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At a Glance: Name: Luther – Meaning: from a German surname built on 'people' plus 'army,' popularly rendered as 'army of the people' – Origin: German (surname) – Gender: used for both boys and girls – Pronunciation: LOO-ther
Luther traces back to a German surname combining 'people' and 'army,' often rendered as 'army of the people.' It's a name with old, solid roots rather than a soft or floral meaning, which can appeal to parents wanting something sturdy and historically grounded. If you're drawn to German surname-names with backbone, Luther is worth a look.
Meaning & Origin of Luther
Meaning: From a German surname built on 'people' plus 'army,' popularly rendered as 'army of the people'.
Origin: German (surname).
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Luther
Phonetic: LOO-ther IPA: /ˈluːθər/
Popularity of Luther
Luther peaked in 1887, when it ranked #63 with 267 babies given the name, but by 2024 it had fallen all the way to #1499 with just 119 babies — a name that was genuinely common well over a century ago and is now quite rare.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.
Make Luther Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Luther, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Luther mean?
From a German surname built on ‘people’ plus ‘army,’ popularly rendered as ‘army of the people’. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Luther)
How do you pronounce Luther?
Luther is pronounced LOO-ther (IPA: /ˈluːθər/).
Is Luther a popular name right now?
Luther peaked at #63 in 1887 and is ranked #1499 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
📊 How popular is Luther? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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