Yu
Yu: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈju/
Meaning and origin of Yu
- Synonym of Yuu; A unisex given name from Japanese.
Etymology
From Wade–Giles romanization of Mandarin (for: ㄩˊ, ㄩˇ, ㄩˋ, ㄧㄡˊ) (余, 于, 由 (yóu), 魚 /鱼 (yú) / 鱼 (yú), 漁 /渔 (yú), 渔 (yú), 楀 (yǔ), 俞, 喻, 兪, 於 /于, 遇 (yù), 虞 (yú), 郁 (yù), 尉, 禹 (yǔ), 游 (yóu), 尤 (yóu), 庾 (yǔ), 娛 /娱, 娱, 茹) * (Korean): From Korean 유 (yu) or 류 (ryu) (柳, 劉, 兪, 庾) * (Japanese): From Japanese ゆう or ユウ (優, 夕, 友, 有, 勇, 祐, 裕, 雄, 悠, 由宇, 侑)
How popular is Yu?
Since 1880, 381 girls and 449 boys in the U.S. have been named Yu (46% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #5834 in 1990. Its highest rank for boys was #3439 in 1986. In 2025, 9 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to Yu
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Japanese unisex names
Sibling name ideas for Yu
Sister and brother names that share Yu's Japanese roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Yu FAQ
What does the name Yu mean?
Synonym of Yuu; A unisex given name from Japanese. From Wade–Giles romanization of Mandarin (for: ㄩˊ, ㄩˇ, ㄩˋ, ㄧㄡˊ) (余, 于, 由 (yóu), 魚 /鱼 (yú) / 鱼 (yú), 漁 /渔 (yú), 渔 (yú), 楀 (yǔ), 俞, 喻, 兪, 於 /于, 遇 (yù), 虞 (yú), 郁 (yù), 尉, 禹 (yǔ), 游 (yóu), 尤 (yóu), 庾 (yǔ), 娛 /娱, 娱, 茹) * (Korean): From Korean 유 (yu) or 류 (ryu) (柳, 劉, 兪, 庾) * (Japanese): From Japanese ゆう or ユウ (優, 夕, 友, 有, 勇, 祐, 裕, 雄, 悠, 由宇, 侑)
What is the origin of the name Yu?
Yu is listed as a name of Japanese origin.
How popular is the name Yu?
Since 1880, 381 girls and 449 boys in the U.S. have been named Yu (46% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #5834 in 1990. Its highest rank for boys was #3439 in 1986. In 2025, 9 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Yu a boy or girl name?
Yu is used for both boys and girls in the U.S. (381 girls and 449 boys since 1880).
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.