Anu
A diminutive of the female given names Anushka, Anusha, Anisha, and Ansuya.
Every Anu since 1972 — 367 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Anu
Anu is not currently in use for newborns in the United States — fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.
Since 1972, 367 American babies have been named Anu — about 77% girls and 23% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2023, when 25 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
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 Anu stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Anu year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 9 | #8,308 |
| 2024 | 8 | #11,214 | 10 | #7,812 |
| 2023 | 7 | #12,296 | 18 | #5,266 |
| 2022 | 7 | #12,361 | 9 | #8,359 |
| 2021 | 7 | #12,339 | 12 | #6,728 |
| 2020 | 15 | #7,252 | — | — |
| 2019 | 7 | #12,579 | 10 | #7,689 |
| 2018 | 7 | #12,604 | 7 | #9,742 |
| 2017 | 6 | #14,316 | — | — |
| 2016 | — | — | — | — |
| 2015 | 6 | #14,696 | — | — |
| 2014 | 5 | #16,791 | — | — |
| 2013 | 9 | #11,114 | — | — |
| 2012 | 6 | #15,149 | — | — |
| 2011 | 12 | #9,220 | 5 | #12,415 |
| 2010 | 9 | #11,352 | — | — |
| 2009 | 8 | #12,547 | — | — |
| 2008 | 8 | #12,697 | — | — |
| 2007 | 8 | #12,792 | — | — |
| 2006 | 8 | #12,534 | — | — |
| 2005 | 8 | #11,952 | 5 | #11,585 |
| 2004 | 15 | #7,434 | — | — |
| 2003 | 6 | #14,029 | — | — |
| 2002 | 5 | #15,664 | — | — |
| 2001 | — | — | — | — |
| 2000 | 9 | #9,965 | — | — |
| 1995 | 6 | #11,900 | — | — |
| 1990 | 7 | #10,284 | — | — |
| 1985 | — | — | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — | — | — |
| 1975 | 8 | #6,525 | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Anu
- Anu Malik Composer · b. 1960
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Anu mean?
A diminutive of the female given names Anushka, Anusha, Anisha, and Ansuya.
How popular is the name Anu in 2025?
Anu did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.
How many people are named Anu?
367 babies have been named Anu in the United States since 1972, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Anu most popular?
Anu peaked in 2023, when 25 newborns received the name.
Is Anu a boy or girl name?
Anu is used for both: about 77% of babies named Anu have been girls and 23% boys.
Is the name Anu rising or falling?
Anu is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Anu?
Well-known people named Anu include Anu Malik (composer).