Luther is a name of German origin that means "army warrior". It is derived from the Germanic word "hlud", which means "loud" or "famous", and "heri", which means "army".
The name Luther gained popularity in the English-speaking world through Martin Luther, the German theologian who started the Protestant Reformation. He was born in 1483 and is known for posting his Ninety-Five Theses on the door of a church in Wittenberg, Germany, which sparked a religious controversy that ultimately led to the division of Christianity into Catholic and Protestant branches.
The name Luther has been associated with strength and courage since ancient times. In Norse mythology, Luther was a god of war who was known for his bravery and valor on the battlefield. Throughout history, there have been many notable figures named Luther, including Luther Burbank, an American botanist and pioneer in agricultural science, and Luther Vandross, an American R&B singer-songwriter.
Today, Luther is still considered a strong and powerful name, often given to boys born into families with German or Scandinavian roots. It has also gained popularity among English-speaking parents who appreciate its historical significance and bold sound. Overall, the name Luther carries a sense of authority, determination, and strength that continues to appeal to parents looking for a distinctive and meaningful name for their child.
The name Luther has seen a wide range of popularity over the years in the United States, with significant fluctuations in its usage as a baby boy's name.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the name Luther was quite popular, with over 300 births per year between 1880 and 1935. The peak of this period occurred in 1917, with 1416 babies named Luther. However, after reaching its zenith, the popularity of the name began to decline gradually.
By the 1950s, the number of births with the name Luther had fallen below 700 per year. This trend continued throughout the remainder of the century, with the name's popularity experiencing significant drops in the 1960s and 1970s.
In the 1980s and 1990s, the number of babies named Luther hovered around 200 births per year. However, since the turn of the millennium, there has been a renewed interest in the name Luther, with an increasing number of parents choosing it for their sons.
Between 2000 and 2023, the number of births with the name Luther has ranged from a low of 70 in 2004 to a high of 132 in 2021. Despite these fluctuations, it is clear that the name Luther continues to be popular among American parents today.
Overall, over the past 60 years (from 1963 to 2023), there have been a total of 66742 births with the name Luther in the United States. This demonstrates that while its popularity has waxed and waned over time, the name Luther remains a well-established choice among American parents.