Unisex name · Hawaiian
Nalu
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: wave, surfNalu is a gender-neutral name that comes from Hawaiian and means "wave, surf". It is used in Hawaiian.
- Meaning
- Wave, surf
- Origin
- Hawaiian
- Gender
- Unisex
- Say it
- NAH-loo
Meaning and origin of Nalu
As a gender-neutral name, Nalu comes from Hawaiian and means "wave, surf". It is used in Hawaiian.
Say it NAH-loo. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Its meaning puts Nalu on our names that mean water or sea list.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Nalu on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Nalu on 3 lists.
“Wave, surf; Hawaiian. Say NAH-loo”
From Gender neutral names, unisex names from Asia and the Pacific
“Wave, surf. Say NAH-loo”
From Hawaiian names, hawaiian names from the sea and sky
“Wave, surf; Hawaiian. Say NAH-loo”
From Ocean names, unisex ocean-themed names
How popular is Nalu?
In 2025, 7 girls and 16 boys in the US were named Nalu.
As a girl’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #12,792
- 7 babies, 4 per million girls
- Best rank
- #7,852 in 2024
- 14 babies that year
- Babies since 2020
- At least 40
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 0 per million |
| 1920s | 0 per million |
| 1930s | 0 per million |
| 1940s | 0 per million |
| 1950s | 0 per million |
| 1960s | 0 per million |
| 1970s | 0 per million |
| 1980s | 0 per million |
| 1990s | 0 per million |
| 2000s | 0 per million |
| 2010s | 0 per million |
| 2020s | 4 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | – | – | – | – | #13,076 | #16,947 | – | #13,064 | #7,852 | #12,792 |
As a boy’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #5,772
- 16 babies, 9 per million boys
- Best rank
- #5,772 in 2025
- 16 babies that year
- Babies since 2001
- At least 178
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 0 per million |
| 1920s | 0 per million |
| 1930s | 0 per million |
| 1940s | 0 per million |
| 1950s | 0 per million |
| 1960s | 0 per million |
| 1970s | 0 per million |
| 1980s | 0 per million |
| 1990s | 0 per million |
| 2000s | 2 per million |
| 2010s | 4 per million |
| 2020s | 7 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #7,465 | #13,654 | #7,986 | #8,670 | #7,355 | #6,570 | #6,381 | #7,169 | #7,598 | #5,772 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names spelled like Nalu
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- NabiButterfly (Korean, girl)
- NadaDew, generosity (Arabic, girl)
- NagiCalm sea, lull (Japanese, unisex)
- NaglaWide-eyed (Arabic, girl)
- NahlaA drink of water (Arabic, girl)
- NahumComfort (Hebrew, boy)
- NaiaWave, sea foam (Basque, girl)
- NajmA star (Arabic, boy)
- NamiWave, written 波 (Japanese, girl)
Names with a similar meaning
Middle names for Nalu
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More names from Hawaiian
- AilaniPossibly from Hawaiian ʻAilani, to rule as chief, or Aylín (Hawaiian, girl)
- AilanyVariant of Ailani, possibly Hawaiian, to rule as chief (Hawaiian, girl)
- KaiThe sea (Hawaiian, unisex)
- LeilaniHeavenly flowers; royal child (Hawaiian, girl)
- AlaniPossibly from Hawaiian ʻalani, orange tree or fruit (Hawaiian, girl)
- AlohaLove, affection (Hawaiian, unisex)
- AlohilaniBright sky (Hawaiian, girl)
- ĀnuenueA rainbow (Hawaiian, girl)
- AolaniHeavenly cloud (Hawaiian, girl)
- AukaiSeafarer, sailor (Hawaiian, boy)
Nalu: common questions
What does the name Nalu mean?
Nalu comes from Hawaiian and means "wave, surf".
Is Nalu a boy or girl name?
Nalu is used for both boys and girls. In 2025, 7 girls and 16 boys in the US were named Nalu, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Nalu come from?
Nalu comes from Hawaiian and means "wave, surf". Today it is used in Hawaiian.
How do you pronounce Nalu?
Say NAH-loo. Pronunciation can vary between languages and regions.
How popular is the name Nalu?
Nalu ranked #12,792 in the US in 2025, with 7 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Nalu?
Names spelled like Nalu include Nabi, Nada, Nagi, Nagla and Nahla.
What middle names go with Nalu?
Middle names that flow well with Nalu include Charity, Evander, Florian, Honor and Leopold. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.