The baby name Lucian feels like an overlooked classic, the kind of updated-but-rooted name perfect for a 21st child.
Thanks to Kelly for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day – and to Jennifer for suggesting we revisit this one!
WHAT DOES THE NAME LUCIAN MEAN?
Lu- and Lou- names dot the US Top 1000. Classic Lucas and Luke keep company with romance language Luca and Slavic Luka.
We tend to associate all of the Luc/Luk names with the Latin word lux, meaning light. That’s sort of accurate.
Instead, most of the Lucas names come from the map. The Greek name Loukas referred to someone from Lucania, a mountainous region of Italy settled since at least the 5th century BC. Lucania takes its name from the Lucani, the tribe that called the area home.
The Lucani spoke Oscan, a cousin to Latin. It’s possible that Lucania comes from a similar root as the Latin lux, but it’s not certain.
But, but, but … Lucius is a Roman name related to lux. So while the baby name Lucian sounds like an elaboration of Luke and company?
It’s (possibly, probably, maybe) sepearate.
Lucius came first. It was elaborated to Lucianus, and then reduced again to Lucian. It’s the same pattern as Julius-Julianus-Julian.
FAMOUS FIGURES
From the ancient world through the modern day, the baby name Lucian has been worn by many notables.
The ancient world gives us:
- Back in the second century, Lucian of Samosata wrote novels in Greek.
- Two third century saints answered to the name: St. Lucian of Antioch and St. Lucian of Beauvais. A tower built in Malta in the 1600s bears the name Fort St. Lucian.
Other variations include the French Lucien and Italian Luciano.
You might hear anyone from the Caribbean island nation of St. Lucia referred to as a St. Lucian.
Other notables include:
- Napoleon’sbaby brother, Lucien Bonaparte.
- A character in AlexandreDumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo.
- Add a British painter, an American Army General from World War II, and a Romanian poet to the list, plus Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti.
If you grew up on Harry Potter, you might think of the villainous Lucius Malfoy, father to Draco.
And then there’s 2003’s Underworld.
The movie kicked off a successful film franchise about the war between vampires and werewolves. The second movie arrived in 2006. In 2009, Underworld: Rise of the Lycans filled in more history, followed by Underworld: Evolution in 2012. The werewolf Lucian in the films is part of tragic romance along the lines of Romeo and Juliet.
There’s yet another werewolf Lucian in The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare.
From 2012 through 2017, neo-Western crime drama Longmire gave us a Lucian without an allergic reaction to moonlight.
HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE LUCIAN?
You might hear Lucian pronounced LOO shan or maybe with three syllables – LOO see en.
Both are correct, and there’s plenty of variation, just like sister name Lucia.
HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME LUCIAN?
As of 2024, the baby name Lucian ranks #485 for boys. That marks an all-time high.
The last time the name was this popular? Circa 1915. If the 100 Year Rule applies, then Lucian’s comeback in right on time.
In addition to Lucian, similar names in use include:
- Lucien, currently ranked #912
- Luciano, the most popular of them all at #348
SEBASTIAN, JULIAN, AND LUCIAN, TOO
The baby name Lucian is a logical successor to current favorites like Top 100 Sebastian, Julian, and Adrian. Many more appear in the Top 1000, and more rarities await discovery, too.
At the moment, though, the baby name Lucian hits the sweet spot. It meets the broadest possible definition of a classic name, but it’s surprising and fresh, too.
What do you think of the baby name Lucian?
This post was originally published on November 3, 2009. It was revised on October 14, 2013 and November 11, 2025.
I love this name! The first time I heard it was a character on ER. It’s unique without being too unusual.
I just named my baby boy Lucian and we pronounce it “Loo-see-ahn”, but we’ve found that here in the southern US “Loo-shun” comes more naturally and I’m ok with that.
I picked it because it’s a very romantic, elegant name, has an old-southern feel to it too.
I would expect a nickname to be “Lou”. I don’t love “Luc”(Luke) as a nickname as there is no hard K sound in the original name.
Congrats! What a great name.
And very good point re: Lou versus Luc …
I have a gorgeous blonde haired son called Lucian (pronounced Loo-shan) but a lot of folks call him loo-ci-en/an. I get a lot of comments saying “oh what an unusual name”
My grandson’s name is Lucien. It’s been a long time favorite of mine and is a combination of my name Lucia and my daughter’s name Adrienne. Also my mother Luz Maria. We call him Loo shan or Loo see un or Luciano a la Pavorati! It’s my favorite name on the world !
Another entry with only one sentence. 🙁