Anu: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

–

among girls

Babies in 2025

named Anu

How common

–

girls born in 2025

Peak year

2023

25 babies

All-time total

367

#15,999 all-time among girls

First recorded

1972

in Social Security records

Anu popularity over time

367 babies have been named Anu since 1972, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

GirlsBoys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1940s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1950s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1960s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1970s	21	–	21	2	–	#6,525
1980s	25	–	25	3	+19%	#7,449
1990s	50	–	50	5	+100%	#9,082
2000s	75	5	80	8	+60%	#7,434
2010s	67	22	89	9	+11%	#9,220
2020s (to 2025)	44	58	102	17	+91%	#7,252

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.

How old are people named Anu?

The median living Anu is about 15 years old; half are between 5 and 26. An estimated 400 people named Anu are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

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

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Anu Malik Indian music director and singer (born 1960) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Anu, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Anu?

The median living Anu is about 15 years old. Half of all living Anus are between 5 and 26 years old.

How many people named Anu are alive today?

An estimated 400 people named Anu are alive in the United States, based on 367 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

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).

Names like Anu

Names that sound and feel close to Anu: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Anu with similar names → More names starting with A →