Nuru
Meaninglight · Swahili
- US rank
- #11,932
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #9,056 in 2022
7 babies were named Nuru in the US in 2025.
Found on lists
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US births per million girls, 2021–2025
US births per million boys, 1977–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Nuru you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 227,273 baby girls born in the US in 2025 was named Nuru, 7 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Nuru would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryNuru first shows up in US birth records in 1977, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 48 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 2022, when it reached #9,056.
- New on the sceneNuru wasn't given to enough babies to be counted in 2000. It only took off after 2021.
- MeaningIn Swahili, Nuru means “light”. Our records link it to African and Swahili roots.
About the name Nuru
Nuru is a girl name of African and Swahili origin meaning “light”. It has 4 letters and 2 syllables, starting with N and ending in “-uru”. US birth records list Nuru for girls from 2021 to 2025, in 3 of those 5 years. Its best year was 2022, when it ranked #9,056 among girl names. In 2025 it ranked #11,932, with 7 babies.
Origin:African namesSwahili names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 3.0 | 337,838 girls |
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.0 | 1,000,000 boys |
| 2010s | 0.4 | 2,702,703 boys |
| 2020s | 3.2 | 309,278 boys |
More African girl names
- Girl name: Layla · night
- Girl name: Aisha · alive
- Girl name: Amber · amber resin
- Girl name: Zahra · radiant, bright
- Unisex name: Amani · peace
- Girl name: Salma · safe, peaceful
- Girl name: Khadija · premature child
- Girl name: Xolani · peace
Questions about the name Nuru
What does the name Nuru mean?
Nuru means “light” in Swahili.
What is the origin of the name Nuru?
Nuru has African, Swahili roots in our records. Other African names include Layla, Aisha, Amber.
Is Nuru a boy or girl name?
Nuru is a girl name.
How popular is the name Nuru?
Nuru ranked #11,932 for US girls in 2025, given to 7 babies. Its best year was 2022 (#9,056).