Luther
Boy name · #1459 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Luther? In official American birth records, Luther has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
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. Source: Official national birth records.
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?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Luther is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Luther will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Luther is most common
State-level data for Luther is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
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
How old is the name Luther?
In official American birth records, the name Luther first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 260 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
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. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.