The first name Luther

In 2025, 11 boys were named Luther, making it the 2,133rd most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2016, with 25 births (#1,123).

Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Luther with other names.

In 2025, 122 boys born in the United States were named Luther, the 1,464th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1922, when 1,477 were.

US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

• Martin Luther King Jr.
  American Baptist minister and civil rights leader (1929–1968)
• Luther Burbank
  American botanist and horticulturist (1849–1926)
• Luther Vandross
  American R&B singer (1951–2005)
• William Luther Pierce
  American neo-Nazi (1933–2002)
• Luther Adler
  American actor (1903–1984)
• Luther Strange
  Alabama lawyer and politician, born 1953
• Luther Allison
  American blues guitarist (1939–1997)
• Luther Blissett
  English association football player, coach and manager (born 1958)
• Luther Ingram
  American R&B and soul singer-songwriter (1937-2007)
• Luther H. Evans
  American political scientist (1902-1981)
• Luther von Braunschweig
  German noble, 1275–1335
• Luther Halsey Gulick
  American academic (1892–1993)

What does the name Luther mean?

From German Luther.

How popular is the name Luther?

In 2025, 11 boys born in England and Wales were named Luther, ranking 2,133rd. Its peak was 2016, with 25 births.

Is Luther a boy's or a girl's name?

Mostly a boy's name: 99% of the 67,421 US babies named Luther since 1880 were boys.

When was Luther most popular?

1922 in the United States, when 1,477 babies were named Luther, its highest rank at 118th.

How do you pronounce Luther?

Luther is /ˈluθɚ/, 2 syllables.

Is Luther also a surname?

Yes. Luther is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.