UK name, mostly girls
Anu
Of Hindu origin, a feminine name meaning grace or honor.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2016. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Anu is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Anu popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2016 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5785, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2000, with 5 births.
This profile covers 27 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 1996 to 2016. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 27 living people in the UK are called Anu. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2017 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Anu ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales in 2016, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2000, when 5 girls were registered as Anu.
- • About 27 living people in the UK are estimated to have Anu as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 90.0% of Anu registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5785
2016
Births in 2016
3
Latest year
Peak year
2000
5 births
Estimated living
27
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Anu
In England and Wales birth records, Anu has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 10.0% of registrations are for boys and 90.0% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Anu registered for boys
- Ranked #4,810 in 2016
- 3 boys registered in 2016
- Peak: 2016 (3 births)
Anu registered for girls
- Ranked #5,785 in 2016
- 3 girls registered in 2016
- Peak: 2000 (5 births)
Meaning
What does Anu mean?
The name Anu has its origins in ancient Sumerian and Akkadian civilizations, dating back to around 3000 BCE. It is derived from the Sumerian word "an," meaning "heaven" or "sky," and is closely associated with the Sumerian god of the same name, who was the supreme deity of the Sumerian pantheon.
In Sumerian mythology, Anu was the god of the heavens and the father of the gods. He was considered the ruler of the cosmos and was often depicted as an elderly man with a long beard and a crown. His name was also invoked in various religious rituals and ceremonies.
The name Anu is also found in ancient Hindu texts, such as the Vedas, where it is associated with the concept of "breath" or "life force." In some Hindu traditions, Anu is considered a minor deity or an aspect of the supreme being.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Anu can be found in the Sumerian King List, an ancient text that lists the rulers of Sumer. The list includes a king named Anu, who is said to have reigned for an incredibly long time, although the exact dates are uncertain.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Anu. One of the most famous was Anu, the daughter of the Sumerian king Shulgi, who ruled around 2094-2047 BCE. She was a powerful priestess and a prominent figure in the religious and cultural life of Sumer.
In ancient Egypt, there was a prince named Anu who lived during the 18th Dynasty, around 1550-1295 BCE. He was the son of Pharaoh Amenhotep III and is mentioned in several inscriptions and reliefs.
Another notable individual named Anu was a Tamil scholar and poet who lived in the 9th century CE in the southern part of India. He is considered one of the most influential figures in the history of Tamil literature and is credited with writing several important works on grammar and poetics.
In more recent times, there was an Indian mathematician named Anu Bhaskara, who lived in the 12th century CE. He made significant contributions to the field of mathematics and is known for his work on calculus and astronomy.
Finally, Anu Garg is a contemporary Indian-American author and entrepreneur who is best known for founding the popular online newsletter "A Word A Day" and the website Wordsmith.org, which is dedicated to promoting the love of words and language.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Anu over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Anu in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2016. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Anu, the clearest high point is 2000. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2016, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Anu by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Anu was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5785 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3808 | 21 | 5 |
| 1990s | #3795 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Anu
- Amelia 94,830
- Ava 54,556
- Amy 52,495
- Alice 46,815
- Abigail 45,658
- Amber 31,922
- Anna 27,802
- Alexandra 19,455
- Amelie 18,051
- Abbie 15,971
- Aimee 15,158
- Annabelle 15,120
FAQ
Anu: questions and answers
How popular is the name Anu in the UK right now?
In 2016, Anu was ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Anu most popular?
The peak year on record was 2000, with 5 babies registered as Anu in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Anu?
Of Hindu origin, a feminine name meaning grace or honor.
How many people are called Anu in the UK?
A total of 27 babies have been registered as Anu across the 7 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.