Luke
Luke is a boys' name of Greek origin meaning “light-giving, luminous.” It ranked #28 in the United States in 2025. Derived from Greek 'Loukas,' meaning 'from Lucania' or linked to 'leukos' (light).
how do you pronounce Luke?
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what does Luke mean?
The name Luke means “light-giving, luminous.” It comes from the Greek language tradition.
Derived from Greek 'Loukas,' meaning 'from Lucania' or linked to 'leukos' (light). Saint Luke the Evangelist is the patron of physicians and artists; Luke Skywalker made the name iconic for a new generation.
where does the name Luke come from?
The English form of the Greek Loukas, understood as a man from Lucania in southern Italy. The light sense so often attached to it comes from a resemblance to the Latin lux rather than from any real derivation, but the association is old enough to be part of the name.
the history of Luke
Luke wrote the third gospel and Acts, and is the only New Testament author generally taken to be a gentile; tradition also made him a physician and, later, a painter, which is why he is patron of both. Luke was steady but unremarkable in English use until Star Wars gave it Luke Skywalker in 1977, after which it climbed into the top thirty.
how popular is this name?
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2024 | #28 |
| 2023 | #29 |
| 2022 | #30 |
| 2021 | #31 |
| 2020 | #32 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset
what are the nicknames and variants of Luke?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
who are famous people named Luke?
- Luke Skywalker (Star Wars character)
- Saint Luke the Evangelist
- Luke Bryan (country singer)
- Luke Perry (actor)
what names are similar to Luke?
what names go well with Luke?
Sibling names that share Luke's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
Last reviewed April 30, 2026 · Curated by HushName editorial
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