Fun Facts About the Name Cru
- More than 1 thousand babies named Cru: U.S. records list 1,587 babies given the name Cru from 1880 through 2025. Even 34 girls received the name Cru - about 1 girl for every 46 boys.
What Does the Name Cru Mean?
Cru is a short given name used in the English-speaking world, mostly for boys. Its usual explanation is that it is a clipped form of Cruz, the Spanish and Portuguese name that comes from Latin crux (genitive crucis), meaning "cross." Under that explanation, Cru means the same thing as Cruz: cross, the Christian symbol. Because the shortening rests on the resemblance between the two forms rather than on documented evidence, it is best described as the customary interpretation rather than a proved etymology. Some uses of Cru may come from the English surname of that spelling, or may simply be a chosen short form, and no separate older root for Cru as an independent given name is well established.
Cru Name History & Origins
The parent name Cruz has a long history as a surname in Spain, Portugal, and Latin America, where it is tied to the cross and to place names such as Santa Cruz; as a given name it spread in English-speaking countries during the later 20th century alongside other names of Spanish origin. Cru, as the clipped form, is much more recent and much rarer, and it belongs with other one-syllable names that American parents have favored since the mid-1900s.
Cru is also a surname in English use, and given names taken from surnames are common in the United States, so at least some instances of Cru probably come from that pattern rather than from Cruz. A well-known fictional example is Cru Jones, the young BMX rider at the center of the 1986 film Rad; the film publicized the name but is not the origin of it. The name's own history is therefore slight: it is a modern short form or surname-derived choice, while the history of Cruz as a family name and place name is long.
How Popular is the Name Cru?
Cru has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2022. Its best rank was #1,329 in 2022.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #11,297 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2023 | #10,489 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 2021 | #12,488 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2020 | #15,647 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2019 | #16,074 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,611 | 105 | 0.0061% |
| 2024 | #1,408 | 132 | 0.0077% |
| 2023 | #1,576 | 110 | 0.0064% |
| 2022 | #1,329 | 141 | 0.0081% |
| 2021 | #1,366 | 135 | 0.0077% |
| 2020 | #1,424 | 121 | 0.0070% |
| 2019 | #1,518 | 112 | 0.0062% |
| 2018 | #1,725 | 90 | 0.0050% |
| 2017 | #2,136 | 64 | 0.0035% |
| 2016 | #1,889 | 78 | 0.0041% |
| 2015 | #2,136 | 65 | 0.0034% |
| 2014 | #2,159 | 63 | 0.0033% |
| 2013 | #2,308 | 55 | 0.0029% |
| 2012 | #2,562 | 48 | 0.0025% |
| 2011 | #2,238 | 58 | 0.0031% |
| 2010 | #3,030 | 38 | 0.0020% |
| 2009 | #3,116 | 37 | 0.0019% |
| 2008 | #3,357 | 33 | 0.0016% |
| 2007 | #5,698 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 2006 | #5,116 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 2005 | #6,299 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2004 | #9,137 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2002 | #9,603 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2000 | #10,681 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1990 | #7,355 | 6 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore More Lists with Name Cru
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with C
Short Boy Names That Start with C
How the Name Cru Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are cheerful and friendly, but are apt to have an emotional life. You like to have several lines of effort going at once. You are a good talker and promoter and seldom worry over anything. At times, you can be impatient, and impulsive. You have the ability to bring an idea to completion. You can express yourself joyously and constructively. You might be psychic, but not know it. Emergencies may raise your intuitive abilities in order to resolve conflict or situation. You become very creative under the pressure, and have quite original ideas to make the best out of it.
You find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.
✦ Cru's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Cru's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.