Ku
Primarily a boy's name of Hawaiian origin with 33 recorded births. Also given to 6 girls.
Meaning & Origin
Ku sits in the vintage zone of American naming: first recorded in 1986, peaking in 1989, with 33 total births across its history.
The open, approachable quality of its ending — ending on a vowel softens the overall impression — keeps the name compact and easy to pair with longer middle names or surnames.
Ku is not in the current top 1,000 boy names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Ku is a boy's and girl's baby name of Hawaiian origin, referring to Kū, one of the four major deities in Hawaiian mythology — the god of war, strength, and political power. The name carries immense cultural significance in Native Hawaiian tradition, evoking the qualities of 'standing firm' and upright courage.
As a given name, Ku is extraordinarily rare outside Hawaiian communities, but for families honoring that heritage, it carries the weight of an entire cosmology in a single syllable.
EtymologyShow more
Ku appeared in SSA records in 1986, placing it in the modern era of American naming — a period when parents increasingly began breaking from generational naming patterns, experimenting with spelling, and treating naming as a form of creative self-expression. Its Hawaiian roots may have been the starting point, adapted or respelled to fit contemporary American tastes.
With only 33 recorded births, Ku has not been widely studied in naming literature — its story belongs primarily to the families who chose it.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Ku has 6+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1986.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 16 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 5 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 12 | — |
The Story of Ku
A Millennial name
Peaking in 1989, Ku is a Millennial-era classic. Boys named Ku are most likely born between 1986 and 1999.
How rare is Ku?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Ku is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1986, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 2010s with 16 births that decade.
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(6 years, 1986–2018)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 6 | #11558 |
| 2015 | 5 | #13188 |
| 2014 | 5 | #13197 |
| 1990 | 5 | #8890 |
| 1989 | 7 | #6626 |
| 1986 | 5 | #7329 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Ku as a Girl's Name
Though more common for boys, Ku has a notable history as a girl's name too, with 6 births since 2015.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ku a boy's or girl's name?
When was Ku most popular?
How popular is the name Ku?
Can Ku be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1986–2018