Duke

Duke: name meaning, origin & popularity

Meaning
“leader; nobleman”
Origin
English
Say it
DOOK · 1 syllable
Used for
Boys

From the English title duke, ultimately from Latin dux 'leader.' Its use as a given name comes from the title and from surname-style naming.

How popular is Duke?

2024113 per million US babies
1880192019602000
Drag the line or the slider to read any year. Values are per million US births recorded by Social Security. Records before about 1937 undercount births, so early peaks can look taller than they were.

Babies named Duke in 2024375

2024 rank#709 boys

Peak year2018

Total US babies since 188011,200

Duke is rising: use over the last five years is 1.9× what it was a decade earlier.

Names like Duke

Variants, related forms and names with the same roots.

  • JackGod is gracious · English
  • Hudsonson of Hudd · English
  • Averyruler of elves · English
  • Jacksonson of Jack · English
  • Cartercart driver · English
  • Wyattbrave in war · English
  • Maverickindependent person · English
  • Masonstoneworker · English

Duke questions

What does the name Duke mean?

Duke means "leader; nobleman". It comes from English. From the English title duke, ultimately from Latin dux 'leader.' Its use as a given name comes from the title and from surname-style naming.

Is Duke a boy or girl name?

Duke is mainly a boy's name in US records (100% of uses since 1880).

How popular is Duke?

375 US babies were named Duke in 2024. Its peak year was 2018.

How do you pronounce Duke?

Duke is usually pronounced DOOK.

Birth counts: US Social Security Administration national data, 1880–2024 (names given to 5+ babies of a sex in a year). How we write meanings.