Luke
Say it: LUKE/luːk/
Boy4 letters1 syllable
#23
in Ireland (2025)
#24 with spellings combined
185
babies in 2025
#7
best rank (2006)
14,849
babies since 1964
Down 14
10-year rank change
Luke through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 185 | #24 |
| 2024 | 217 | #18 |
| 2023 | 215 | #20 |
| 2022 | 233 | #21 |
| 2021 | 268 | #18 |
| 2020 | 290 | #17 |
| 2019 | 317 | #12 |
| 2018 | 368 | #8 |
| 2017 | 420 | #7 |
| 2016 | 375 | #10 |
| 2015 | 382 | #10 |
| 2014 | 437 | #7 |
| 2013 | 403 | #13 |
| 2012 | 457 | #11 |
| 2011 | 487 | #12 |
| 2010 | 519 | #9 |
| 2009 | 501 | #9 |
| 2008 | 516 | #9 |
| 2007 | 538 | #8 |
| 2006 | 536 | #7 |
| 2005 | 544 | #8 |
| 2004 | 544 | #8 |
| 2003 | 474 | #11 |
| 2002 | 489 | #10 |
| 2001 | 517 | #9 |
| 2000 | 488 | #8 |
| 1999 | 410 | #14 |
| 1998 | 327 | #15 |
| 1997 | 400 | #19 |
| 1996 | 395 | #18 |
| 1995 | 366 | #18 |
| 1994 | 286 | #27 |
| 1993 | 253 | #31 |
| 1992 | 194 | #41 |
| 1991 | 156 | #51 |
| 1990 | 138 | #58 |
| 1989 | 124 | #62 |
| 1988 | 129 | #57 |
| 1987 | 101 | #72 |
| 1986 | 80 | #83 |
| 1985 | 56 | #98 |
| 1984 | 65 | #89 |
| 1983 | 46 | #111 |
| 1982 | 61 | #98 |
| 1981 | 51 | #109 |
| 1980 | 53 | #107 |
| 1979 | 47 | #112 |
| 1978 | 35 | #123 |
| 1977 | 29 | #131 |
| 1976 | 35 | #122 |
| 1975 | 28 | #127 |
| 1974 | 32 | #123 |
| 1973 | 28 | #132 |
| 1972 | 29 | #130 |
| 1971 | 27 | #133 |
| 1970 | 22 | #140 |
| 1969 | 20 | #137 |
| 1968 | 20 | #127 |
| 1967 | 18 | #130 |
| 1966 | 18 | #127 |
| 1965 | 24 | #113 |
| 1964 | 26 | #105 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Luke mean?
Uncertain
Greek, from Loukas, probably a pet form of the Roman name Lucius or Lucanus.
Say it right
LUKE
In parts of Northern Ireland it can sound almost like "look".
The story of Luke
Luke comes through Latin from the Greek Loukas. That was probably a pet form of the Roman name Lucius, or of Lucanus, or of both, so the name’s first meaning is uncertain. Luca, Lucas and Luka are forms of the same name in other languages.
The name is known above all from Saint Luke, traditionally the author of the third Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. One New Testament letter calls him a physician. In Ireland many people think first of Luke Kelly, the singer with The Dubliners.
Luke has been used in Ireland all through the CSO records. It rose sharply in the 1990s and stayed near the top for years, reaching number 7 in 2006. The most boys were named Luke in 2004 and 2005, with 544 each year. In 2025 it was number 23 in the CSO’s table. It has been less common in Northern Ireland, where its best rank was 13th, in 2005.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Luke (English proper noun)
- Wiktionary: Λουκᾶς (Ancient Greek proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Luke the Evangelist
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby Names in Northern Ireland, full name list 1997-2025
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Luke | 185 | 14,849 |
In Northern Ireland
#83 in 2025 with 29 babies. Best rank #13 (2005); 3,064 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.