Luther

Last seen for girls in 1969 at #7,471 · #1,459 for boys in 2025, 122 births
Given to boys 99.4% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
1887 · 267 births
Debut · boys
260 births
In top 100 · boys
32 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · boys
66,986
since 1880

Luther over time

boys

Rank among boys' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201939peak #63, 1887boys
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025—#1,459122
2024—#1,503119
2023—#1,501118
2022—#1,574112
2021—#1,383132
2020—#1,503112
2019—#1,386128
2018—#1,513113
2017—#1,61299
2016—#1,61899
2015—#1,61399
2014—#1,564101
2013—#1,69587
2012—#1,83280
2011—#1,81279
2010—#1,92473
2009—#1,85279
2008—#1,76085
2007—#1,74185
2006—#1,59691
2005—#1,47199
2004—#1,78570
2003—#1,56181
2002—#1,45987
2001—#1,39090
2000—#1,267103
1999—#1,35688
1998—#1,170107
1997—#1,182101
1996—#1,155102
1995—#1,107105
1994—#988126
1993—#880147
1992—#906136
1991—#874145
1990—#766176
1989—#715190
1988—#711173
1987—#732155
1986—#659185
1985—#678172
1984—#638181
1983—#578213
1982—#567228
1981—#562231
1980—#608206
1979—#558237
1978—#565220
1977—#543234
1976—#513244
1975—#524236
1974—#509242
1973—#497248
1972—#458293
1971—#457316
1970—#440345
1969#7,4715#432335
1968—#430319
1967#6,8045#447285
1966#5,8096#394364
1965—#394395
1964—#369449
1963—#379443
1962—#376460
1961—#359491
1960—#338528
1959—#339522
1958#4,1939#336523
1957—#316584
1956—#301612
1955#5,2086#269696
1954#4,2788#273670
1953#5,6735#266687
1952#4,9086#251741
1951—#256683
1950#4,3157#237761
1949#5,2445#237745
1948#3,8838#225831
1947—#222826
1946—#211810
1945#4,0256#203708
1944#4,0546#185853
1943#4,6915#190843
1942#4,6225#185858
1941#3,2528#179843
1940#2,9639#177824
1939#3,1458#184765
1938#4,3425#175827
1937#3,4347#169864
1936—#171804
1935#2,43912#169832
1934#3,1598#167862
1933#3,1098#162878
1932#2,49012#157961
1931#2,42712#156958
1930#2,11016#1481,109
1929#2,01117#1451,120
1928#1,83721#1451,153
1927#1,93520#1391,258
1926#1,72124#1351,295
1925#2,01819#1321,333
1924#2,21217#1271,396
1923#2,46514#1261,333
1922#2,61213#1181,477
1921#2,94111#1231,453
1920#2,89911#1231,379
1919#2,26415#1171,378
1918#3,5128#1181,416
1917#2,87910#1161,304
1916#3,9196#1161,287
1915#3,4347#1151,198
1914#2,8767#114991
1913#2,5407#116747
1912—#114664
1911#2,1916#100394
1910—#87383
1909—#86347
1908—#91292
1907#2,0615#91280
1906—#89262
1905—#79308
1904—#82286
1903—#80265
1902—#81266
1901—#79244
1900—#82316
1899—#81248
1898—#76275
1897—#71271
1896—#74265
1895—#73269
1894—#71285
1893—#70271
1892—#70295
1891—#71236
1890—#71253
1889—#71270
1888—#74275
1887—#63267
1886—#71253
1885—#70259
1884—#69273
1883—#69229
1882—#64284
1881—#65249
1880—#64260
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Luther was already there! It came in at #64, and was given to 260 baby boys.


Quietest stretch: 1999–2017, when fewer than 110 boys a year got the name.

