Lucian
From Latin Lūcianus, either a derivative of the Roman praenomen Lūcius, from lūx (“light”); or from Ancient Greek Λουκιανός (Loukianós), of obscure meaning.
Every Lucian since 1880 — 14,501 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Lucian
Lucian is moderately common for boys in the United States, ranked #462 in 2025 with 670 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 14,501 American babies have been named Lucian. Its peak came in 2025, when 670 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Lucian stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Lucian year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 670 | #462 |
| 2024 | — | — | 635 | #487 |
| 2023 | — | — | 613 | #489 |
| 2022 | — | — | 543 | #547 |
| 2021 | — | — | 469 | #594 |
| 2020 | — | — | 421 | #636 |
| 2019 | — | — | 398 | #665 |
| 2018 | — | — | 396 | #648 |
| 2017 | — | — | 469 | #579 |
| 2016 | — | — | 428 | #626 |
| 2015 | — | — | 422 | #633 |
| 2014 | 5 | #18,137 | 441 | #607 |
| 2013 | — | — | 393 | #626 |
| 2012 | — | — | 435 | #587 |
| 2011 | — | — | 419 | #596 |
| 2010 | — | — | 448 | #567 |
| 2009 | — | — | 426 | #607 |
| 2008 | — | — | 272 | #807 |
| 2007 | 6 | #16,747 | 281 | #779 |
| 2006 | — | — | 249 | #818 |
| 2005 | — | — | 217 | #847 |
| 2004 | — | — | 142 | #1,120 |
| 2003 | — | — | 82 | #1,559 |
| 2002 | — | — | 73 | #1,644 |
| 2001 | — | — | 71 | #1,653 |
| 2000 | — | — | 60 | #1,810 |
| 1995 | — | — | 33 | #2,383 |
| 1990 | — | — | 37 | #2,034 |
| 1985 | — | — | 25 | #2,204 |
| 1980 | — | — | 43 | #1,458 |
| 1975 | 6 | #8,607 | 24 | #1,980 |
| 1970 | — | — | 28 | #1,644 |
| 1965 | — | — | 27 | #1,501 |
| 1960 | — | — | 49 | #1,128 |
| 1955 | — | — | 54 | #1,030 |
| 1950 | — | — | 36 | #1,213 |
| 1945 | — | — | 43 | #982 |
| 1940 | — | — | 42 | #1,002 |
| 1935 | — | — | 39 | #1,034 |
| 1930 | — | — | 83 | #688 |
| 1925 | — | — | 101 | #633 |
| 1920 | — | — | 123 | #556 |
| 1915 | — | — | 124 | #499 |
| 1910 | — | — | 17 | #744 |
| 1905 | — | — | 16 | #606 |
| 1900 | — | — | 21 | #522 |
| 1895 | — | — | 15 | #544 |
| 1890 | — | — | 16 | #474 |
| 1885 | — | — | 25 | #351 |
| 1880 | — | — | 18 | #416 |
Famous people named Lucian
- Lucian Writer · 120–200
- Lucian Freud Painter · 1922–2011
- Lucian of Antioch Religious figure · 240–312
- Lucian Blaga Philosopher · 1895–1961
- Lucian Mureșan Religious figure · b. 1931
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Lucian mean?
From Latin Lūcianus, either a derivative of the Roman praenomen Lūcius, from lūx (“light”); or from Ancient Greek Λουκιανός (Loukianós), of obscure meaning.
How popular is the name Lucian in 2025?
Lucian ranked #462 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 670 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Lucian?
14,501 babies have been named Lucian in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Lucian most popular?
Lucian peaked in 2025, when 670 newborns received the name.
Is Lucian a boy or girl name?
Lucian is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Lucian rising or falling?
Lucian is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Lucian?
Well-known people named Lucian include Lucian (writer), Lucian Freud (painter), Lucian of Antioch (religious figure).