Locke

♂ Boy

Pronounced LOHK-keh /ˈloʊk.kɛ/Medium

Meaning: Transferred surname from Old English 'loc' (lock, enclosure) or 'locc' (curl of hair).Low

In 30 seconds: Locke is an English boy's name from a surname tied to Old English words for an enclosure or a curl of hair.

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Origin MediumEnglish

MeaningTransferred surname from Old English 'loc' (lock, enclosure) or 'locc' (curl of hair).

U.S. rank (2024)#2487 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births55 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2016

Total births (all-time)≈ 998

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Locke is a transferred English surname, traced to Old English 'loc' meaning a lock or enclosure, or 'locc' meaning a curl of hair. As a first name it lifts that everyday word into something crisp and modern, with Lock as a plainer variant.

The single hard syllable gives it a strong, confident sound that fits the current taste for surname names. It also carries a literary echo through the surname's long history in English.

Did you know? Locke reached first-name use through a surname route, from Old English 'loc' (lock or enclosure) or 'locc' (curl of hair), and is associated with philosopher John Locke.

Overall data confidence 62%

Behind the Name - Locke — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSVEtymology — Locke — meaning/etymology

Variations

Lock

Nicknames

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If you like Locke…

Brock— A one-syllable English surname-name with a sound close to Locke.

Lake— echoes that soft -ke sound

Mike— shares Locke's English roots

Leighton— shares Locke's English roots

Larry— another English name

Explore names like Locke

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Locke mean?

Locke is an English surname-name from Old English 'loc' (lock, enclosure) or 'locc' (curl of hair).

How do you pronounce Locke?

It's commonly said LOHK-keh /ˈloʊk.kɛ/.

Is Locke a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Locke is used as a boy name.

How popular is Locke?

In 2024, Locke ranked #2487 in the U.S. for boys, with 55 births recorded.