Negus is an Ethiopian given name, of Amharic origin, meaning "king". It was brought into prominence by Emperor Haile Selassie I, who was born Tafari Makonnen and later took the name Negus upon his coronation in 1930. The name Negus is also associated with the title held by Ethiopian monarchs, which translates to "king" or "king of kings". It has been used beyond Ethiopia, particularly among African immigrants and those inspired by Ethiopian culture and history.
The name Negus saw a brief spike in popularity between 1999 and 2007, with a total of 11 babies named Negus born during this period.