Find out how popular the first name Luke has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Luke by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Luke is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 100% of people named Luke being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 7,217 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Luke.

The history of the first name Luke

The name Luke has its origins in the Latin name Lucas, which itself is derived from the Greek name Loukas. The Greek name Loukas is thought to have emerged from the Latin word "lux" meaning "light." The name Luke became popular in Christian cultures due to its association with the apostle Luke, one of the four evangelists who wrote the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament.

The name Luke has a long history, with references dating back to ancient times. One of the earliest known mentions of the name is in the Gospel of Luke, written in the first century AD, where the author identifies himself as "Luke the beloved physician." Another early reference is in the Acts of the Apostles, which also mentions Luke as a companion of the apostle Paul.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the name Luke. One of the most famous is the Italian painter Fra Angelico, born Guido di Pietro in 1395, who was also known as Fra Giovanni da Fiesole or Blessed Fra Angelico. His works, including the renowned frescoes in the Convent of San Marco in Florence, are widely admired for their artistic and spiritual beauty.

Another prominent figure named Luke was the English playwright and poet Luke Milbourne, who lived from 1649 to 1720. He is best known for his critical works on poetry and drama, as well as his translations of classical literature.

In the world of science, Luke Howard (1772-1864) was an English meteorologist and chemist who introduced the nomenclature system for classifying clouds, which is still used today. His work played a crucial role in the development of modern meteorology.

Luke Wadding (1588-1657) was an Irish Franciscan friar, historian, and theologian who made significant contributions to the study of Irish history and the preservation of Irish manuscripts. He is considered one of the most influential Irish scholars of the 17th century.

Another notable figure with the name Luke is Luke Pryor (1735-1785), an American planter and politician who served as the 15th Governor of Virginia from 1779 to 1781 during the American Revolutionary War.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Luke was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Luke, please contact us.

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