How to say it
CRUE
kruː
Masculine
Crue
Crew
What it means
A modern respelling of the word crew, most associated with the band Motley Crue.
Crue is a modern American respelling of the word crew, which came into English from Old French creue, 'increase or reinforcement,' the sense of a band of people. As a name it has no ancient history. Most parents pick it as a short, punchy word name, and it draws heavily on the rock band Mötley Crüe, whose own name came from someone calling an earlier band a 'motley looking crew.' Crue reads as one of the new one-syllable boys' names alongside Cruz and Krew. It eased to rank 797 in 2025, down from 629.
How to spell Crue
The standard spelling is Crue. Common variants include Crew, Krew, Kru, but Crue is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #629 in 2024, currently #797 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pronunciation
KROO, one syllable, rhymes with true.
- Pop culture
Strongly linked to the band Motley Crue.
Spelling variants
- Crew
- Krew
- Kru
Names with the same feeling
See Crue from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Crue mean?
- A modern respelling of the word crew, most associated with the band Motley Crue.
- What does Crue mean in American English?
- In American English, Crue means "Crew." Crue is a modern American respelling of the word crew, which came into English from Old French creue, 'increase or reinforcement,' the sense of a band of people. As a name it has no ancient history. Most parents pick it as a short, punchy word name, and it draws heavily on the rock band Mötley Crüe, whose own name came from someone calling an earlier band a 'motley looking crew.' Crue reads as one of the new one-syllable boys' names alongside Cruz and Krew. It eased to rank 797 in 2025, down from 629.
- How do you pronounce Crue?
- Crue is pronounced kruː. Say it as CRUE, with the stress on the "crue" syllable.
- How do you spell Crue?
- The standard spelling is Crue. Common spelling variants include Crew, Krew, Kru.
- Is Crue a boy or girl name?
- Crue is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Crue?
- Crue ranked #797 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.