Luke (given name)

Luke /ˈluːk/ is a male given name, and less commonly, a surname.

The name Luke is the English form and the diminutive of the Latin name Lucas. It is derived from the Latin name Lucius, and it either means "the bright one" or "the one born at dawn," or "the great Lucius." It could also be a shortened form of the Latin name. Lucius likely derives from Latin word lux (gen. lucis), meaning "light" (<PIE *leuk-, "brightness"), related to the Latin verb lucere ("to shine"). Another proposed etymology is derivation from Etruscan Lauchum (or Lauchme) meaning "king," which was more directly transferred into Latin as Lucumo. The frequently-stated translation of Λουκᾶς as "man from Lucania" does not appear supported by reliable sources.

The best-known historical use of the name is in the Gospel of Luke, written around 70 to 90 AD. Luke the Evangelist, who is credited with the authorship of the Gospel of Luke, was a physician who lived around 30 to 130 AD. Luke is also credited with the Book of Acts in the Bible, and also is mentioned by the Apostle Paul in some of Paul's letters to first-century churches.

The name is sometimes used as a nickname for Luther.