Kidus
Meaningholy · Amharic
Kidus is an African boy name meaning “holy”, with Amharic roots. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds crisp and confident, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.
Did you know?
- GenerationKidus peaked in 2014, which makes it a Gen Alpha name. The typical Kidus you'd meet today is about 11 years old.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Kidus would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 68,493 baby boys got the name in 2025.
- HistoryKidus first shows up in US birth records in 1996, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 29 years since.
- Where it's lovedWant to meet a lot of Kiduss? Head to Maryland, where it's the #634 boy name, its best showing of any state.
US births per million boys, 1996–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Kidus
Kidus is a boy name of African origin meaning “holy”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the consonant at the end gives it a confident finish. It's a fresh, modern name that only arrived in US birth records in recent decades. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:African names
More African boy names
- Unisex name: Cairo · the victorious
- Unisex name: Asa · healer
- Unisex name: Zaire · river
- Boy name: Omari · long-lived
- Boy name: Ermias · form of Jeremiah
- Boy name: Jabari · brave, fearless
- Boy name: Paulo · small
- Unisex name: Amani · peace
Questions about the name Kidus
What does the name Kidus mean?
Kidus means “holy” and comes from Amharic. Other boy names with a similar meaning include Ariana (“most holy”), Zion (“Jerusalem's holy hill”), Saint (“holy person”) and Santino (“saint, holy”).
What is the origin of the name Kidus?
Kidus is African in origin, and its meaning traces back to Amharic. Other African names to consider are Cairo (“the victorious”), Asa (“healer”), Zaire (“river”) and Omari (“long-lived”).
Is Kidus a boy or girl name?
Kidus is a boy name. In 2025, 25 US boys were named Kidus.
How popular is the name Kidus?
Kidus ranked #4,139 for US boys in 2025, given to 25 babies. Its best year was 2014, when it reached #2,345. Over the last five years it has slipped 1,481 places.
What names are similar to Kidus?
If you like Kidus, you might also like Ariana, Zion, Saint and Santino.
What should I know before naming my baby Kidus?
Kidus is an African boy name meaning “holy”, with Amharic roots. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds crisp and confident, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.