Luther
Luther is a boys' name of German origin meaning “army of the people.” Luther comes from the Old German 'liut' (people) and 'heri' (army).
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how do you pronounce Luther?
LOO-ther
where does the name Luther come from?
From elements meaning people and army, the Germanic Liudiharjaz.
Martin Luther launched the Protestant Reformation, and Martin Luther King Jr. became the defining voice of the American civil rights movement. The name carries profound moral weight and associations with courage, conscience, and transformative leadership.
how popular is this name?
Luther has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 115 years since 1880. It peaked at #63 in 1887, and ranked #988 in 1994.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 1994 | #988 |
| 1993 | #880 |
| 1992 | #906 |
| 1991 | #874 |
| 1990 | #766 |
| 1989 | #715 |
| 1988 | #711 |
| 1987 | #732 |
| 1986 | #659 |
| 1985 | #678 |
| 1980 | #608 |
| 1970 | #440 |
| 1960 | #338 |
| 1950 | #237 |
| 1940 | #177 |
| 1930 | #148 |
| 1920 | #123 |
| 1910 | #87 |
| 1900 | #82 |
| 1890 | #71 |
| 1887 | #63 |
| 1880 | #64 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Luther fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Luther
The name was long used almost only by Evangelical Protestants, in honour of the reformer Martin Luther.
who are famous people named Luther?
- Martin Luther King Jr. (American civil rights leader)
- Martin Luther (German theologian who sparked the Protestant Reformation)
what names are similar to Luther?
what names go well with Luther?
Sibling names that share Luther's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Luther
What does the name Luther mean?
Luther means “army of the people”.
What is the origin of the name Luther?
Luther comes from the German naming tradition.
How popular is the name Luther?
Luther ranked #988 in the US in 1994, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 1887, at #63, and it has spent 115 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Luther a boy or girl name?
Luther is primarily a boys' name.
How do you pronounce Luther?
Luther is pronounced LOO-ther, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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