Anu

Anu is a diminutive form of the name Anna in Estonia and Finland, originating from the ancient Hebrew name Hannah. The feminine name is associated with meanings such as 'the Graced', 'the Graceful', 'the Charming', or in a religious context, 'God has shown mercy'.

What does the name Anu mean?

Anu, a diminutive form of Anna, originates from Estonian and Finnish and traces back to the ancient Hebrew name Hannah. The name means 'the Graced', 'the Graceful', or 'the Charming' and has a religious connotation of 'God has shown mercy'. It is based on the ancient Hebrew word channâh (חַנָּה), which means 'grace', 'graciousness', 'elegance', 'charm', 'he was gracious', and 'he showed favor'. These terms derive from the root ḥanān (חָנַן), which encompasses 'to be kind', 'to be gracious', 'to have mercy', and 'to show grace'. The masculine name Anu is an Akkadian, Assyrian, and Babylonian variant of An. In addition to Anu, there are other variants such as Anni, Anneli, Anniina, Annikki, and Annukka. There may also be a connection to Celtic, particularly to Dana/Danu, the mother goddess in Celtic mythology.

Where does the name Anu come from?

Anu is a name used for both women and men and has ancient Hebrew origins. The meaning of the name is 'the Graced'. The etymology derives from the ancient Hebrew term channâh, which means 'grace', 'graciousness', 'elegance', 'charm', 'he was gracious', and 'he showed favor'. The original term ḥanán stands for 'to be kind', 'to be gracious', 'to have mercy', and 'to show grace'. Anu is common in several languages, including Akkadian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Estonian, Finnish, and Semitic.

How do you pronounce Anu?

The pronunciation of Anu is two syllables and open. The name is typically pronounced as 'A-nu' [ˈaːnu], starting with a long A sound that radiates openness. The second syllable with a darker U adds depth to the sound. The gentle ending ensures that the name conveys a calm presence. Anu appears simple and clear, harmonious and sonically balanced.

When is the name day of Anu?

The name days for Anu are celebrated on April 21, July 26, and October 8.

Popularity

In Germany, Anu is a common name. Currently, it ranks 4,045th on the list of the most popular female names. The name reached its best ranking in 2013 at 2,008th place. In the last ten years, Anu has been given as a first name about 60 times, placing it 3,249th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 3,264th.

Nicknames & pet names

Nunu

Famous people

• Anu Aggarwal (American model)
• Anu Chowdhury (actress from India)
• Anu Garg (Indian writer)
• Anu Haasan (Indian actress)
• Anu Koivisto (Chinese swimmer)
• Anu Lama (Nepalese footballer)
• Anu Malik (singer from India)
• Anu Mänd (historian from Estonia)
• Anu Mohan (actress from India)
• Anu Nieminen (Finnish badminton player)
• Anu Palevaara (Finnish actress)
• Anu Prabhakar (Indian actress)
• Anu Ramdas (photographer from Denmark)
• Anu Sinisalo (actress from Finland)
• Anu Solomon (American footballer)
• Anu Tali (Estonian conductor)
• Anu Viheriäranta (Finnish ballet dancer)
• Anushka Shetty (actress)