Discover and Shortlist Your Perfect Baby Names!

Niu as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Niu

Add to my Name List

The baby name Niu is a Unisex name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced Niú (pinyin, rising tone); IPA: /niu̯˧˥/; approx. 'nyoo' (like 'new').

Niu is Chinese in Origin.

Gender: Unisex
Syllables: 1.0
Origin: Chinese
Pronunciation: Niú (pinyin, rising tone); IPA: /niu̯˧˥/; approx. 'nyoo' (like 'new')

What is the meaning of the name Niu ?

The baby name Niu is a Unisex name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced Niú (pinyin, rising tone); IPA: /niu̯˧˥/; approx. 'nyoo' (like 'new').

Niu is Chinese in Origin.

Niu is a cross‑cultural, unisex name with rich meanings. In many Polynesian languages - including Hawaiian, Samoan, Tongan, and Tahitian - niu denotes the coconut or coconut palm, a keystone of island life. As a given name it evokes nourishment, endurance, and shelter, and it appears in toponyms such as Niu Valley on O‘ahu, reinforcing its nature‑rooted feel.

Within Chinese, the romanization Niu can represent several characters with distinct senses: 牛 (niú, “ox; steadfast, industrious,” also the Ox of the zodiac), 妞 (niū, “little girl,” a fond, feminine diminutive), and 纽 (niǔ, “knot; bond; connection”), among others. Niu is also a long‑standing Chinese surname; bearers include the Tang statesman Niu Sengru. In Japan, Niu occurs as the surname 丹生 (“cinnabar; a toponymic element tied to ancient shrines”) and is rarely used as a given name. Variants include tone‑marked Mandarin forms Niú/Niū/Niǔ and occasional French‑styled Niou; spelling is otherwise stable.

Niu has the following similar or variant Names

Niu – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
MV Girls 0 #35 1 2,021
IN 0 #71 1 2,963
AL 0 #76 1 2,372
MV Boys 0 #78 2 3,375
CN 0 #86 1 3,857
TW 0 #102 2 4,523
BN Girls 0 #114 1 5,459
ID Boys 0 #135 1 4,130
BN Boys 0 #139 1 6,332
BG Girls 0 #231 1 3,559
IR 0 #231 1 4,221
MO Boys 0 #233 2 5,842
TW Boys 0 #254 3 7,111
TW Girls 0 #260 17 8,139
SG 0 #279 4 11,010
AL Boys 0 #296 8 5,122
CN Boys 0 #296 24 9,639
KZ Boys 0 #296 1 6,578
JP Boys 0 #303 1 7,909
CZ Boys 0 #305 1 6,530
CN Girls 0 #328 22 8,829
DK Boys 0 #332 1 7,401
MY 0 #348 7 12,352
HK 0 #357 1 8,483
SD Girls 0 #358 1 7,678
BR 0 #360 1 5,969
GH Boys 0 #361 1 8,138
MU Girls 0 #362 1 8,539
PL Girls 0 #362 3 5,096
PH Boys 0 #407 2 11,440
PT Girls 0 #471 1 7,952
AR Boys 0 #483 1 7,628
PA Boys 0 #505 1 9,305
IR Girls 0 #521 10 8,334
GT Girls 0 #541 1 7,500
HK Boys 0 #556 2 12,905
KW Girls 0 #558 4 19,177
PS Boys 0 #561 1 10,655
SG Girls 0 #564 23 18,916
AE Girls 0 #596 2 20,968
BD Boys 0 #605 1 10,045
HK Girls 0 #606 10 16,104
BO Girls 0 #651 1 9,488
IN Girls 0 #654 1 13,121
SG Boys 0 #677 21 17,960
IQ Boys 0 #697 1 13,071
CL Boys 0 #700 1 13,390
BR Boys 0 #779 7 12,213
CL Girls 0 #911 5 14,098
EG Boys 0 #925 1 15,035
PE Boys 0 #926 1 14,506
MY Girls 0 #968 27 24,821
CO Boys 0 #980 2 15,656
BR Girls 0 #988 5 12,708
NG Boys 0 #1,001 1 16,906
PE Girls 0 #1,010 1 14,861
SA Girls 0 #1,013 2 25,931
MY Boys 0 #1,085 27 25,439
AE Boys 0 #1,143 1 22,615
MA 0 #1,198 2 20,986
MX Girls 0 #1,266 2 17,781
ZA Boys 0 #1,271 2 25,619
IT Girls 0 #1,432 15 9,415
SA Boys 0 #1,686 6 28,008

Niu is popular in 43 countries — most recent births per country:

AE
AL
AR
BD
BG

Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!

People also ask about Niu

Niu is a unisex name, given to both boys and girls.
Niu is a one syllable name, pronounced Niú (pinyin, rising tone); IPA: /niu̯˧˥/; approx. 'nyoo' (like 'new').
Common nicknames and spelling variations include 牛 (Chinese character), Niú (pinyin with tone) and Niu (romanization).
Across languages, Niu has these equivalents: Ushi (Japanese word for 'ox', sometimes used as a name element), Ox (English nickname).
Niu is a name of Chinese origin, traditionally used in China. It doesn't appear in the major international birth registries we track, but it is an established name within China and its diaspora communities.