Luther

The first name Luther is the English variant of a Germanic surname, which has its origin in the Old High German Luitheri or Leuthar.

What does the name Luther mean?

Luther, as a masculine first name, originates from a Germanic surname and is derived from the Old High German Luitheri or Leuthar. Its meaningful interpretation is 'the warrior of the people' or 'people's army'. The name has its roots in Old High German and consists of the elements liut, meaning 'the people' or 'the folk', and heri, meaning 'the army', 'the warrior', or 'the army leader'. Martin Luther called himself 'Luther' instead of Lüder, which was common in his historical context to use a Hellenized form of his surname (similar to Melanchthon). The name could also be derived from the Greek ελευθερος (eleutheros), meaning 'free'. In Iceland, the name is written as Lúther. Other variants include Liuther, Luither, and Lutter. The feminine forms are Luthera and Lutherina. Additionally, the name also appears as a surname.

Where does the name Luther come from?

The first name Luther has its roots in Old High German and means 'the warrior of the people'. The components are liut, meaning 'the people' or 'the folk', and heri, meaning 'the army', 'the warrior', or 'the army leader'. The name is common in the English language.

How do you pronounce Luther?

The name Luther has a clear, two-syllable structure. In German pronunciation, it is usually pronounced as 'Lu-ther' [ˈluːtɐ], which creates a calm and stable sound movement. The part 'ther' provides a soft yet distinct ending, giving the name a certain significance. This conveys an impression of dignity and presence, with a sonorous, calm tone and a historical, reformative background.

When is the name day of Luther?

The name day for Luther is celebrated on November 10.

Popularity

In Germany, Luther is considered a rare first name. Currently, it ranks 5,840th in the list of the most common male first names. The name achieved its best ranking in 2014, when it placed 3,829th. In the last ten years, Luther has been given as a first name fewer than 10 times, which places it 7,739th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 7,533rd.

Nicknames & pet names

King / Lutherchen / Martin

Famous people

• Luther Adler (American theater actor)
• Luther Creek (American actor)
• Luther Davis (screenwriter)
• Luther Emmett Holt (American educator and pioneer in pediatrics)
• Luther Goldman (nature photographer)
• Luther Johnson (American blues guitarist)
• Luther Meade Blackman (famous engraver from the USA)
• Luther Price (experimental filmmaker)
• Luther Reed (screenwriter)
• Luther Standing Bear (interpreter, author, and chief of the Oglala Lakota Sioux)
• Luther Tucker (American blues guitarist)
• Luther, the Hubot (character from the series 'Real Humans - Echte Menschen')
• Martin Luther (reformer)
• Martin Luther King (civil rights activist in the USA)