2000
#26,614
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 861
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.32
Rare Last name
Babu
A surname originating in India, often referring to a person of high status or wealth.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,671 Americans carry the last name Babu. That puts it at #12,661 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.78 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 128,324 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Babu surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Babu with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
2.7K
1 in 128,324
Census rank
#12,661
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.3K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,329 bearers of the surname Babu in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.78 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 12661st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Babu, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 89.5%. The next largest groups are White (4.0%) and Black (3.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Babu
The surname BABU has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, where it is believed to have emerged around the 15th century. It is derived from the Hindi/Urdu word "babu," which was initially used as a respectful form of address for men of wealth and status.
During the Mughal era in India, the term "babu" was commonly used to refer to Hindu gentlemen or landowners. Over time, it evolved into a surname adopted by families belonging to various social and professional backgrounds.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname BABU can be found in the historical records of the Maratha Empire, which ruled a large portion of the Indian subcontinent in the 17th and 18th centuries. The name appears in several administrative documents and tax records from that period.
A notable figure bearing the surname BABU was Babu Kunwar Singh (1788-1858), a renowned leader of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 against the British East India Company. His bravery and leadership during the uprising earned him a place in the annals of Indian history.
Another prominent individual was Babu Rajendra Lal Mitra (1824-1891), a Bengali scholar and antiquarian who contributed significantly to the field of Indian archaeology and Indology. His extensive research and publications shed light on ancient Indian history and culture.
In the realm of literature, Babu Shyamapada Mukhopadhyay (1891-1964) was a renowned Bengali writer and journalist. His works, which included novels, short stories, and plays, explored various aspects of Bengali life and society.
The surname BABU has also been associated with influential political figures, such as Babu Jagjivan Ram (1908-1986), a prominent leader of the Indian National Congress and a prominent figure in the fight for India's independence. He served as the Minister of Defence and Deputy Prime Minister of India.
Another notable individual was Babu Bhagat Ram Madhoram (1894-1981), a social reformer and activist who fought against the practice of untouchability and advocated for the rights of the Dalit community in India.
While the surname BABU has its roots in the Indian subcontinent, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins can be traced back to the rich cultural and historical tapestry of the Indian region.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Babu
Among Census respondents with the surname Babu, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 89.5%. The next largest groups are White (4.0%) and Black (3.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Babu bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Babu surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander89.5% · 2,085
- White4.0% · 93
- Black or African American3.9% · 91
- Two or more races1.5% · 35
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.6% · 14
- Hispanic or Latino0.5% · 11
Timeline
Historical Census data for Babu
Babu appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#18,478
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,496
+635 bearers (+73.8%)
Per 100,000 0.51
Rank movement Up 8,136 places
2020
#12,661
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,329
+833 bearers (+55.7%)
Per 100,000 0.78
Rank movement Up 5,817 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #26,614 | 861 | 0.32 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #18,478 | 1,496 | 0.51 | +635 bearers (+73.8%) | Up 8,136 places |
| 2020 | #12,661 | 2,329 | 0.78 | +833 bearers (+55.7%) | Up 5,817 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Babu surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #18,478 | #12,661 | 31.5% |
| Count | 1,496 | 2,329 | 55.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.51 | 0.78 | 52.8% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Babu bearers went from 1,496 to 2,329 (+55.7% change). The surname moved up 5,817 positions in the national ranking, going from #18,478 to #12,661.
FAQ
Babu surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Babu?
Name Census estimates that about 2,671 living Americans carry the surname Babu. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 128,324 residents.
How common is Babu?
Babu ranks #12,661 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.78 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 2,329 people with the surname Babu. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,671), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.78 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.78 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Babu.
Has Babu become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Babu went from 1,496 recorded bearers to 2,329. That is an increase of 833 (+55.7%). In the national ranking it rose from #18,478 to #12,661.
What does the Census say about the background of Babu?
Among Census respondents with the surname Babu, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 89.5%. The next largest groups are White (4.0%) and Black (3.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Asian/Pacific Islander is the largest self-reported group for the surname Babu in the 2020 Census, accounting for 89.5% (2,085 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Babu appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (89.5%), White (4.0%), Black (3.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Babu (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Babu mean?
A surname originating in India, often referring to a person of high status or wealth. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Babu (0.78 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Babu?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.