Lumen
Primarily a girl's name of Latin origin with 446 recorded births. Also given to 56 boys.
Meaning & Origin
In the International System of Units, the derived unit of luminous flux; the light that is emitted in a solid angle of one steradian from a source of one candela. Symbol: lm.
Lumen is a boy's and girl's baby name of Latin origin, meaning 'light' or 'luminance.' In Latin, lumen was used both as the common word for light and as a metaphor for the light of reason and truth. In physics, the lumen is the unit of luminous flux.
Lumen has the rare distinction of being simultaneously a classical Latin word, a modern scientific measurement, and a genuinely evocative given name. It belongs to the family of light names — Luna, Lucía, Lux — but with a more technical, sculptural quality.
EtymologyShow more
Lumen is cataloged under the Latin naming tradition. Latin-origin names have been a backbone of Western naming for centuries, carried forward through the Roman Empire, the Catholic Church, and the Romance languages.
In the U.S., Lumen has been recorded as a girl's name since 2011, with 446 total births. Browse the Latin names hub on this site to explore the broader family.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Lumen has 14+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 2011.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 150 | #4870 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 296 | #4701 | — |
The Story of Lumen
A Gen Alpha name
Peaking in 2015, Lumen is a fresh, modern favorite. Girls named Lumen are most likely born between 2011 and 2024.
How rare is Lumen?
Only about 1 in every 240,000 babies born in 2024 was named Lumen — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 2011, peaked in the 2010s with 296 births that decade, and remains solidly popular today.
Lumen by the numbers
- Would fill 9 school buses
- Meeting one Lumen per day would take 1.2 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(14 years, 2011–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 15 | #7420 |
| 2023 | 33 | #4321 |
| 2022 | 32 | #4424 |
| 2021 | 36 | #4056 |
| 2020 | 34 | #4128 |
| 2019 | 31 | #4502 |
| 2018 | 37 | #3976 |
| 2017 | 39 | #3893 |
| 2016 | 37 | #4045 |
| 2015 | 43 | #3634 |
| 2014 | 36 | #4155 |
| 2013 | 31 | #4601 |
| 2012 | 28 | #5053 |
| 2011 | 14 | #8454 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Lumen as a Boy's Name
Though more common for girls, Lumen has a notable history as a boy's name too, with 56 births since 2014.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lumen a boy's or girl's name?
When was Lumen most popular?
How popular is the name Lumen?
Can Lumen be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 2011–2024