Batu
An Indonesian masculine name meaning "rock" or "stone".
Name Census estimates that about 110 living Americans carry the first name Batu. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Batu today is around 12 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Batu births was 2018 (12 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Batu. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Batu with official rankings and popularity over time.
People living today
110
~ 1 in 3,115,949 Americans
Peak year
2018
12 babies that year
Average age
12
years old
2024 SSA rank
#9,999
Tracked since 2003
Popularity
Batu: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Batu from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 72 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2010s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Batu by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Batu during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Batus live
Origin
Meaning and history of Batu
The name Batu originates from the Turkic languages, spoken by various ethnic groups across a vast region stretching from Eastern Europe to Central Asia. It is believed to have emerged during the ancient Turkic period, which dates back to the 6th century AD. The word "batu" in Turkic languages means "firm," "solid," or "strong," often referring to the strength and resilience of an individual.
In the ancient Turkic culture, names were carefully chosen to reflect the desired qualities and characteristics for a child. Batu was likely given to boys with the hope that they would grow up to be strong, steadfast, and unwavering in their convictions. The name's association with strength and solidity made it a popular choice among various Turkic-speaking tribes and empires that emerged in the region over the centuries.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Batu can be found in the 13th century, when Batu Khan, a grandson of Genghis Khan, led the Mongol invasion of Eastern Europe and Russia. Batu Khan was a formidable military leader who established the Golden Horde, a powerful Mongol khanate that ruled over a vast territory from modern-day Ukraine to Siberia. His name, Batu, perfectly embodied the strength and determination that defined his reign.
Another notable figure in history with the name Batu was Batu Mogushkov, a 16th-century Tatar leader who played a significant role in the Russian conquest of Siberia. He initially resisted the Russian advance but later formed an alliance with the Russian Tsar, facilitating the exploration and colonization of Siberia.
In the 17th century, Batu Khan II was a prominent ruler of the Crimean Khanate, a Turkic-Tatar state located in modern-day Ukraine and Russia. His reign was marked by efforts to maintain the Khanate's independence and navigate the complex political landscape of the time.
Moving forward to the 19th century, Batu Khazret was a renowned Kazakh poet and philosopher. His works explored themes of spirituality, morality, and the human condition, leaving a lasting impact on Kazakh literature and culture.
Finally, in the 20th century, Batu Khan Sherali was a prominent Uzbek athlete who excelled in various sports, including wrestling and weightlifting. He represented the Soviet Union in international competitions and was celebrated for his exceptional strength and athleticism, truly embodying the meaning of his name.
These are just a few examples of the individuals who have carried the name Batu throughout history, each leaving their mark in their respective fields and reflecting the strength and resilience associated with this ancient Turkic name.
People
Batu + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Batu as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with B
Other first names starting with B with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Batu: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Batu?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 110 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Batu going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 3,115,949 US residents.
Is Batu a common name?
We classify Batu as "Very Rare". It ranks above 65.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 111 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Batu most popular?
The single biggest year for Batu was 2018, when 12 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Batu is about 12 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Batu in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Batu a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Batu in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Batu still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Batu in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Batu can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are called Batu?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.