Anu
First Name Meaning, Usage, Popularity & Related Names
Anu is a Sumerian and Finnish name meaning “heaven” or “god of the sky”. It is a rare name, overwhelmingly used for girls, with 99.63% female usage.
Meaning & Origin of the name Anu
Anu is a name of Sumerian and Finnish (Scandinavian) origin, representing distinct cultural legacies in each context. In Sumerian mythology, Anu serves as the supreme deity of the heavens, presiding over the divine pantheon and the fundamental laws of the cosmos. In a separate Finnish context, the name functions as a feminine given name associated with traditional linguistic roots. These divergent origins illustrate how a single phonetic form can emerge independently through separate historical developments in Mesopotamia and Northern Europe.
Meaning Comments
No one has shared their thoughts about this name’s meaning yet. Be the first to comment!
Gender Usage of the Name Anu
Overall Gender Classification Methodology
Anu is overwhelmingly used as a name for girls. Approximately 99.63% of recorded bearers are female. This classification is supported by extensive records and is considered highly reliable.
Popularity of the Name Anu
Note: Green bars show popularity (% of births); the violet line shows historical ranking. Data is based on official government birth records. Click any chart to view details by year and region.
Overall PopularityMethodology
Anu is listed under Rare Girl Names worldwide. Its popularity varies considerably across the available regional markets, with the strongest usage in United Kingdom.
| Region | Popularity | Birth Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Extremely-Rare | — |
| United Kingdom | Common | 1 in every 12K births |
| Canada | Common | 1 in every 785K births |
| Australia | Rare | 1 in every 3.23M births |
Ranking OverviewMethodology
Anu ranked #11,244 on the Popular Girls’ Names Worldwide List (2025). This year the name appears in the official list for this region after being absent in the prior official year. Newly recorded in the latest official lists, Anu shows early signs of usage.
Historically, its best recorded position was #575 in 2003. Its lowest recorded position was #12,372 in 2007. Over the last 13 years (2012–2025) the name fell -10265 places (from #979 to #11,244).
Characteristics of the Name Anu
Pronunciation & StructureMethodology
- Phonetic Source
- Namedary
- Syllables
- 2 syllables — Two-Syllable Girl Names
- Length
- 3 letters — Short Girl Names
- Starts with
- A — Girl Names Starting with A
- Ends with
- u — Girl Names Ending in “u”
Name AestheticMethodology
Anu is a two-syllable name with a 10 stress pattern, defined by its vowel-initial and vowel-ending composition. It is famously established in Mesopotamian mythology as the primary sky god. This divine historical connection fosters a Mystical & Ancient aesthetic.
Middle Names For Anu
Middle names used with AnuMethodology
Anu is most frequently used with these girl middle names: Anu Radha · Anu Mary · Anu Tulasi · Anu Agarwal · Anu AvivaView all 7 girl middle names.
- Total 17 middle names used with Anu
- 4 boy middle names used with Anu
- 4 unisex middle names used with Anu
Middle name suggestions for AnuMethodology
Based on observed first-middle-name pattern combinations, Anu is most frequently associated with girl middle names that have Strong stress pattern and 5 letters.
Examples: Anu Leigh · Anu Grace · Anu Smith · Anu Lynne · Anu Jones. View all 1,654 suggested middle names.
Names Similar to Anu
Sound Like Anu Finder
Names with the exact same overall pronunciation and sound: Anna · Ann · Anne · View all 61 names
Spelled Like Anu Finder
Names with similar spelling patterns and letter sequences: Annu · Aanu · Anju
Same Starting Sound Finder
Names that begin with a similar phonetic sound: Ashley · Anna · Angela · View all Top 100 names
Rhymes With Anu Finder
Names that share similar ending sounds and rhymes: Sue · Lou · Marylou · View all Top 100 names
Same Rhythm & Syllables Finder
Names with matching syllable stress and pronunciation rhythm: Mary · Linda · Sarah · View all Top 100 names
Dictionary & Etymology of “Anu”
Dictionary Meaning of "Anu"Methodology
anus (lower opening of the digestive tract)
alternative form of añu
More Info
How to Spell Anu in ASL
- A
- n
- u
Comments on the name Anu
No comments yet! Be the first to share your thoughts and start the discussion!