Blu Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: Bloo //bluː//
Origin: English; Color name
Meaning: Color of the sky or sea
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Blu is a modern variant of the color name "blue," which has its roots in the Old English word "blǣw," derived from Proto-Germanic *blæwaz, meaning "blue" or "dark." This Proto-Germanic term is linked to the Proto-Indo-European root *bhel-, which signifies brightness or to shine. The transition into English occurred through various linguistic evolutions, with the term appearing in Middle English as "blewe" before settling into its current form.
The name Blu, as a given name, emerged in the 20th century, reflecting a trend of using color names as personal identifiers, particularly in English-speaking cultures. Historically, blue has held significant cultural and symbolic meanings across various societies.
In ancient Egypt, blue was associated with the heavens and the divine, often represented in art and jewelry. In the Christian tradition, blue is frequently linked to the Virgin Mary, symbolizing purity and grace, which can be traced back to the Middle Ages when blue pigments became prominent in religious art.
The use of blue in heraldry and flags has also contributed to its cultural resonance, often symbolizing loyalty and truth. The name Blu, while relatively contemporary, carries with it the weight of these historical associations with the color blue.
It evokes imagery of calmness, serenity, and stability, qualities often attributed to the color itself. As a diminutive or variant, Blu may also connect to names like Blue or even names that incorporate the element "blue," reflecting a broader trend of using nature and color in naming practices.
The enduring appeal of the color blue in various cultural contexts has likely influenced the acceptance and use of Blu as a name.
Fictional characters named Blu
The following list of fictional characters named Blu is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Blu is a fictional character from the animated film Rio. He is a domesticated Spix's macaw who embarks on an adventure to find his mate in Brazil.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Blu, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Blu. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Blu was first seen in the United States in 1970.
Blu has ranked as high as #1315 nationally, which occurred in 2021, and has been most popular in Texas, California, and Florida.
In the past 5 years the name Blu has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Blu is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Blu was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Blu (2023)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 7 | |
| CA | 6 | |
| FL | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Blu.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 29 |
| 2023 | 48 |
| 2022 | 41 |
| 2021 | 48 |
| 2020 | 26 |
| 2019 | 26 |
| 2018 | 28 |
| 2017 | 18 |
| 2016 | 15 |
| 2015 | 14 |
| 2014 | 12 |
| 2013 | 10 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2009 | 9 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2003 | 8 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2000 | 5 |
| 1993 | 5 |
| 1981 | 6 |
| 1980 | 7 |
| 1977 | 6 |
| 1975 | 6 |
| 1974 | 7 |
| 1973 | 13 |
| 1972 | 12 |
| 1971 | 9 |
| 1970 | 5 |