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

Popularity of Luther by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Luther is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 118 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Luther.

The history of the first name Luther

The name Luther is derived from the German word "lud", which means "people". It originated as a Germanic name in the Middle Ages, likely being used as early as the 5th century AD. The name may also have roots in the Old Norse word "lyðr", meaning "people" or "nation".

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Luther is found in the writings of the medieval historian Gregory of Tours, who mentions a Bishop Luther in the 6th century AD. In the 9th century, a monk named Luther is recorded as living in the Benedictine abbey of Fulda in present-day Germany.

The name gained widespread recognition and popularity in the 16th century due to the Protestant Reformer Martin Luther (1483-1546). Luther was a German monk who initiated the Protestant Reformation and translated the Bible into German, making it accessible to the common people.

Another notable figure with the name Luther was the American abolitionist and writer Luther Stearns Sampson (1857-1924), who was active in the anti-slavery movement and worked to improve educational opportunities for African Americans.

In the world of literature, Luther Blissett was the pseudonym used by a collective of writers and artists in the 1990s, known for their experimental works and critique of modern society.

Luther Vandross (1951-2005) was an American singer-songwriter and record producer, known for his smooth vocal style and romantic ballads. He was a hugely successful artist and won eight Grammy Awards during his career.

Luther Burbank (1849-1926) was an American botanist and horticulturist, best known for his work in developing new varieties of plants through selective breeding and hybridization techniques.

While the name Luther has its origins in Germanic languages, it has been adopted and used in various cultures around the world, particularly among Christians influenced by the Protestant Reformation and the teachings of Martin Luther.

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 Luther was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!