The nameLuke
Luke is a boy's name of Greek origin meaning "man from Lucania". The name of the evangelist and of a Star Wars hero, it is a short and timeless classic.
- Boy's name
- Greek
- Feast day
Meaning
Luke comes from the Greek Loukas, "man from Lucania", a region of southern Italy. It is often linked to the Latin lux, "light", though this is a popular reading.
Origin
Greek, through Latin. Saint Luke, author of the third Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles, is traditionally said to have been a physician. Lucas is the Latin form.
History
Luke was used in medieval England, then became popular again from the 1970s, helped by Luke Skywalker in Star Wars (1977). It reached the top 20 in England and Wales.
Did you know?
- Luke Littler became world darts champion in 2025 at 17, the youngest ever.
Famous people named Luke
- Saint Luke the Evangelist
- Luke Skywalker, Star Wars hero
- Luke Evans, actor
- Luke Littler, darts player
Popularity of the name Luke
Luke in the United States
Luke was most popular in the United States in the 2010s, with 93,347 births over the decade, 29% of all recorded babies named Luke. Its rise began around 1977, and it peaked in 2014. Half of all babies named Luke in the United States were born before 2006, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 7,438 births a year on average, against 9,324 in the five years before.
Luke in the United Kingdom
Luke was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2000s, with 40,226 births over the decade, 54% of all recorded babies named Luke. Half of all babies named Luke in the United Kingdom were born before 2004. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 583 births a year on average, against 961 in the five years before.
Luke in Ireland
Luke in France
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Luke
Names from the same generation as Luke, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Luke? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Luke with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Luke side by side with the name of your choice.
Luke in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Luke mean?
Luke comes from the Greek Loukas, "man from Lucania", a region of southern Italy. It is often linked to the Latin lux, "light", though this is a popular reading.
What is the origin of the name Luke?
Greek, through Latin. Saint Luke, author of the third Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles, is traditionally said to have been a physician. Lucas is the Latin form.
Is Luke a girl's or a boy's name?
Luke is a boy's name.
How popular is the name Luke?
In 2024, Luke was the 34th most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 7,039 births.
What are the variants of the name Luke?
Variants and related names of Luke include Louca, Louka, Luc, Luca, Luka and Lukas.
What are good sibling names for Luke?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Zoe, Ariana, Chloe and Lydia for a sister, Alexander, Isaac, George and Charles for a brother.
Who are famous people named Luke?
Saint Luke the Evangelist; Luke Skywalker, Star Wars hero; Luke Evans, actor; Luke Littler, darts player.