Abu
Every Abu since 1971 — 468 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Abu
Abu is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #5,610 in 2025 with 16 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1971, 468 American babies have been named Abu. Its peak came in 2007, when 17 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2000s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Abu stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Abu year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | #5,610 |
| 2024 | 10 | #7,775 |
| 2023 | 9 | #8,268 |
| 2022 | 10 | #7,773 |
| 2021 | 7 | #9,732 |
| 2020 | 8 | #8,748 |
| 2019 | 8 | #8,901 |
| 2018 | 16 | #5,548 |
| 2017 | 12 | #6,691 |
| 2016 | 5 | #12,216 |
| 2015 | 7 | #9,586 |
| 2014 | 7 | #9,652 |
| 2013 | 8 | #8,797 |
| 2012 | 11 | #7,062 |
| 2011 | 14 | #5,952 |
| 2010 | 9 | #8,152 |
| 2009 | 14 | #6,097 |
| 2008 | 15 | #5,769 |
| 2007 | 17 | #5,210 |
| 2006 | 15 | #5,525 |
| 2005 | 13 | #5,877 |
| 2004 | 10 | #6,980 |
| 2003 | 9 | #7,250 |
| 2002 | 13 | #5,398 |
| 2001 | 10 | #6,450 |
| 2000 | 13 | #5,299 |
| 1995 | 7 | #6,994 |
| 1990 | 6 | #7,184 |
| 1985 | 7 | #5,153 |
| 1980 | 11 | #3,616 |
| 1975 | 6 | #4,799 |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Famous people named Abu
- Abu Bakr Religious figure · 573–634
- Abu Hanifa Religious figure · 698–767
- Abu Nuwas Writer · 762–814
- Abu Sufyan ibn Harb Politician · 580–641
- Abu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib Religious figure · 539–619
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Abu in 2025?
Abu ranked #5,610 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 16 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Abu?
468 babies have been named Abu in the United States since 1971, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Abu most popular?
Abu peaked in 2007, when 17 newborns received the name.
Is Abu a boy or girl name?
Abu is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Abu rising or falling?
Abu is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Abu?
Well-known people named Abu include Abu Bakr (religious figure), Abu Hanifa (religious figure), Abu Nuwas (writer).