Lupe
Primarily a girl's name of Spanish origin with 18,615 recorded births. Also given to 6,018 boys.
Meaning & Origin
A female given name from Spanish.
Lupe is a girl's and boy's baby name of Spanish origin, a diminutive of Guadalupe, from the Arabic wadi (river valley) and the Latin lupus (wolf), meaning 'river of the wolf' — the name of the sacred site in Spain where Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared. The name carries deep Marian devotion throughout the Spanish-speaking world.
Warm and spiritually rooted, Lupe is a name inseparable from its religious heritage — a devotional diminutive that has become beloved in its own right, from Mexico City to Los Angeles.
EtymologyShow more
In the American context, Lupe is a girl's name with over a century of recorded use (1885–2024). Its Spanish roots connect it to a broader naming tradition, but in practice, American usage often reshapes names — adding nicknames, shifting pronunciation, and building new associations that diverge from the original cultural context.
Today, Lupe is an active part of the American naming landscape (ranked #10719), continuing to accumulate its own cultural meaning with each new child who carries it.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Lupe was #6121 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #10719, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 25 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 74 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 152 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 329 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 513 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 964 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 1,971 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 2,287 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 3,567 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 3,561 | — |
| 1920s | 3,603 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 1,237 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 242 | ▲ |
| 1890s | 79 | ▲ |
| 1880s | 11 | — |
The Story of Lupe
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1927, Lupe is a name steeped in history. Girls named Lupe are most likely born between 1917 and 1937.
How rare is Lupe?
Only about 1 in every 400,000 babies born in 2024 was named Lupe — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1885, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1920s with 3,603 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Lupe by the numbers
- Would fill 388 school buses
- Meeting one Lupe per day would take 51 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(133 years, 1885–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 9 | #10719 |
| 2022 | 5 | #16749 |
| 2021 | 6 | #14545 |
| 2020 | 5 | #16564 |
| 2019 | 6 | #14871 |
| 2018 | 7 | #13276 |
| 2017 | 8 | #12301 |
| 2016 | 8 | #12432 |
| 2015 | 8 | #12516 |
| 2014 | 13 | #8773 |
| 2012 | 10 | #10940 |
| 2011 | 6 | #15998 |
| 2010 | 8 | #12987 |
| 2009 | 15 | #8290 |
| 2008 | 12 | #9848 |
| 2007 | 16 | #7945 |
| 2006 | 16 | #7709 |
| 2005 | 16 | #7356 |
| 2004 | 20 | #6121 |
| 2003 | 5 | #17306 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Lupe as a Boy's Name
Though more common for girls, Lupe has a notable history as a boy's name too, with 6,018 births since 1899.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lupe a boy's or girl's name?
When was Lupe most popular?
How popular is the name Lupe?
Can Lupe be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1885–2024