Shu

♂ Boy

Pronounced SHOO /ˈʃu/High

Meaning: From the Egyptian Shu, variously 'emptiness; he who rises up; dryness/air'; the Egyptian god of air, light, and the space between earth and sky; routes layered; we note the godLow

In 30 seconds: He who rises up; air/emptiness: Shu is the Egyptian god of air. Crisp, classic, and warm (said 'SHOO'). We note the god.

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Origin LowEgyptian

MeaningFrom the Egyptian Shu, variously 'emptiness; he who rises up; dryness/air'; the Egyptian god of air, light, and the space between earth and sky; routes layered; we note the god

U.S. rank (2025)#13606 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1992

Total births (all-time)≈ 77

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

Shu comes from the Egyptian Shu, variously 'emptiness; he who rises up; dryness/air'; the Egyptian god of air and light (routes layered, which we note the god). A crisp, classic name (said 'SHOO').

In the U.S. it appears very rarely as a mythology name. Rare, he-who-rises-up at the root, and crisp.

Did you know? Shu is variously 'emptiness; he who rises up; dryness/air' in Egyptian — the god of air and light, who holds up the sky (Nut) above the earth (Geb) — a crisp, storied name (the routes are layered, which we note the god; said 'SHOO').

Overall data confidence 44%

References — Shu — Egyptian mythology; god; routes layered

Variations

Shou

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Shu…

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Shu mean?

Shu is Egyptian, variously 'emptiness; he who rises up; air'; the god of air and light. The routes are layered. We note the god.

How do you pronounce Shu?

It's said SHOO /ˈʃu/ — one syllable.

Is Shu a boy or girl name?

Shu is a boy's name.

How popular is Shu?

Shu is a very rare name in the U.S.