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Luke

♂ Boy

Pronounced LOOK /luːk/High

Meaning: Light; from Lucania; the Greek form of the evangelist's nameHigh

In 30 seconds: The English form of the Latin Lucas, meaning 'light' or 'from Lucania.' Borne by the author of the third Gospel, Luke is a crisp classic sitting in the U.S. top 35.
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Origin HighGreek, Latin
MeaningLight; from Lucania; the Greek form of the evangelist's name
Peak year2014
Total births (all-time)≈ 261,584

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201418802017

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Luke is the English form of the Latin Lucas (Greek Loukas), possibly meaning 'from Lucania' (a region of southern Italy) or connected to the Latin lux (light). St. Luke the Evangelist, thought to be a physician and companion of Paul, authored the third Gospel.

The name was used throughout the Christian world but remained relatively modest in the U.S. until the late 20th century, when the popularity of the Star Wars character Luke Skywalker (1977 onward) gave it cultural momentum. It has ranked in the U.S. top 30–35 since the 1990s.

Did you know? St. Luke the Evangelist, author of the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles, was described by Paul as 'the beloved physician' (Colossians 4:14), making Luke a patron saint of physicians and artists.

Variations

LucasLucaLukas

Nicknames

Lucky

Famous Bearers

  • ★Luke Skywalker (fictional)
    Protagonist of the original Star Wars trilogy (1977–1983), credited with boosting the name's mid-20th century revival.
  • ★Luke Bryan (1976–)
    American country music singer.

If you like Luke…

Lucas— the Latin form of the same name
Luca— the Italian form of the same name
Noah— shares the short, crisp biblical boys' name dominance
Ethan— equally punchy single-emphasis biblical name in the top ranks
Liam— fellow top-10 short, strong boys' classic

Frequently Asked

What does the name Luke mean?

Luke is the English form of Latin Lucas, possibly meaning 'from Lucania' or associated with Latin lux (light). It is borne by the New Testament evangelist and physician.

How do you pronounce Luke?

Luke is a single syllable: LOOK /luːk/, rhyming with 'book.'

Is Luke a boy or girl name?

Luke is used almost exclusively as a boy's name.

How popular is Luke?

Luke has ranked in the U.S. top 30–35 boys' names since the 1990s, with its popularity boosted by the Star Wars franchise.