Luther first name popularity, history and meaning

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.

Meaning of Luther

A masculine given name of Germanic origin meaning "army people".

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.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 118 0
2022 111 0
2021 132 0
2020 112 0
2019 128 0
2018 113 0
2017 99 0
2016 99 0
2015 99 0
2014 101 0
2013 87 0
2012 80 0
2011 79 0
2010 73 0
2009 78 0
2008 85 0
2007 85 0
2006 91 0
2005 99 0
2004 70 0
2003 81 0
2002 87 0
2001 90 0
2000 103 0
1999 88 0
1998 107 0
1997 101 0
1996 102 0
1995 105 0
1994 126 0
1993 147 0
1992 136 0
1991 145 0
1990 176 0
1989 190 0
1988 173 0
1987 155 0
1986 185 0
1985 172 0
1984 181 0
1983 213 0
1982 229 0
1981 231 0
1980 206 0
1979 237 0
1978 220 0
1977 234 0
1976 244 0
1975 236 0
1974 242 0

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.

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"Luther first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/luther-meaning-and-history/.

"Luther first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/luther-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Luther first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/luther-meaning-and-history/.

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