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At a Glance
- Meaning
- Blue (the color); in Australian/British slang, ironically also a traditional nickname for a redhead
- Origin
- English (surname, Anglicized from German 'Blau' or French 'bleu, ' both meaning 'blue', reinforced by the plain English color word)
- Gender
- Used for both boys and girls
- Pronunciation
- BLOO
Blue comes from an English surname, one that was Anglicized from the German "Blau" or French "bleu" — both of which simply mean "blue." It's often taken as a straight pull from the color word itself, and that's mostly right, but the name's path actually runs through that old surname first. As a fun aside, in Australian and British slang "Blue" has long served as an ironic nickname for someone with red hair.
Meaning & Origin of Blue
Meaning: Blue (the color); in Australian/British slang, ironically also a traditional nickname for a redhead.
Origin: English (surname, Anglicized from German 'Blau' or French 'bleu, ' both meaning 'blue', reinforced by the plain English color word).
A common claim: assumed to simply mean 'the color blue' Actually: This is mostly accurate, though the given name is thought to come from the surname Blau or bleu rather than directly from the color word. In Australian and British slang, 'Blue' is also, ironically, a traditional nickname for a redhead.
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Blue
BLOOIPA /bluː/
Popularity of Blue
Blue shows up in SSA records from 1968 through 2024, peaking at #2429 back in 1969 when 13 babies were given the name. By 2024 it sat at #2594, but with 51 babies — more Blues born that year than during its old peak.
Names Like Blue
These names have followed a similar path to Blue in U.S. popularity over the years.
FAQ
What does the name Blue mean?
Blue (the color); in Australian/British slang, ironically also a traditional nickname for a redhead. (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Blue?
Blue is pronounced BLOO (IPA: /bluː/).
Is Blue a popular name right now?
Blue is near its all-time peak (#2429 in 1969), ranked #2594 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1968–2024.)
Make Blue Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Blue, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
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