Luke ( /ˈluːk/) is a male given name, and less commonly, a surname.
Some commentaries suggest that the name is derived from the Latin name Lucas, meaning 'man from Lucania, (a region of Italy). However, the earliest known recording of the name is from the Bible which was in existence before the Latin language was prominent. The Gospel of Luke was written around AD 70 to 90, and it is from here that the name was first popularised. Luke, who wrote the Gospel of Luke, was a physician who lived around AD 30 to 130 (exact years are not known), and he also wrote the Book of Acts in the Bible. Luke is also mentioned by the Apostle Paul in some of the letters Paul wrote to first-century churches.
Luke is the 21st most popular name for new babies in England and Wales, the 43rd most popular name for new babies in the United States, and the 2,105th most common surname in the US, with 15,000 people (0.006%) sharing the surname.
| 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 1998 |
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| 25th | 21st | 17th | 13th | 15th | 14th | 13th |
| 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995 | 1994 | 1993 | 1992 | 1991 | 1990 | 1989 | 1988 | 1987 |
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| 43rd | 41st | 41st | 46th | 46th | 50th | 59th | 67th | 75th | 78th | 75th | 82nd | 91st | 87th | 93rd | 113th | 118th | 121st | 119th | 111th |
Read more about Luke: Variants in Other Languages, People Known As Luke
Famous quotes containing the word luke:
“The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.””
—Bible: New Testament, Luke 1:30-33.
“Then people will come from east and west, from north and south, and will eat in the kingdom of God.”
—Bible: New Testament, Luke 13:29.
“Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit...”
—Bible: New Testament, Luke 12:35.