Luc
A boy's name of French origin with 3,581 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Luke (biblical character)
Luc is a boy's baby name of French origin, the French form of Luke, from the Latin Lucas, derived from the Greek Loukas meaning 'from Lucania' — a region of southern Italy, or possibly from the Latin lux ('light').
Luc is the crisp, continental European version of Luke — elegant without a superfluous letter. It's the name of the Evangelist who wrote the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. In France and the French-speaking world, Luc carries a timeless, literary quality.
EtymologyShow more
Though Luc dates back to 1949 in U.S. records, its etymological path is not always straightforward. Names that predate modern naming databases sometimes resist easy classification — they may have been oral traditions, regional family names, or adaptations that were never systematically recorded. The French classification provides a starting point, but the full derivation likely involves more nuance than a single label can capture.
Luc’s 3,581 recorded births provide enough of a footprint to establish it as a real, chosen name in American culture — not a typo or a one-off, but a deliberate selection by hundreds of families.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Luc was #1050 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #3420, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 245 | #2793 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 865 | #1800 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 1,405 | #1169 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 716 | #1559 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 156 | #3417 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 69 | #3969 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 86 | #2938 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 34 | #3566 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 5 | #4018 | — |
The Story of Luc
A Gen Z name
Peaking in 2002, Luc is a name that defines a generation. Boys named Luc are most likely born between 1992 and 2012.
How rare is Luc?
Only about 1 in every 105,882 babies born in 2024 was named Luc — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1949, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 2000s with 1,405 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Luc by the numbers
- Would fill 75 school buses
- Meeting one Luc per day would take 9.8 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(68 years, 1949–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 34 | #3420 |
| 2023 | 33 | #3518 |
| 2022 | 67 | #2183 |
| 2021 | 60 | #2313 |
| 2020 | 51 | #2531 |
| 2019 | 57 | #2383 |
| 2018 | 64 | #2183 |
| 2017 | 78 | #1875 |
| 2016 | 96 | #1658 |
| 2015 | 81 | #1836 |
| 2014 | 87 | #1742 |
| 2013 | 93 | #1639 |
| 2012 | 88 | #1725 |
| 2011 | 97 | #1593 |
| 2010 | 124 | #1369 |
| 2009 | 100 | #1600 |
| 2008 | 135 | #1292 |
| 2007 | 118 | #1395 |
| 2006 | 137 | #1227 |
| 2005 | 152 | #1088 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Luc a boy's or girl's name?
When was Luc most popular?
How popular is the name Luc?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1949–2024