Thu
Primarily a girl's name of Vietnamese origin with 832 recorded births. Also given to 5 boys.
Meaning & Origin
Abbreviation of Thursday.
Thu is a girl's and boy's baby name of Vietnamese origin, meaning 'autumn' in Vietnamese — one of the four seasons that holds particular poetic significance in East Asian cultures, associated with harvest, reflection, and the cool, golden quality of the air.
Thu is among the most common Vietnamese feminine names in the United States, carried by Vietnamese immigrants and their descendants who came after 1975. Its single syllable contains worlds of meaning in Vietnamese naming tradition, where brevity and natural imagery are prized.
EtymologyShow more
Thu is built from 3 letters and one syllable — a compact structure that favors quick recognition and easy recall. Within the Vietnamese naming tradition, this brevity is common among names that have been worn down through centuries of use, shedding syllables along the way.
The interplay of consonants and vowels in Thu creates its characteristic open, approachable quality. One-syllable names stand out for their directness. Every sound carries weight, making pronunciation and first impressions immediate.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Thu has 43+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1975.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 74 | #12131 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 121 | #9950 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 176 | #6352 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 378 | #2857 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 83 | #4883 | — |
The Story of Thu
A Millennial name
Peaking in 1983, Thu is a Millennial-era classic. Girls named Thu are most likely born between 1975 and 1993.
How rare is Thu?
With 832 total births on record, Thu remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1975, peaked in the 1980s with 378 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Thu by the numbers
- Would fill 17 school buses
- Meeting one Thu per day would take 2.3 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(43 years, 1975–2018)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 12 | #9108 |
| 2017 | 10 | #10631 |
| 2015 | 6 | #16257 |
| 2014 | 8 | #12977 |
| 2013 | 12 | #9568 |
| 2012 | 7 | #14859 |
| 2011 | 8 | #13248 |
| 2010 | 11 | #10403 |
| 2009 | 11 | #10622 |
| 2008 | 7 | #15267 |
| 2007 | 13 | #9501 |
| 2006 | 14 | #8684 |
| 2005 | 7 | #14405 |
| 2004 | 13 | #8677 |
| 2003 | 18 | #6561 |
| 2002 | 15 | #7415 |
| 2001 | 14 | #7691 |
| 2000 | 9 | #10677 |
| 1999 | 14 | #7204 |
| 1998 | 7 | #12329 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Thu as a Boy's Name
While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Thu has also been given to 5 boys in the U.S. since 1990.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Thu a boy's or girl's name?
When was Thu most popular?
How popular is the name Thu?
Can Thu be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1975–2018