Irish girl name
Danu Name Meaning, Origin & Pronunciation
Danu means mother goddess. From the name of the mother goddess whose people were the Tuatha Dé Danann, 'the peoples of the goddess Danu'.
Danu is the goddess whose name gives the Tuatha Dé Danann, the divine race of Irish mythology, their title. Medieval sources say little about her directly, and scholars debate her exact nature and her relationship to the figure sometimes called Anu, but she has become a familiar symbol of motherhood and the land. As a given name, Danu is short, bright and easy to pronounce, and it is also found in other cultures. It is a good choice for families wanting a mythic Irish name with a simple, modern feel.
Variants of Danu
DanaAnuDanann
Danu popularity: Ireland vs the US
In 2025 Danu ranked #850 in Ireland (3 babies). It is too rare to appear in US rankings.
Ireland (girls)
Rank among babies of the same sex, 1 = most popular (log scale). Ranks below #10,000 sit on the bottom edge. Gaps mean fewer than 3 Irish or 5 US babies that year.
Data: US Social Security Administration (public domain) and Central Statistics Office, Ireland (CC BY 4.0). Irish accented spellings (such as Síle) are only recorded from 2018, so earlier years combine spellings.
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Danu mean?
Danu means "mother goddess". From the name of the mother goddess whose people were the Tuatha Dé Danann, 'the peoples of the goddess Danu'.
How do you pronounce Danu?
Danu is pronounced DAN-oo.
What is the origin of Danu?
Danu is of Irish origin. From the name of the mother goddess whose people were the Tuatha Dé Danann, 'the peoples of the goddess Danu'.