UK boy's name
Lui
A masculine Italian name derived from Latin meaning "light" or "renowned".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Lui is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Lui popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3990, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 16 births.
This profile covers 177 England and Wales registrations across 25 recorded years from 1996 to 2021. 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 25% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 176 living people in the UK are called Lui. 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 2022 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Lui ranked #3990 for boys in England and Wales in 2021, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 16 boys were registered as Lui.
- • About 176 living people in the UK are estimated to have Lui as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3990
2021
Births in 2021
4
Latest year
Peak year
2007
16 births
Estimated living
176
2026
Meaning
What does Lui mean?
The name Lui has its roots in the Italian language, originating from the Latin name Lucius, which means "light" or "bright." It is believed to have been derived from the Latin word "lux," meaning light. The name was widely used in ancient Roman times and was popular among the aristocratic families of the era.
In the Middle Ages, the name Lui emerged as a shortened form of the Italian name Luigi, which itself was a derivative of the French name Louis. Luigi was a popular name among the Italian nobility and was often associated with wealth and prestige.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lui can be found in the writings of the renowned Italian poet and philosopher Dante Alighieri, who lived from 1265 to 1321. In his epic poem "The Divine Comedy," Dante mentioned a character named Lui, which was likely a diminutive form of Luigi.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Lui. One of the most famous was Lui Pulci (1432-1484), an Italian poet and satirist best known for his work "Morgante," a mock-heroic epic poem that parodied the chivalric romances of the time.
Another prominent figure was Lui Alamanni (1495-1556), an Italian poet and statesman who served as an ambassador for the Republic of Florence. His poetry often addressed political and social issues of his time.
In the realm of art, Lui Loir (1615-1665) was a renowned French Baroque painter known for his religious works and portraits of the French nobility.
The name Lui also gained recognition in the field of science with Lui Palmieri (1807-1896), an Italian geologist and meteorologist who made significant contributions to the study of volcanic activity and seismic phenomena.
Lastly, Lui Bonfadini (1928-1999) was an Italian painter and sculptor whose works were heavily influenced by the Futurist movement and explored themes of modernity and technology.
While these are just a few examples, the name Lui has been present throughout various periods of history, carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, each leaving their mark on their respective fields.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Lui over time
The chart below shows babies named Lui registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Lui, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2021, compared with 16 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Lui by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Lui 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 | #3919 | 8 | 2 |
| 2010s | #3072 | 62 | 10 |
| 2000s | #1880 | 91 | 10 |
| 1990s | #2003 | 16 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Lui
- 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
Lui: questions and answers
How popular is the name Lui in the UK right now?
In 2021, Lui was ranked #3990 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Lui most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 16 babies registered as Lui in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Lui?
A masculine Italian name derived from Latin meaning "light" or "renowned".
How many people are called Lui in the UK?
A total of 177 babies have been registered as Lui 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.