Lucas Name Meaning

Lucas is often used as a boy's name. Learn more about the meaning, origin, and popularity of the name Lucas.

The name Lucas comes from the Greek name Loukas. Interestingly, Lucas also means "man from Lucania," a historical region of southern Italy whose name is thought to mean "white" or "light." This makes sense since Lucas means "bringer of light" in Latin.

Lucas is a variation of the name Luke. In the Bible, Luke the Evangelist is considered one of the four authors of the gospels. He is thought to have been a physician. Catholics regard him as the patron saint of doctors, artists, and creatives.

Read on to learn Lucas's name meaning, popularity, and variations.

  • Origin: Greek and Latin
  • Gender: Lucas is a Latin, masculine-given name (from the verb "lucere"). Feminine variations such as Lucille, Luciana, and Lucia are common. Luca and Luka are gender-neutral names.
  • Pronunciation: Loo-kuhs

Editor's Note

Although many baby names are separated by gender, Parents believes gender need not play a role in your name selection process. Instead, it’s important to select a name that you feel suits your new baby the best.

Lucas Baby Name

How Popular Is the Name Lucas?

Between 2018 and 2022, Lucas maintained the 8th most popular boy's name in the US, according to Social Security Administration (SSA) data. In fact, 2018 was the first year that Lucas broke into the top 10 baby names. Before that, it hovered close to the top 10, making 14th in 2016 and 11th in 2017.

Lucas first appeared on the SSA's top 1,000 names list in 1903, when it ranked 976. It dropped on and off the list between then and 1960. Since then, it's been a steady presence on the most popular list, taking off in popularity in the 1980s.

In 1980, the name ranked 98, the first time it had done better than 100. In the mid-1990s, Lucas ranked in the 90s. It continued to climb in popularity until it reached the top 25 in 2013.

Name Variations

There are several variations of Lucas, including:

  • Luca (Italian)
  • Luc (French)
  • Luka (Slavic)
  • Loukas (Greek)
  • Łukasz (Latin)
  • Luke (Greek)
  • Lukus (Greek)

Similar Names

Names that are similar to Lucas include:

  • Alexander
  • Benjamin
  • Caleb
  • Elijah
  • Gabriel
  • Liam
  • Logan
  • Noah
  • Oliver
  • Sebastian

Other baby names starting with L include:

  • Landon
  • Lawrence
  • Leon
  • Leo
  • Leonardo
  • Lester
  • Levi
  • Lewis
  • Liam
  • Logan
  • Louis
  • Luther
  • Luca
  • Luke

Common Nicknames for Lucas

Common nicknames for Lucas include:

  • Lou
  • Louie
  • Luca
  • Luke

Suggested Sibling Names

Names that pair well with Lucas include:

  • Alexander
  • Cayden
  • Ella
  • Harrison
  • Holly
  • Issac
  • Lila
  • Olivia

Famous People Named Lucas

Notable people named Lucas include actors, artists, and athletes. The name and its variations also have popped up on the big and small screens.

Famous people named Lucas

  • Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472–1553), German painter
  • Lucas Sebastián Torreira Di Pascua, professional footballer
  • Lucas Hedges, an American actor known for his movie roles in Ben Is Back, Lady Bird, Waves, and Manchester by the Sea
  • Luka Modrić, Croatian professional soccer player who plays midfield for the Spanish club Real Madrid and is captain of the Croatia national team

Famous people named Luke

  • Coy Luther Perry III, known professionally as Luke Perry, American actor best known for playing Dylan McKay on the Fox television series Beverly Hills, 90210
  • Thomas Luther "Luke" Bryan, American country music singer and songwriter
  • Saint Luke, the disciple who wrote the third Gospel in the New Testament

Famous fictional characters named Lucas or Luke

  • Lucas, the male protagonist of the games Pokémon Diamond and Pearl
  • Lucas Sinclair, portrayed by Caleb McLaughlin on the TV series Stranger Things
  • Luke Skywalker, a fictional character and the main protagonist of the original film trilogy of the Star Wars franchise 
  • Luke Jackson, portrayed by Paul Newman in the 1967 film Cool Hand Luke
  • Lucas Eugene Scott, played by Chad Michael Murray on The WB/CW television series One Tree Hill

More Baby Names

Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options:

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Sources
Parents uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Get ready for baby: Popularity of a name. Social Security Administration. n.d.

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