Duke
Duke is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Leader or commander.
Origin and history
Duke is a masculine name derived from the nobility title, which stems from the Latin word 'dux', meaning leader. Historically used occasionally as a given name in the U.S., it has seen a notable resurgence in recent years as part of a trend toward bold, aristocratic word names.
Popularity in the United States
11,595 babies in the United States have been named Duke since 1880. It ranks #1097 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #655.
States where it is most popular
- CA (22.2 %)
- TX (12 %)
- HI (4.5 %)
- NY (4.4 %)
- OH (4.1 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 35 |
| 1890-1900 | 67 |
| 1900-1910 | 71 |
| 1910-1920 | 276 |
| 1920-1930 | 362 |
| 1930-1940 | 344 |
| 1940-1950 | 429 |
| 1950-1960 | 780 |
| 1960-1970 | 795 |
| 1970-1980 | 553 |
| 1980-1990 | 450 |
| 1990-2000 | 566 |
| 2000-2010 | 756 |
| 2010-2019 | 3,699 |
| 2020-2029 | 2,412 |
Famous people named Duke
- Duke Ellington: Composer, Musician
- Duke Snider: Baseball Player
- Duke Kahanamoku: Swimmer, Surfer
Fun facts
- The name derives from the Latin 'dux', which originally referred to a military commander or guide.
- Duke has experienced a surge in U.S. popularity in the 2020s, rising over 400 spots compared to its historical cumulative rank.