Loki

♂ Boy

Pronounced LOH-kee /ˈloʊ.ki/Medium

Meaning: LockMedium

In 30 seconds: Loki is the name of the Norse trickster god, with the name itself linked to the word 'lock'. It comes straight out of Norse mythology.

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Origin MediumNorse Mythology

MeaningLock

U.S. rank (2025)#1858 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births85 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2021

Total births (all-time)≈ 2,003

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

In the old Norse stories Loki is a shapeshifter and trickster who fathers monsters, engineers the death of the god Baldr, and is foretold to turn on the gods at Ragnarok. The name is connected to a word meaning lock, and the alternate spelling Loke appears in Scandinavian usage. Its meaning is debated, but its mythological bearer is unmistakable.

As a name it carries all the mischief and edge of its source. Loke is the form more common in modern Scandinavian languages.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Loki is 'lock', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.

Overall data confidence 78%

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

Variations

Loke

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Loki (mythological)
Trickster god of Norse mythology, a shapeshifter who fathers monsters and engineers the death of the god Baldr; he is foretold to fight the gods at Ragnarok.

If you like Loki…

Odin— another Norse god's name used for boys

Thor— a fellow Norse mythology name from the same story-world as Loki

Oden— a similarly popular pick

Tyr— shares Loki's Norse Mythology roots

Zaki— shares the -ki ending

Explore names like Loki

By themenorse-mythology

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Loki mean?

Loki is usually explained as meaning 'lock' and is most often linked with Norse Mythology tradition.

How do you pronounce Loki?

It's commonly said LOH-kee /ˈloʊ.ki/.

Is Loki a boy or girl name?

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

How popular is Loki?

In 2024, Loki ranked #1767 in the U.S. for boys, with 93 births recorded.