Where Luther is popular in 1939

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 boys named Luther, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 boys named Luther, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 boys named Luther, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 boys named Luther, so not publishedNHWashington: fewer than 5 boys named Luther, so not publishedWAIdaho: fewer than 5 boys named Luther, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 boys named Luther, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Luther, so not publishedNDMinnesota: #277 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 3,764 boysMNIllinois: #346 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 6,142 boysILWisconsin: fewer than 5 boys named Luther, so not publishedWIMichigan: fewer than 5 boys named Luther, so not publishedMINew York: #508 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 14,642 boysNYMassachusetts: fewer than 5 boys named Luther, so not publishedMARhode Island: fewer than 5 boys named Luther, so not publishedRIOregon: fewer than 5 boys named Luther, so not publishedORNevada: fewer than 5 boys named Luther, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 boys named Luther, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Luther, so not publishedSDIowa: fewer than 5 boys named Luther, so not publishedIAIndiana: #267 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 3,783 boysINOhio: #265 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 3,965 boysOHPennsylvania: #182 for boys · 31 births · 1 in 2,383 boysPANew Jersey: fewer than 5 boys named Luther, so not publishedNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 boys named Luther, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #332 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 3,988 boysCAUtah: fewer than 5 boys named Luther, so not publishedUTColorado: fewer than 5 boys named Luther, so not publishedCONebraska: fewer than 5 boys named Luther, so not publishedNEMissouri: #197 for boys · 18 births · 1 in 1,553 boysMOKentucky: #122 for boys · 40 births · 1 in 683 boysKYWest Virginia: #124 for boys · 27 births · 1 in 703 boysWVVirginia: #111 for boys · 40 births · 1 in 578 boysVAMaryland: #145 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 1,133 boysMDDelaware: fewer than 5 boys named Luther, so not publishedDEArizona: fewer than 5 boys named Luther, so not publishedAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 boys named Luther, so not publishedNMKansas: #253 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 2,634 boysKSArkansas: #104 for boys · 34 births · 1 in 533 boysARTennessee: #90 for boys · 54 births · 1 in 501 boysTNNorth Carolina: #101 for boys · 68 births · 1 in 532 boysNCSouth Carolina: #82 for boys · 48 births · 1 in 425 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 boys named Luther, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #155 for boys · 23 births · 1 in 907 boysOKLouisiana: #141 for boys · 30 births · 1 in 723 boysLAMississippi: #76 for boys · 54 births · 1 in 391 boysMSAlabama: #97 for boys · 53 births · 1 in 527 boysALGeorgia: #87 for boys · 70 births · 1 in 436 boysGAHawaii: fewer than 5 boys named Luther, so not publishedHITexas: #219 for boys · 49 births · 1 in 1,201 boysTXFlorida: #128 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 653 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Mississippi#76 · 1 in 391
  2. South Carolina#82 · 1 in 425
  3. Georgia#87 · 1 in 436
  4. Tennessee#90 · 1 in 501
  5. Alabama#97 · 1 in 527

Best ever in a state: #33 in South Carolina, 1911.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Mississippi#76541 in 391
South Carolina#82481 in 425
Georgia#87701 in 436
Tennessee#90541 in 501
Alabama#97531 in 527
North Carolina#101681 in 532
Arkansas#104341 in 533
Virginia#111401 in 578
Kentucky#122401 in 683
West Virginia#124271 in 703
Florida#128221 in 653
Louisiana#141301 in 723
Maryland#145111 in 1,133
Oklahoma#155231 in 907
Pennsylvania#182311 in 2,383
Missouri#197181 in 1,553
Texas#219491 in 1,201
Kansas#25351 in 2,634
Ohio#265131 in 3,965
Indiana#26771 in 3,783
Minnesota#27761 in 3,764
California#332121 in 3,988
Illinois#34691 in 6,142
New York#50861 in 14,642
Alaska———
Arizona———
Colorado———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Hawaii———
Idaho———
Iowa———
Maine———
Massachusetts———
Michigan———
Montana———
Nebraska———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Jersey———
New Mexico———
North Dakota———
Oregon———
Rhode Island———
South Dakota———
Utah———
Vermont———
Washington———
Wisconsin———
Wyoming———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Luther
Momentum · boys
Holding steady
  • 44 spots since 2024 (#1,503 → #1,459)
  • 44 spots since 2020 (#1,503 → #1,459)
  • 154 spots since 2015 (#1,613 → #1,459)
  • Biggest jump: 46 spots in 1981 (#608 → #562)
  • Biggest drop: 119 spots in 1995 (#988 → #1,107)
Rise & fade · boys
7 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1887 at #63 (267 births)
  • Births halved by 1994, 107 yrs later
Top of the charts · boys
Top 100 for 32 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 32 yrs · run 1880–1911
  • Top 1,000: 115 yrs · run 1880–1994
Share of babies · boys
1 in 380
  • Highest: 1 in 380 boys born in 1887 were named Luther (0.26%)
  • Latest: 1 in 14,001 boys born in 2025 (0.01%)
Era · boys
The 1920s
  • 19.7% of all boys named Luther (13,197) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s2,619#63 (1887)#68
1890s2,668#70 (1892)#73
1900s2,866#79 (1905)#84
1910s9,762#87 (1910)#111
1920s13,197#118 (1922)#131
1930s8,860#148 (1930)#166
1940s8,141#177 (1940)#201
1950s6,479#237 (1950)#284
1960s4,069#338 (1960)#392
1970s2,615#440 (1970)#506
1980s1,934#562 (1981)#645
1990s1,233#766 (1990)#1,038
2000s870#1,267 (2000)#1,588
2010s958#1,386 (2019)#1,657
2020s715#1,383 (2021)#1,487

