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Names Ending in U for Boys

Nameberry
By Nameberry
Updated Thu Nov 30 2023
Boy names ending in U are uncommon and unique.

Beau is the most popular boy name ending with U right now. Along with Beau, the only other boy name that ends with U in the US Top 1000 is Keanu.

Unique boy names that end with the letter U that we see having potential for wider use in the US include the nouveau Cru, the Biblical Esau, the Old Man nickname Lou, and the respelled virtue name Tru.

Here are all Nameberry’s boy names that end with the letter U. The top names below rank among the current US Top 1000 Baby Names and are ordered by popularity. Unique names rank below the Top 1000 and are listed alphabetically.
  1. Beau

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "handsome"

    • Description:

      Beau suggests someone devilishly handsome, with a large measure of southern charm—a nice image to bestow on your boy. Often solely a nickname in the past, it's now standing firmly on its own. Beau has been on the Social Security list non-stop since 1969.
  2. Stu

    • Description:

      Stu is a masculine name primarily used as a diminutive of Stuart, Stewart, or Stanley. Stuart and Stewart originated as Scottish surnames derived from the Old English 'stig-weard,' meaning 'household guardian.' As a standalone name, Stu gained some usage in the mid-20th century during a trend toward friendly, approachable shortened names. It projects a casual, unpretentious quality with a distinctly mid-century feel. While never ranking highly as a formal given name, Stu maintains recognition through cultural references like the character Stu Pickles from the animated series 'Rugrats' and various sports personalities. Today, it's more commonly used as a nickname rather than a legal given name.

  3. Atreyu

    • Origin:

      Literary invention

    • Meaning:

      "son of all"

    • Description:

      German author Michael Ende created the name Atreyu for the protagonist of his 1979 novel The Neverending Story. In the original German translation of the book, the hero was Atréju — Atreyu is the Anglicized variation. Atreyu was orphaned as an infant and raised by his village — his name is said to mean "son of all" in the local language.
  4. Keanu

    • Origin:

      Hawaiian

    • Meaning:

      "the coolness, or the cool breeze"

    • Description:

      An evocative name brought from Hawaii to the mainland by Keanu Reeves, who was born in Beirut to a part-Hawaiian, part-Chinese father. It moved into the Top 1000 for the first time in over a decade in 2016. Keanu ranks among
  5. Manu

    • Origin:

      Finnish, Maori, Hawaiian, Sanskrit, Akan, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "greatest; bird; wise; second born; God is with us"

    • Description:

      An international name that, while short and simple, sounds strong and distinctive, stylish and sweet all at once. It may appeal to those who want a name that works in multiple languages, while also feeling fresh and charming.
  6. Ryu

    • Origin:

      Japanese

    • Meaning:

      "dragon"

    • Description:

      This attractive mini-name combines multiple trends: the R initial, vowel-ending boy names, and a fantastical meaning.
  7. Blu

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "blue"

    • Description:

      Blu is a new (nu?) spelling of an increasingly popular color name, also spelled Blue and Bleu. Blu is the spelling used for one of the Waldrop sextuplets.
  8. Lou

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Louis or Lewis, French and German

    • Meaning:

      "renowned warrior"

    • Description:

      Lou, all by itself, is become fashionable for girls, which usually makes a name LESS fashionable for boys. But Lou, like Bill or Jim, is rarely used on its own for boys anyway. (You wouldn't name a boy Frederick Lou the way that girls are named Mary Lou or, in the case of Keri Russell's new baby, Willa Lou.) Long form Louis is getting cool again and, with the Lewis spelling, is the Number 2 name in Scotland.
  9. Thoreau

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "strength of a bull"

    • Description:

      A dashing French surname name most famously borne by Henry David Thoreau, an American naturalist, writer and philosopher who influenced such notable figures as Leo Tolstoy, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr. The most common modern American pronunciation is "thor-OH", with emphasis on the final syllable, although Thoreau himself pronounced it "THOR-oh".
  10. Caillou

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "pebble"

    • Description:

      A sweet French pet name from the name of a popular cartoon character.
  11. Zeru

    • Origin:

      Basque

    • Meaning:

      "sky"

    • Description:

      English speakers will think you invented this one, but it's a hidden nature name from the Basque country in present-day Spain. Some may find it too close to "zero" for comfort.
  12. Hoku

    • Origin:

      Hawaiian

    • Meaning:

      "night of the full moon"

    • Description:

      Like a large proportion of traditional Hawaiian names, Hoku can be used for both girls and boys.
  13. Marceau

    • Origin:

      French variation of Marcel

    • Meaning:

      "little warrior"

    • Description:

      Mime Marcel Marceau actually had two versions of the same name. Marcel, Marceau, Marcella, Marcus, Mark -- all are variation of the Roman mythological name Mars, the god of war.
  14. Kainalu

    • Origin:

      Hawaiian

    • Meaning:

      "ocean that billows; ocean wave"

    • Description:

      A quietly used Hawaiian name with an evocative meaning, Kainalu is an ocean-inspired option, well-suited to a state that's made up of islands. Blending Kai meaning "sea" with Nalu meaning "wave, surf", it may be more figuratively interpreted as meaning "billowing ocean". Given to 20 boys in a recent year, it is notably borne by actor Kainalu Moya.
  15. Yu

    • Origin:

      Chinese

    • Meaning:

      "universe"

    • Description:

      Yu the Great founded China's first dynasty and the name went on to become one of the most popular boy names in its native country during the 2000s. In more recent years, it has been used as an element of other popular names, such as Haoyu, Yuxuan, Yuze, and Yutong.
  16. Cru

    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Crew or short form of Cruz or Crusoe

    • Description:

      The short, clipped Cru is one of those modern names that's starting to find favor -- it was given to about 100 boys last year, while Crew has vaulted onto the Top 1000. One inspiration is undoubtedly the Spanish name Cruz, which came to wider attention via the third son of Victoria and David Beckham. Cru has a handsome sound and a modern feel.
  17. Tru

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Truman, word name, English

    • Meaning:

      "loyal one; true"

    • Description:

      With its gentle sound but edgy vibe, Tru ticks the boxes for several modern trends: one syllable boy names (see Brooks), alternatively spelled word names (see Chozen), word names with spiritual undertones (see Shepherd), and nickname style choices (see Bo). Currently in the Top 1000 for girls and boys, it is joined in the rankings by Truett and True
  18. Bayu

    • Origin:

      Indonesian

    • Meaning:

      "wind"

    • Description:

      Bayou? No, but it sounds the same, and since both the Indonesian name and the English word have appealing nature meanings, this is a perfect choice for the family that wants to bridge cultures.
  19. Elihu

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "Jehovah is God"

    • Description:

      Rarely used in the last two centuries, but might be worth dusting off and holding up to the light.
  20. Esau

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "hairy"

    • Description:

      A once neglected Biblical name, not seen in the US popularity charts since 1902, Esau has been seeing renewed interest in recent years. Appealing perhaps to those looking for alternatives to Elias, Ezra, and Ethan, it was the name of Jacob's twin brother, son of Isaac and Rebecca in the Bible.

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