Anu

♀ Girl

Pronounced AH-noo /ˈɑː.nuː/Medium

Meaning: A multi-rooted name: in Sanskrit anu means 'atom; a fine particle'; in Finnish and Estonian Anu is a form of Anna ('grace; favor'); in Tamil it is a short form of names like Anusha. Warm and short.Low

In 30 seconds: A short name with many roots: Anu means 'atom' in Sanskrit and forms Anna in Finnish (said 'AH-noo'). Warm and tidy.

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Origin LowSanskrit, Finnish, Tamil

MeaningA multi-rooted name: in Sanskrit anu means 'atom; a fine particle'; in Finnish and Estonian Anu is a form of Anna ('grace; favor'); in Tamil it is a short form of names like Anusha. Warm and short.

U.S. rank (2024)#11161 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births8 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2004

Total births (all-time)≈ 282

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Anu is Sanskrit for 'atom; a fine particle,' a Finnish/Estonian form of Anna ('grace'), and a Tamil short form of names like Anusha. Its meaning follows its route, which we note — warm and short, rare in the U.S. (said 'AH-noo').

It appears rarely in the U.S., known in India and the Nordics. Rare, short, and multi-rooted.

Did you know? Anu carries several stories at once — 'atom; a fine particle' in Sanskrit, a Finnish form of Anna ('grace'), and a Tamil short form — a warm, short name whose route depends on the family (said 'AH-noo').

Overall data confidence 42%

References — Anu — Sanskrit 'atom' / Finnish Anna / Tamil short form

Variations

AnooAanuAnu

Nicknames

AnnNunu

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Anu…

Anna— the name it forms in Finnish

Anusha— the name it shortens in Tamil

Anaya— a like Indian girl's name

Nina— a like short, warm pick

Explore names like Anu

By themeshort sanskrit finnish

By meaningGrace

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Anu mean?

Anu is Sanskrit for 'atom; a fine particle,' a Finnish form of Anna ('grace'), and a Tamil short form. The route depends on the family.

How do you pronounce Anu?

It's said AH-noo /ˈɑː.nuː/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Anu a boy or girl name?

Anu is used mostly for girls; here it is a girl's name.

How popular is Anu?

Anu is a rare name in the U.S.