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At a Glance
- Meaning
- Associated with 'shining/light' (Latin lucere), though the name may instead derive from the region Lucania or the name Lucius
- Origin
- Latin (from Greek Loukas)
- Gender
- Boy
- Pronunciation
- LOO-kus
Lucas is a Latin name (from the Greek Loukas), pronounced LOO-kus. You'll often see it defined as "light," but that's not settled — some scholars treat the light connection as folk etymology, and Lucas may instead trace back to the region Lucania or the name Lucius. It's a timeless, classic name, one that's stayed familiar across generations rather than tied to a particular era.
Meaning & Origin of Lucas
Meaning: Associated with 'shining/light' (Latin lucere), though the name may instead derive from the region Lucania or the name Lucius.
Origin: Latin (from Greek Loukas).
A common claim: Lucas is widely said to mean 'light' or 'bringer of light.' Actually: This gets repeated confidently, but it's not settled — like its cognate Luke, some scholars treat the lux/light link as folk etymology, and Lucas may instead trace back to the region Lucania or the name Lucius.
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Lucas
LOO-kusIPA /ˈluːkəs/
Popularity of Lucas
Lucas has held a steady spot near the top of the Social Security boy name rankings, peaking at #8 in 2018 with 12,659 babies given the name, and sitting at #9 in 2024 with 10,703 — a slight dip in count but still firmly in the top 10 across Social Security data going back to 1881.
Names Like Lucas
These names share Lucas’s style, era or origin.
FAQ
What does the name Lucas mean?
Associated with ‘shining/light’ (Latin lucere), though the name may instead derive from the region Lucania or the name Lucius. (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Lucas?
Lucas is pronounced LOO-kus (IPA: /ˈluːkəs/).
Is Lucas a popular name right now?
Lucas is near its all-time peak (#8 in 2018), ranked #9 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1881–2024.)
Make Lucas Name Art
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