Luther

Boy · Germanic

Luther

Say it: LOO-ther

Try it with your surname

Meaning

Surname of Martin Luther, from Germanic hlud 'famous' and heri 'army'.

Certainscholars agree on this meaning.

Given in honour of Martin Luther by Protestant families.

Its wave through time

Fading since the 1880s

In the United States

66,815 babies given this name since 1880
At its height in 1881, about 1 in 405 boys
112 babies in 2020

Through the ages

Used by

American African American German

The family of the name

German	Luther
French	Luther

Famous bearers

Luther Burbank, botanist

Names worth a look

IsraelBoyFrom Hebrew Yisra'el, traditionally explained as 'he struggles with God'; the exact sense of the first element is…Biblical · peak 2007

EzraBoyHebrew Ezra, 'help'.Biblical · peak 2020

SimonBoyGreek form used for Hebrew Shim'on (Simeon, 'he has heard'); Simōn was also an existing Greek name meaning 'snub-nosed'.Biblical · peak 2015

IraBoyHebrew Ira, a priest of David; the meaning is uncertain.Colonial · peak 1881

OtisBoyFrom an English surname derived from the Germanic name Ode or Otto, from aud 'wealth'.Revolutions · peak 1899

EzekielBoyHebrew Yeḥezqel, 'God strengthens'.Biblical · peak 2020

LotharBoyFrom Frankish hlod 'fame' and hari 'army'.Early Medieval · forgotten

Where this comes from

National census records of the 19th and 20th centuries
United States Social Security birth records, 1880 to today source
United States Social Security birth records, 1880 to today source

Meanings and histories are compiled from the study of names and their languages and checked by a second review.

Meanings and histories are drawn from the study of names and their languages, each with a confidence rating; popularity figures come from official birth records. Name histories are a living field: if you know of a correction, we would be glad to hear it.