Total births
313
Unisex name · since 1978
Tu
Since 1978, U.S. Social Security records show 313 babies named Tu, peaking in 1987. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 313
- total births
- 1978–2011
- years on record
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 53%
- born in that decade
Tu sits outside today's top ranks for boys, with 313 recorded since 1978.
Social Security Administration records show Tu recorded 313 times among boys since 1978, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used boys names, peaking in the 1980s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1978 to 2011.
- 313 total births
- 1978–2011 years on record
- 1980s peak decade
- 53% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
313 boys have been named Tu since 1978, peaking in the 1980s, last recorded in 2011.
- 313
- total births
- 1978–2011
- years on record
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 53%
- born in that decade
1980s
Peak decade
53% of everyone ever named Tu was born in this single decade.
1987
Single peak year
25 babies were named Tu in 1987 - its busiest year on record.
Tu's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Tu splits its recorded history at 1992: 34% of all births land in the more recent half, 66% in the earlier half, leaning more toward its earlier era than today's. The single quietest year was 1995 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1987 peak of 25 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Tu at a glance
Last recorded 2011Peak year
1987
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1978
Tu popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1978–2011
- Peak year (1987)
- 25
- Annual births at peak, across 34 years of records
Tu popularity over time - girls
114 total births recorded since 1978 (Tu as girls' name)
Tu by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1980s was Tu's strongest decade.
166 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 53% of all-time use.
Tu births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1970s 17
1970s
17 births
- 1980s
1980s
166 births
- 1990s
1990s
91 births
- 2000s 33
2000s
33 births
- 2010s 6
2010s
6 births
What this shows Peak: 1980s at 166 births (53% of all-time use).
Tu by state
Where Tu concentrates geographically, total births since 1978
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 66 | 21.1% |
| #2 | Texas | | 6 | 1.9% |
California share of Tu's total US births 21.1%
Even split
66 of 313 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 2 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Tu? ▼
Tu has been given to 313 babies in the U.S. since 1978, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 2011. 25 babies were born in 1987, its single highest year.
When was Tu most popular? ▼
Tu was most popular in the 1980s decade with 166 total births. The single peak year was 1987.
Where is Tu most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Tu are California (66 births), Texas (6 births).
Is Tu a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Tu is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 313 births, and as a girl's name it has 114 births.
How long has the name Tu been used? ▼
Records for Tu go back to 1978, giving 34 years of history through 2011.
What names are similar to Tu? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Tucker, Turner, Tuan, Tully, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Tu's data
- Tu's decade-level peak was the 1980s (166 total births); usage has since declined to 6 in the 2010s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Tus (66 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Tu
Nearby Names Like Tu
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Tu
Tucker Boy
#200 55,150 births
Turner Boy
#1005 9,989 births
Tuan Boy
1,417 births
Tully Boy
#9937 1,045 births
Tuff Boy
#3081 908 births
Compare Tu side by side: Tu vs Tucker Tu vs Turner Tu vs Tuan
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of July 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1978–2011 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Tu: Baby Name Since 1978 - 313 Births, Peak 1987." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/tu. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Tu draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.