Editor’s note: This post was originally published on November 3, 2009. It was substantially revised and re-posted on October 14, 2013.
Lucas is classic. Luke is cool, and Luca is hot. Today’s choice offers a different spin on those popular picks.
Thanks to Kelly for suggesting Lucian as Name of the Day – and to Jennifer for suggesting we revisit this one!
It’s tempting to associate Lucas with the Latin lux – light. But his origins are likely geographic. The Greek Loukas was used to describe someone from Lucania, a moutanous district of Italy settled way back in the 5th century BC. The Lucani may have taken their name from their word for wolf – or not.
But Lucius, Lucianus and yes, Lucian, do come from the Latin. Lucius was a Roman given name related to lux. Plenty of ancient notables answered to Lucius, and over time the family name Lucianus developed. Harry Potter fans, of course, think first of blonde-haired baddie Lucius Malfoy, which might explain why the name hasn’t caught on.
Lop off the -us, and you have Lucian, a form of the name in use for ages.
The ancient world gives us some notable bearers:
- Back in the second century, Lucian of Samosata wrote in Greek. He wrote novels – even early science fiction – at a moment when most writers were busy with history and philosophy.
- 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.
Add an -o, and it’s the Italian Luciano. Respell it, and you have the French Lucien – he was big in the 1920s in France.
You might hear Lucian pronounced LOO shan or maybe with three syllables – LOO see en. The -ian spelling has made a modest comeback in recent years, ranking #586 in 2012, up from obscurity just a few years ago. The -ien version remains relatively underused in the US, though 160 boys were given the name last year.
Besides the ancients, others have worn the name, including:
- Napoleon’s baby brother, Lucien Bonaparte.
- A character in Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo.
- More recently, add a British painter, an American Army General from World War II, and a Romanian poet to the list, plus Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti.
But if Lucian is back in the public eye, it has little to do with princes or poets, and more to do with werewolves.
2003’s Underworld kicked off a successful film franchise about the war between vampires and werewolves. The second movie debuted 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.
Steve Buscemi picked it for his son, but he’s all grown up now – and today’s Hollywood parents overwhelmingly favor Luca and Luka.
Lucian would fit right in with Top 100 favorites like Julian and Sebastian. Plus, he’d have the nickname option of Luc or Luke, making him a versatile pick. Lucian could wear well on an athlete or an artist. It’s a flexible, underused choice that stays on the right side of unusual.
I just named my son Lucian. I pronounce it LOO-SHUN. My husband preferred it that way. He was born 3/13/13.
Congratulations on your baby boy – great name!
My name is Lucien, and I am forever grateful to my parents!
Sure, I got teased, but didn’t everyone? The name stands out in a crowd: you can loathe it a la “Boy Named Sue” or you can treasure it. I used to be “Loo-shan,” but now I find I’m really partial to “Loo-see-in.” I also feel that because my name stood out among the Tims and Johns (sorry – none intended), it made me feel like me standing out wasn’t such a bad thing after all.
I just felt I had to sound off. I get a kick out of introducing myself.
Plus it’s a whole lot of fun to write in cursive.
(Go on, try it.)
My son’s name is Lucius (Loo-shus) Julian. Lucian was more common and we wanted a less common name, so we went with Lucius which I liked better anyway.
I love both Lucian and Julian…but I also like Aurelia and Octavia, so maybe I am just partial to Latinates!
I really love the name Lucian. I am 7 mos pregnant and my husband and I have known since the beginning that was our babys name. Lucian ( Loo-Shin). I dont think it sounds like Lucy at all. Its different and gorgeous, but most people react negitively when I tell them. But that dosent change our mind at all!
I love this name, its a tad more interesting to Luke (which is also a nice name, just too popular for my tastes). I have always instinctively pronounced this as (LOO-shan). I also really like Lucius (LOO-shus).
I’ve always gone with Loo-shan, so I’m glad to know I’ve got that right.
I’m not a fan, but I’m not a fan of Julian either, so it shouldn’t surprise me. Just feels somewhat of an insubstantial name. Not enough heft for me.
I love this name. It is a top pick for me… I am a huge fan of the painter Lucian Freud’s work. There is also a great Tribe Called Quest song called Luck of Lucien which I am partial too…
Oops, I forgot to say, I actually really like the name Lucian despite my strange thought process above!
Right. I think we’re going to have to start doing a pronunciation guide alongside the name! I immediately pronounced it in my head Lou-see-en, I guess like the French would.
I think LOO-shan is a much mouthier (is that a word?) coarse pronunciation, no offence to any LOO-shans out there. But I guess some people would argue that Lou-see-en sounds too much like Lucy which is a girls name and therefore they couldn’t possibly bestow such a frilly, girly designation on a rugged, bold boy. 😉
And while I’m on a tangent, I wonder if the playground eejits would stoop to Lucy-Ann? *eek* Mabye LOO-shan is the way to go afterall….
I hear you, Bevin. If I didn’t know a family with the surname Lucian, I don’t think I would’ve bought LOO shan as the standard pronunciation, either. After all, Julian isn’t JOOL ahn, right? And I’m partial to LOO see ehn, too.