Lucian
How to say it: LOO-shun · /ˈluːʃən/
From Latin Lucianus, derived from 'lux' (light); meaning 'of light' or 'belonging to light'. Name of the ancient Greek satirist. source 1
Lucian was the 459th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 670 babies (Social Security Administration). The 2020s are its busiest decade so far, its births are up about 58% in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #334 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #459 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 670 |
| Share of births | 1 in 4,948 |
| Peak decade | 2020s |
| Change over 10 years | +58% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #334 |
| In France, 2025 | #813 among boys’ names, 35 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
On an upward path, Lucian claims the 2020s as its greatest decade. It sits at its peak currently with further climbing likely.
What goes with it
Quietly soft and breathy, Lucian evokes sky and light imagery. Julian complements it, and Luc works as a nickname.
Parents who love Lucian also love
Nicknames
- Luc
- Luke
- Luca
Honouring a Lucian in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Lucian is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Dutch, English, French, German.
In France: #813 for boys in 2025.
England and Wales: #459.
Famous people named Lucian
- Lucian of Samosata (120–180)2nd-century Syrian satirist and rhetorician
- Lucian Freud (1922–2011)British painter and agravar
- Lucian Sănmărtean (born 1980)Association football player from Romania
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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