Given name & surname
Zulu
“man from Africa”
Zulu is used as a given name and a surname. One African interpretation is “man from Africa.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One African interpretation is “man from Africa.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is African.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 2021. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Zulu through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 8
- 8 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2021
- 8 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for boys is 8 in 2021. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 340 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Zulu’s family of names
Zulu has a related form in Zooloo. Zulu has a related form in Zoolu. Zulu has a related form in Zooluh.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Similar names
If you love Zulu, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Haji
“born during the haji”
>99% boys
Tumaini
“an optimist”
>99% boys
Dembe
“a peaceful man”
>99% boys
Ayo
“one who brings joy to others” · “filled with happiness”
85% boys · 15% girls
Ajayi
“one who is born facedown” · “one we fight to turn”
>99% boys
Masud
“a fortunate man”
>99% boys
Dayo
“our joy has arrived”
76% boys · 24% girls
Hondo
“a warring man”
>99% boys