A 1880s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Luther since 1880
Babies named Luther per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1922, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Luther's real moment was 1887.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 2,619 |
| 1890s | 2,668 |
| 1900s | 2,866 |
| 1910s | 9,762 |
| 1920s | 13,197 |
| 1930s | 8,860 |
| 1940s | 8,141 |
| 1950s | 6,479 |
| 1960s | 4,069 |
| 1970s | 2,615 |
| 1980s | 1,934 |
| 1990s | 1,233 |
| 2000s | 870 |
| 2010s | 958 |
| 2020s | 715 |
Meaning & origin
Luther has deep roots as a Germanic name meaning 'famous warrior', but its enduring association is with Martin Luther, the seminal figure of the Protestant Reformation. In the United States, the name saw its highest popularity in 1887 (the peak year), ranking 1459th in 2025 with an incidence of 1 in 14,001 births. After a period of decline, Luther has been rising in use since 2010. It has seen particular favor in states like Oklahoma, Minnesota, and Missouri. The revival of vintage names has brought Luther back into consideration, often appealing to parents seeking a name with historical weight and a strong, classic sound.
Luther is derived from the Germanic name Liuther, composed of liut 'people' and heri 'army'. It is most famously associated with Martin Luther, the 16th-century Protestant reformer. The name saw its peak in the United States in the late 19th century and has been given primarily to boys.
Where Luther is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Luther” around the world
Where Luther lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Luke, Lue
Variants: Lothar, Ludher
Sibling names for Luther
Names that share Luther's style, for a brother or sister.
