Lucien
Lucien was the 899th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 265 babies. Its best year was 1880, when it ranked 397th; the most babies were born in 2025 (265). Over the last ten years it has moved up 260 places. More babies were named Lucien in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning of Lucius (light) · French, Latin
Say it LOO-see-en /ˈlusiən/
- Rank in 2025
- #899 boys, up 192 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 265boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2025265 babies
- Total since 1880
- 9,998babies recorded
What does the name Lucien mean?
Lucien is the French form of Lucian, from the Latin name Lucianus, 'belonging to Lucius'. Lucius was a common Roman first name, which DMNES derives from Latin lux 'light'. DMNES lists early martyrs called Lucian and records the name from the 14th century on. Wiktionary adds that the Greek writer Lucian's name was Loukianos, whose meaning is unclear, so the 'light' link is likely but not certain for every bearer.
Lucianus (Latin, “of Lucius”)lux (Latin, “light”)
How sure is this? Probable. Lucius is linked to lux 'light'; Wiktionary also mentions a Greek Loukianos of obscure meaning.
Pronunciation: French: lü-SYAN, with a nasal final vowel.
Related names: Lucian, Luciano, Lucius, Lucienne.
See also: Latin names, names that mean light.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Lucien' (French section), Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Wiktionary, entry 'Lucian', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources (ed. S. L. Uckelman), Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Lucian', DMNES, Durham University
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources (ed. S. L. Uckelman), Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Lucius', DMNES, Durham University
- CMU Pronouncing Dictionary (cmudict), Carnegie Mellon University
Nicknames for Lucien
The usual nicknames for Lucien are Luc. Some parents skip the long form: for every 100 boys named Lucien in the last five years, 20 were named Luc, against 186 twenty years earlier.
| Nickname | Kind | Rank 2025 | Boys, 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luc · also for Lucian | Modern | #3,483 | 227 |
Nicknames reviewed by our editors; counts are boys given the nickname as their legal first name. Nobody records how many Luciens go by each one.
Lucien popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 5 since 2006.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #899 | 265 |
| 2020 | #1,091 | 182 |
| 2010 | #1,116 | 169 |
| 2000 | #1,987 | 52 |
| 1990 | #2,148 | 34 |
| 1980 | #1,484 | 42 |
| 1970 | #1,483 | 33 |
| 1960 | #1,313 | 37 |
| 1950 | #847 | 65 |
| 1940 | #754 | 67 |
| 1930 | #580 | 107 |
| 1920 | #562 | 122 |
| 1910 | #630 | 22 |
| 1900 | #719 | 13 |
| 1890 | #650 | 10 |
| 1880 | #397 | 19 |
How popular is Lucien, counting every spelling?
Lucien has no other common spelling that sounds the same. Counting every name's spellings together, it ranks #865 for boys in 2025, against #899 on the official list.
How many kids will share the name Lucien?
265 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Lucien (0.07 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Lucien born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 32 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Lucien.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Lucien?
About 6,000 people born in the US named Lucien are alive today, with a median age of 17; half are between 7 and 41. That makes Lucien mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Lucien by state
How common Lucien was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Oregon (2.7×), New York (1.7×). In 23 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Lucien: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Lucien, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Lucien · Sibling names for Lucien
Questions about the name Lucien
What does Lucien mean?
Lucien means “of Lucius (light)” (French, Latin origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Lucien?
Lucien was the 899th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 265 babies. Its best year was 1880, when it ranked 397th; the most babies were born in 2025 (265). Over the last ten years it has moved up 260 places. More babies were named Lucien in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Lucien a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Lucien in the US.
Where is Lucien most popular?
In 2021–2025, Lucien was most common in Oregon (0.36 per 1,000 boys), followed by New York and Connecticut.