Skip to content

Xu

shoo /ʃu/ Chinese Mandarin

At a glance

In short
Xu is a distinctive Chinese name pronounced "shoo" (/ʃu/), carrying an air of uniqueness and strength.
U.S. rank 2025
#12,008 of boy names (outside the top 1,000)
Babies in 2025
5 (<0.01% of boys)
Peak
#7,270 in 1988
First recorded
1988

Meaning of Xu

Xu is a male name of Chinese origin. In Chinese Mandarin, it is pronounced as "shoo" (/ʃu/). This name is also sometimes spelled as Xue. While not very common in the United States, Xu has been given to a handful of newborns over the years. The name Xu carries with it an air of uniqueness and mystery, making it a distinctive choice for parents looking for something different for their baby boy. With its strong and concise sound, Xu evokes feelings of strength and determination.

How to pronounce Xu

Chinese Mandarin

Popularity of Xu in the U.S.

Xu was the #12,008 boy name in the U.S. in 2025, with 5 babies. It peaked at #7,270 in 1988. It first appears in the records in 1988.

Bar and line chart: Xu in the U.S., 1988–2025. Bars: boys given the name each year, most 5 in 1988 and 5 in 2025. Line: rank among boy names, peak #7,270 in 1988, #12,008 in 2025.
  • Boys named Xu (left scale)
  • Rank among U.S. boy names (right scale, #1 at the top)
By year, 1988–2025. Source: SSA. Download: PNG · SVG
Year-by-year table, 1988⁠–⁠2025 2 rows
YearBabiesRankvs previous year
2025512,008back
198857,270new

Notable people named Xu

  • Xu Mengjie, also known as Rainbow Xu, is a Chinese singer, actress and former member of Rocket Girls 101.
  • Xu Kai is a Chinese actor and model known for his roles in Story of Yanxi Palace and Falling into Your Smile.
  • Xu Bing is a celebrated Chinese artist known for his printmaking, installations, and creative use of language.
  • Xu Guangqi was a Chinese scientist, writer, and Ming dynasty official known for advancing agriculture, reforming the calendar, and translating Western texts.
  • Xu Jinglei is a Chinese actress and filmmaker known for A Sentimental Story and The Warlords.
More people named Xu 8 more
  • Xu Yan is a Chinese middleweight kickboxer and multiple national Sanda champion known for competing internationally.
  • Xu Zhiyong is a Chinese civil rights activist and lawyer known for fighting corruption and founding the New Citizens Movement.
  • Xu Zhimo was a Chinese poet who helped modernize Chinese poetry by blending Western influences with everyday language.
  • Xu Genbao is a Chinese football manager and former international player who founded Shanghai East Asia football club and the Genbao Football Academy.
  • Xu Zheng is a Chinese actor and filmmaker known for comedic roles in Sunny Piggy and Lost on Journey.
  • Xu Wei was a Ming dynasty Chinese painter, playwright, poet, and tea master known as Qingteng Shanren.
  • Xu Si is a professional snooker player from China.
  • Xu Shijie was a Chinese revolutionary and politician who led Guangzhou and served as Hainan's first Communist Party secretary.