Boy · Greek (from Latin) · International · Christian
Luke
LukeSay it LOOK
Luke meaning
Luke is an international and Christian boy's name of Greek origin (from Latin).
Meaning today
Light, bringer of light
Original Greek (from Latin) meaning
"Greek Loukas, a contraction of the Latin name Lucanus, "of Lucania""
Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890), Greek Dictionary of the New Testament, G3065 · entry Loukas · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
Luke is the English form of Greek Loukas, the Gentile companion of St Paul whom Colossians calls 'the beloved physician'. Christian tradition, going back to Irenaeus, holds him to be the author of the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. Strong's and Thayer's lexicon explain Loukas as a contraction of the Latin name Lucanus, 'of Lucania', a region in southern Italy. Baby-name lists usually give 'light', a popular link with Latin lux rather than the recorded origin. St Luke is the patron saint of doctors and painters. Luke is one syllable, said LOOK with a long 'oo'.
References: Strong's G3065, Loukas (with Thayer's entry) · Colossians 4:14 · Wikipedia, Luke the Evangelist
Famous namesakes
- St Luke the Evangelist, author of the third Gospel
Popularity abroad
- #33 United States, boys 2025 (up 1 from 34 in 2024)
US Social Security Administration - #131 England and Wales, boys 2025
Office for National Statistics
Official birth registrations. India publishes no national name statistics.