Duke
How to say it: DOOK · /duk/
From the English noble title 'duke', ultimately from Latin 'dux' meaning 'leader'.
Duke was the 651st most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 390 babies (Social Security Administration). The 2020s are its busiest decade so far, its births are down about 14% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #748 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #651 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 390 |
| Share of births | 1 in 8,500 |
| Peak decade | 2020s |
| Change over 10 years | −14% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #748 |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Short and bold, Duke is climbing and at its best in the 2020s. At its peak now, it is expected to slip.
What goes with it
A single beat with a crisp finish, pronounced DOOK, strong and touched by royalty. King shares its style.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Duke is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English.
Famous people named Duke
- Duke Kahanamoku (1890–1968)American swimmer, surfer and actor
- Duke Lacroix (born 1993)Haitian-American soccer player
- Duke Johnson (born 1979)American filmmaker
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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