Luke is a popular masculine given name of Latin origin. Its meaning is "light" or "bringer of light," which is derived from the Latin word "lux." The name Luke also has biblical origins, as it was the name of one of Jesus Christ's twelve apostles in the New Testament.
The name Luke first appeared in English-speaking countries during the Middle Ages when it was introduced by returning crusaders. However, its popularity grew significantly after the Protestant Reformation, during which many people chose biblical names for their children.
Today, Luke is a widely recognized and beloved name in many parts of the world. It has been used as a given name throughout history but gained significant popularity in recent decades due to its appealing sound and positive connotations.
Based on the provided statistics, we can see that the name Luke has had varying popularity over the years in the United States.
The highest number of births for boys named Luke occurred in 2004 with a total of 36 births. This was a significant increase from the previous year, where there were only 16 births in 2005. The following year, the number of births dropped to 13 in 2006.
Interestingly, the name Luke seems to have had periods of popularity followed by declines. For instance, between 1978 and 1983, there was a steady increase in the number of births with boys named Luke, peaking at 24 births in 1984. However, this trend reversed thereafter, with the numbers dropping to as low as 5 births in 2000.
Despite these fluctuations, it's clear that the name Luke has maintained some level of popularity over time. From 1970 to 2022, there have been a total of 549 births registered for boys named Luke in the United States.
This data can provide insights into naming trends and patterns over time, allowing us to see how certain names gain and lose popularity within specific periods.