Luther
Boy name · #1459 in 2025 · Uniqueness 65/100
In 2025, 122 baby boys were named Luther, placing it at #1459 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1613, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 14,754 boys born in 2025 was named Luther.
Babies named Luther per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Luther first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 260 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1922, when 1,477 boys were named Luther — good for #118 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Luther against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Luther in class?
Luther scores 65 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Luther is most common
Geography matters for names, and Luther is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Luthers were TX (10), OH (9), CA (8), MN (8), FL (7). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Luther
Statistically, parents drawn to Luther tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Lester, Chester, Elmer, Sylvester, and Lloyd.
LesterChesterElmerSylvesterLloydMiltonVirgilLemuel
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Luther | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 122 | #1459 |
| 2024 | 119 | #1503 |
| 2023 | 118 | #1501 |
| 2022 | 112 | #1574 |
| 2021 | 132 | #1383 |
| 2020 | 112 | #1503 |
| 2019 | 128 | #1386 |
| 2018 | 113 | #1513 |
| 2017 | 99 | #1612 |
| 2016 | 99 | #1618 |
| 2015 | 99 | #1613 |
| 2014 | 101 | #1564 |
| 2013 | 87 | #1695 |
| 2012 | 80 | #1832 |
| 2011 | 79 | #1812 |
| 2010 | 73 | #1924 |
| 2009 | 79 | #1852 |
| 2008 | 85 | #1760 |
| 2007 | 85 | #1741 |
| 2006 | 91 | #1596 |
| 2005 | 99 | #1471 |
| 2004 | 70 | #1785 |
| 2003 | 81 | #1561 |
| 2002 | 87 | #1459 |
| 2001 | 90 | #1390 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Luther a popular boy name?
Luther ranked #1459 among boys in 2025 with 122 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1613.
When was the name Luther most popular?
Luther peaked in 1922, when 1,477 American boys received the name (ranked #118 that year). Since 1922 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Luther?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 14,754 newborn American boys was named Luther. It scores 65/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.