UK boy's name
Lucius
From Latin origin, meaning "light" or "bright".
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.
Lucius is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Lucius popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1859, with 13 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 30 births.
This profile covers 401 England and Wales registrations across 25 recorded years from 1997 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 43% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 398 living people in the UK are called Lucius. 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
- • Lucius ranked #1859 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 13 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2023, when 30 boys were registered as Lucius.
- • About 398 living people in the UK are estimated to have Lucius as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1859
2024
Births in 2024
13
Latest year
Peak year
2023
30 births
Estimated living
398
2026
Meaning
What does Lucius mean?
The name Lucius has its origins in the Latin language and culture, dating back to ancient Roman times. It is derived from the Latin word "lux," meaning light or brightness. The name was particularly popular among wealthy and influential Roman families.
One of the earliest and most notable individuals bearing the name Lucius was Lucius Annaeus Seneca, a renowned Stoic philosopher, dramatist, and advisor to the Roman emperor Nero. He lived from around 4 BC to 65 AD and wrote several influential works on ethics, morals, and philosophy.
In the Bible, the name Lucius appears in the New Testament book of Acts, referring to a Christian teacher from Cyrene (modern-day Libya). This Lucius is mentioned alongside the prophet Barnabas and others in the early Christian church.
During the Roman Empire, several emperors bore the name Lucius, including Lucius Septimius Severus (145-211 AD), who reigned from 193 to 211 AD. He is known for his military campaigns and for extending Roman citizenship to all free inhabitants of the empire.
Another notable Lucius was Lucius Cornelius Sulla (138-78 BC), a Roman dictator and general who played a significant role in the civil wars of the late Roman Republic. He was known for his brutal suppression of political opponents and his reforms to the Roman constitution.
In the Renaissance period, the name Lucius was associated with several prominent figures, such as Lucius Cary, 2nd Viscount Falkland (1610-1643), an English politician and writer who fought for the Royalist cause during the English Civil War.
Over the centuries, the name Lucius has been used by various individuals across different fields, including literature, arts, and sciences. Some examples include Lucius Apuleius (c. 124-170 AD), a Latin philosopher and author best known for his novel "The Golden Ass"; Lucius Annaeus Cornutus (c. 20-67 AD), a Stoic philosopher and teacher of Persius and Lucanus; and Lucius Aemilius Paullus Macedonicus (c. 229-160 BC), a Roman general and consul celebrated for his decisive victory over the Macedonian king Perseus at the Battle of Pydna in 168 BC.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Lucius over time
The chart below shows babies named Lucius registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 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 Lucius, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 13 births in 2024, compared with 30 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Lucius by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Lucius 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 | #1331 | 105 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1389 | 185 | 10 |
| 2000s | #1608 | 108 | 9 |
| 1990s | #2859 | 3 | 1 |
Notable bearers
Famous people named Lucius
-
Lucius Cary, 15th Viscount Falkland
politician
British Viscount (born 1935)
1935-
-
Lucius Cary, 14th Viscount Falkland
politician; military personnel
British peer
1905-1984
-
Lucius Nicholls
naturalist; physician; bacteriologist; herpetologist
British bacteriologist and naturalist
1885-1969
-
Lucius O'Brien, 15th Baron Inchiquin
Irish Baron and politician (1864-1929)
1864-1929
-
Lucius O'Brien, 13th Baron Inchiquin
politician
British politician
1800-1872
-
Lucius Curtis
naval officer
British Royal Navy admiral (1786-1869)
1786-1869
-
Lucius Hardyman
military officer
English naval officer
1771-1834
-
Lucius Concannon
politician
United Kingdom Member of Parliament
1764-1823
Related
Names similar to Lucius
- Luke 72,247
- Lewis 69,555
- Leo 63,249
- Liam 60,482
- Lucas 49,061
- Logan 40,771
- Louis 35,898
- Luca 30,323
- Louie 24,242
- Leon 22,308
- Levi 9,931
- Lee 7,861
FAQ
Lucius: questions and answers
How popular is the name Lucius in the UK right now?
In 2024, Lucius was ranked #1859 for boys in England and Wales, with 13 births registered.
When was Lucius most popular?
The peak year on record was 2023, with 30 babies registered as Lucius in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Lucius?
From Latin origin, meaning "light" or "bright".
How many people are called Lucius in the UK?
A total of 401 babies have been registered as Lucius across the 25 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.