Fun Facts About the Name Norbu
- 29 babies named Norbu: U.S. records list 29 babies given the name Norbu from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Norbu Mean?
Norbu is a Tibetan name meaning "jewel" or "precious gem." It comes from the Tibetan word nor bu (ནོར་བུ་), written in Wylie transliteration as nor bu. The first element, nor, means "wealth," "riches," or "possessions"; the second element, bu, is a noun-forming ending in this word. Together the word names a precious object, not wealth in the abstract. In Buddhist texts, Tibetan nor bu often translates Sanskrit maṇi or ratna, "jewel," and the longer phrase yid bzhin nor bu means the wish-fulfilling jewel. That wish-fulfilling sense is a religious interpretation; the name's basic meaning remains the literal one, "jewel."
Norbu Name History & Origins
Tibetan personal names are traditionally chosen from words with auspicious meanings, and Norbu follows that pattern. The word nor bu appears in classical Tibetan as the ordinary noun for a jewel, and it was used in Buddhist translations and ritual texts for precious objects and for the wish-fulfilling jewel. As a personal name, it appears both alone and as one element in two-part names; examples include Tenzin Norbu, Karma Norbu, and Norbu Wangchuk. Because Tibetan naming traditionally did not rely on fixed inherited surnames, Norbu can occupy different positions in a name, and in modern administrative and diaspora settings it is sometimes used as a surname or family name.
The name spread with Tibetan language and Buddhism beyond the Tibetan plateau, especially to Bhutan, Nepal, Sikkim, and Tibetan communities in India and the West. In Mongolian, Tibetan Buddhist influence produced related forms such as Norov. The same word also appears in Tibetan place names, such as Norbulingka in Lhasa, literally "Jewel Park." The Tibetan spelling has remained nor bu; English renderings vary mainly in romanization, and Norbu is the common simplified form.
How Popular is the Name Norbu?
Norbu 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 2023. Its best rank was #10,487 in 2023.
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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #11,618 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2023 | #10,487 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2021 | #13,513 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2019 | #13,562 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2010 | #11,788 | 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 Norbu
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with N
Unique Short Boy Names That Start with N
How the Name Norbu Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have a vivid imagination who can bring inspired messages to the world. You like to enjoy the pleasures of life, and when self is overcome, you can rise to the heights. You have an ability to avoid trouble - that is why you often fails to learn from experiences. You are restless, sociable people-oriented, a lover of change, and a seeker of adventure and new thrills. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.
You are very intuitive. You have a reservoir of inspired wisdom combined with inherited analytical ability, which could reward you through expressions of spiritual leadership, business analysis, marketing, artistic visions, and scientific research. Operating on spiritual side of your individuality can bring you to the great heights, and drop you off if you neglect your spiritual identity. You are always looking for an opportunity to investigate the unknown, to use and show your mental abilities, to find the purpose and meaning of life. You want to grow wise and to understand people and things. You need privacy to replenish your energy. You have a unique way of thinking, intuitive, reflective, absorbing.
✦ Norbu's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Norbu's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.