Blu
A shortened form of blue, possibly referring to the color.
Name Census estimates that about 750 living Americans carry the first name Blu. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 60.3% of registrations being male. The average person named Blu today is around 13 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Blu births was 2021 (85 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Blu. 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.
People living today
750
~ 1 in 457,006 Americans
Peak year
2021
85 babies that year
Average age
13
years old
2024 SSA rank
#3,790
Tracked since 1970
Gender
Gender distribution for Blu
Blu is one of the more evenly split names in the SSA data. Of the 761 total registrations, 459 (60.3%) were male and 302 (39.7%) were female.
Blu as a male name
- Ranked #3,790 in 2024
- 29 male births in 2024
- Peak: 2021 (48 births)
Blu as a female name
- Ranked #5,309 in 2024
- 24 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2022 (38 births)
Popularity
Blu: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Blu from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 355 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Blu 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 Blu during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Blus live
The SSA's state-level files cover 5 states and territories. Texas, California, Florida recorded the most babies named Blu, while Missouri, Arizona, Florida recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 17 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Blu
The name Blu is a modern invention, likely derived from the English word "blue" which traces its roots back to the Old French "bleu" and the Old English "blæwen." The color blue has been associated with various symbolic meanings throughout history, including loyalty, trust, intelligence, and tranquility.
While the name Blu does not have a long historical lineage, it has gained popularity in recent decades as a unique and unconventional name choice. Some believe it may have been inspired by the Italian word "blu" which means "blue" in English, giving it a touch of international flair.
One of the earliest recorded uses of Blu as a first name can be found in the 1985 American film "The Goonies," where the character Mouth's real name is revealed to be Blu Razato. This portrayal of Blu as a quirky and adventurous character may have contributed to the name's appeal.
Another notable figure with the name Blu is the American graffiti artist Blu, born in the late 1970s, whose real name is unknown. His vibrant and socially conscious murals have garnered international recognition, further associating the name with creativity and artistic expression.
In the world of music, Blu is the stage name of American rapper and producer David Barnes, born in 1983. His unique blend of conscious lyrics and soulful beats has earned him a dedicated following in the underground hip-hop scene.
Blu is also the name of a fictional character from the 2011 animated film "Rio," voiced by actor Jesse Eisenberg. As a rare blue macaw, the character's name perfectly reflects his striking appearance and ties to the natural world.
Finally, Blu was the name given to a baby dolphin born in 2012 at the Dolphin Research Center in Florida. The choice of this unique name was seen as a way to celebrate the dolphin's distinct coloration and the center's commitment to research and conservation.
While the name Blu may not have a deep historical legacy, its modern usage reflects a desire for uniqueness, creativity, and a connection to the natural world, particularly the calming and serene qualities associated with the color blue.
People
Blu + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Blu 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
Blu: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Blu?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 750 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Blu 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 457,006 US residents.
Is Blu a common name?
We classify Blu as "Very Rare". It ranks above 88.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 761 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Blu most popular?
The single biggest year for Blu was 2021, when 85 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Blu is about 13 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Blu a male name?
Yes, 60.3% of people registered as Blu 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.
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.