Luke (pron.: /ˈluːk/) is a male given name, and less commonly, a surname.
The name Luke is derived from the Latin name Lucas or from the Greek Loukas, meaning "man from Lucania" (a region of Italy). Although the name is attested in ancient inscriptions, the best known historical use of the name is in the New Testament. The Gospel of Luke was written around 70 to 90 CE (the exact years are unknown), and was from here that the name was first popularized. Luke, who wrote the Gospel of Luke, was a physician who lived around 30 to 130 CE. Luke wrote the Book of Acts in the Bible, and also is mentioned by the Apostle Paul in some of Paul's letters to first-century churches.
Luke is the 21st most popular name for new babies in England and Wales,[1] the 43rd most popular name for new babies in the United States,[2] and the 2,105th most common surname in the US, with 15,000 people (0.006%) sharing the surname.[3]
Popularity of name Luke
in England and Wales[1]
| 2008 |
2007 |
2006 |
2005 |
2004 |
2003 |
1998 |
| 25th |
21st |
17th |
13th |
15th |
14th |
13th |
Popularity of name Luke in United States[2]
| 2006 |
2005 |
2004 |
2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
2000 |
1999 |
1998 |
1997 |
1996 |
1995 |
1994 |
1993 |
1992 |
1991 |
1990 |
1989 |
1988 |
1987 |
| 43rd |
41st |
41st |
46th |
46th |
50th |
59th |
67th |
75th |
78th |
75th |
82nd |
91st |
87th |
93rd |
113th |
118th |
121st |
119th |
111th |
Variants in other languages [edit]
People known as Luke [edit]
- Luke the Evangelist, companion of Paul of Tarsus
- Vietnamese Martyrs, Luke Loan Ba Vu and Luke Thin Viet Pham
- Luke Bryan, American country singer
- Luke Brookshier (born 1971), American television writer and storyboard artist
- Luke Ford (born 1981), Australian actor
- Luke Gardiner, Irish landowner and politician
- Luke Goss (born 1968), singer and actor
- Luke Kelly (1940–1984), folk singer
- Luke Howard (1772–1864), manufacturing chemist and amateur meteorologist
- Luke Johnson, drummer for Lostprophets
- Luke Marshall, Irish rugby player
- Luke McLean, Italian rugby player
- Luke Perry, American actor
- Luke Ravenstahl (born 1980), mayor of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Luke Short, (1854–1893) cowboy and gunfighter
- Luke Skywalker, protagonist of the original Star Wars trilogy
- Luke Tan, singer and songwriter
- Luke Temple, American pop-folk singer-songwriter
- Luke Watson, rugby player
- Luke Wilson (born 1971), actor
- Luke Wright (born 1985), English cricketer
- Luke Young (born 1979), English footballer
- Luther Campbell (born 1960), also known as Luke
- Steve Lukather (born 1957), also known as Luke
- Lucky Luke, a comic book character who is a cowboy
- Cool Hand Luke, a character played by Paul Newman
- Luke Campbell Donald MBE (born 1977), English professional golfer
References [edit]
