Shivu

Shivu is a given name and informal diminutive used in parts of India, especially among Kannada-, Telugu-, Tamil-, and Marathi-speaking communities. It functions as both a standalone personal name and a nickname for longer names such as Shiva or Shivendra. In many cases, Shivu is chosen for its familiar, approachable sound within family or social circles.

The name Shivu derives from Shiva, the principal deity in Hinduism associated with creation, destruction, and renewal. As a personal name, it carries connotations of auspiciousness, resilience, and cultural or religious heritage. The form Shivu reflects phonetic patterns in Dravidian and Indo-Aryan languages, and transliteration into English can yield variants such as Shiv-u, Shivu, or Shiv.

Regional usage: Shivu is most common in Karnataka and neighboring regions, but it appears across southern India and in the Indian diaspora. While rooted in Hindu naming traditions, the name is used by people of various backgrounds in contemporary contexts, often simply as a given name without religious implications in daily life.

In modern settings, Shivu appears in literature, film, sports, and public life primarily as a personal name rather than as a widely recognized figure associated with the term.

The name has several related forms, including Shiv, Shiva, Shivendra, and Shivakumar. See also: Shiva, Shiv.