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Luther in 1939

girls
#3,145
8 births · 1 in 137,077 girls
boys
#184
765 births · 1 in 1,447 boys

Top girls' names in 1939

  1. #1Mary54,900
  2. #2Barbara37,257
  3. #3Patricia29,701
  4. #4Betty23,639
  5. #5Shirley20,447
  6. #6Carol20,166
  7. #7Nancy19,723
  8. #8Judith16,625
  9. #9Dorothy15,169
  10. #10Margaret14,949
  11. #3,145Luther8

Top boys' names in 1939

  1. #1Robert59,666
  2. #2James59,636
  3. #3John51,025
  4. #4William42,071
  5. #5Richard35,386
  6. #6Charles30,789
  7. #7David25,360
  8. #8Donald24,056
  9. #9Thomas22,129
  10. #10Ronald19,837
  11. #184Luther765
More about 1939

girls

1,096,612 girls got a published name in 1939; 1 in 137,077 of them was named Luther, which outranked 36.5% of the 4,950 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.0% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Luther
  1. #2,922Winnona9
  2. #2,922Zelphia9
  3. #2,922Zeola9
  4. #3,145Luther8
  5. #3,145Adah8
  6. #3,145Adina8
  7. #3,145Adlean8
  8. #3,429Abbey7
  9. #3,429Adalia7
  10. #3,429Adelyn7

Tied with 283 names at #3,145; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1938
Risers
  1. ↑ 880April#1,805 → #925
  2. ↑ 865Karel#1,703 → #838
  3. ↑ 725Hedy#1,650 → #925
  4. ↑ 722Vivien#1,703 → #981
  5. ↑ 709Karon#1,547 → #838
Fallers
  1. ↓ 712Eulalia#972 → #1,684
  2. ↓ 446Shelvia#955 → #1,401
  3. ↓ 358Naoma#992 → #1,350
  4. ↓ 304Imelda#890 → #1,194
  5. ↓ 279Helaine#870 → #1,149

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,106,852 boys got a published name in 1939; 1 in 1,447 of them was named Luther, which outranked 95.4% of the 3,968 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.4% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Luther
  1. #181Hubert783
  2. #182Marshall782
  3. #183Nathaniel770
  4. #184Luther765
  5. #185Otis730
  6. #186Alexander723
  7. #187Guy712
Biggest movers since 1938
Risers
  1. ↑ 463Alfonzo#1,439 → #976
  2. ↑ 447Rod#1,439 → #992
  3. ↑ 443Estel#1,397 → #954
  4. ↑ 422Cameron#1,364 → #942
  5. ↑ 421Turner#1,337 → #916
Fallers
  1. ↓ 518Gonzalo#779 → #1,297
  2. ↓ 497Judge#992 → #1,489
  3. ↓ 396Melville#963 → #1,359
  4. ↓ 355Agustin#883 → #1,238
  5. ↓ 351Antone#921 → #1,272

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1939 →