Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Luke
BoyGreek, Latin· “man from Lucania”
- Meaning
- man from Lucania
- Origin
- Greek, Latin
- Pronunciation
- LOOK
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #33
- US babies 2025
- 6,948
- Best rank
- #28 (2014)
- Peak year
- 2014
Meaning and origin of Luke
Luke is a Greek and Latin name that means “man from Lucania”.
Luke is the English form of the Latin Lucas and the Greek Loukas, meaning "man from Lucania", a region in southern Italy. Saint Luke is traditionally credited with writing the third Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles, and Paul's letters describe him as a physician. He became the patron saint of doctors and painters. The name was used in medieval England and returned with vigor in modern times, helped by pop culture heroes such as Luke Skywalker of Star Wars. It is short, strong and easy to spell. Lucas and Luca are related options for parents who want a longer or more international form.
Other spellings with the same sound: Luc.
Popularity over time
Luke has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 146 different years. Its best national rank was #28 in 2014, the same year it reached its highest count of 10,523 babies. In 2025, 6,948 babies were named Luke, and it ranked #33 nationally. That is 32% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #472 in 1920, #516 in 1950, #97 in 1980, #59 in 2000, #41 in 2010, and #33 in 2025. Of the 323,020 US boys named Luke since records began, 29% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 90,506 babies.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Carter, Jackson, Colton, Jace, and Dominic.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Luke ranked highest in Hawaii, Louisiana, and North Carolina.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | #5 | 41 |
| Louisiana | #12 | 121 |
| North Carolina | #20 | 285 |
| Virginia | #20 | 215 |
| Connecticut | #22 | 93 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Luke is usually pronounced LOOK, with one syllable. It has four letters, starts with L and ends in “-ke”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Luc.
Middle names for Luke
A few middle names that flow with Luke: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Luke
Similar names
Lucas Boy
LOO-kuhs
“man from Lucania” · Latin
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Silas Boy
SY-luhs
“of the forest” · Latin
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James Boy
JAYMZ
“holder of the heel, supplanter” · English
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Demetrius Boy
dih-MEE-tree-uhs
“follower of Demeter” · Greek
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Linus Boy
LY-nus
“flax” · Greek
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Sebastian Boy
suh-BAS-chuhn
“from Sebaste; venerable” · Latin
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Luca Boy
LOO-kuh
“from Lucania; form of Luke” · Italian
#14
Mark Boy
MAHRK
“probably dedicated to Mars” · Latin
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Paul Boy
PAWL
“small, humble” · Latin
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Luka Boy
LOO-kuh
“from Lucania” · Slavic
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Matthew Boy
MATH-yoo
“gift of Yahweh” · Hebrew
#32
John Boy
JAHN
“Yahweh is gracious” · Hebrew
#23
Lists that include Luke
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Luke mean?
Luke is a Greek and Latin name that means “man from Lucania”.
What is the origin of the name Luke?
Luke has Greek and Latin roots. Luke is the English form of the Latin Lucas and the Greek Loukas, meaning "man from Lucania", a region in southern Italy.
Is Luke a popular name?
Yes. Luke ranked #33 in the US in 2025, which makes it one of the 100 most popular names.
Is Luke a boy or girl name?
Luke is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Luke?
Luke is usually pronounced LOOK. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings