NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Lucifer

Bearer of light, the shining one, from the Latin lux (light) and ferre (to bear).

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Lucifer is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Lucifer popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2921, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2020, with 15 births.

This profile covers 86 England and Wales registrations across 9 recorded years from 2016 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 47% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 86 living people in the UK are called Lucifer. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Lucifer ranked #2921 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 7 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2020, when 15 boys were registered as Lucifer.
  • About 86 living people in the UK are estimated to have Lucifer as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2921

2024

Births in 2024

7

Latest year

Peak year

2020

15 births

Estimated living

86

2026

Meaning

What does Lucifer mean?

The name Lucifer originates from the Latin word "lucifer" which means "light-bearer" or "morning star". It is derived from the Latin words "lux" meaning light and "ferre" meaning to bear or carry. The name has its roots in ancient Roman culture and mythology.

The name Lucifer first appeared in the King James Version of the Bible, which was published in 1611. In this text, Lucifer was used to refer to the morning star or the planet Venus. It was also used as a reference to the Devil or Satan in the book of Isaiah.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Lucifer was Lucifer Calaritanus, a Christian martyr who lived in the 3rd century AD on the island of Sardinia. He was persecuted and executed for his religious beliefs during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian.

Another notable figure named Lucifer was Lucifer of Cagliari, a 4th-century bishop and theologian who lived in Sardinia. He was known for his staunch opposition to the Arian heresy and his defense of the doctrine of the Trinity.

In the 17th century, a Dutch philosopher and writer named Lucifer Holmius de Hartogvelt (1616-1679) used the name Lucifer as his pseudonym. He was known for his controversial and satirical writings which often criticized religious and political authorities.

A famous figure in the 18th century with the name Lucifer was Lucifer Trelawney (1744-1809), an English nobleman and politician who served as a member of the British Parliament.

In the 19th century, there was a French writer and poet named Lucifer Alphonse Vaudère (1826-1898) who published several works of poetry and literary criticism under the name Lucifer.

Despite its association with the Devil or Satan in some religious contexts, the name Lucifer has been used throughout history by individuals from various backgrounds and cultures, often reflecting its original meaning as a "light-bearer" or "morning star".

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Lucifer over time

The chart below shows babies named Lucifer registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2016 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Lucifer, the clearest high point is 2020. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2024, compared with 15 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Lucifer
0481115201620202024

Decades

Lucifer by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Lucifer was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #1957 62 5
2010s #3124 24 4

Related

Names similar to Lucifer

FAQ

Lucifer: questions and answers

How popular is the name Lucifer in the UK right now?

In 2024, Lucifer was ranked #2921 for boys in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.

When was Lucifer most popular?

The peak year on record was 2020, with 15 babies registered as Lucifer in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Lucifer?

Bearer of light, the shining one, from the Latin lux (light) and ferre (to bear).

How many people are called Lucifer in the UK?

A total of 86 babies have been registered as Lucifer across the 9 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.