births in the dataset. Kalu's peak popularity came in 2020 when it ranked #8,731. Use the chart and map above to compare Kalu's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

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.