Is Duke a boy, girl, or unisex name?

Duke is commonly used as a Boy name.

It’s currently ranked #581 in the U.S. Recent trend: Falling.

Duke Boy

Popularity: #581 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Origin(s)

PronunciationDook / /duːk/

English; French

Meaning

English: Leader; French: Duke (noble title)

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Duke has its roots in the English language, derived from the Old French 'duc', which means leader or commander. It is also associated with the noble title of Duke, historically used in European aristocracy. The name has gained popularity as a given name in modern times, often reflecting a sense of strength and leadership. It is commonly used in various cultures, particularly in English-speaking countries.

Trend Summary

The name Duke has seen fluctuating popularity in the United States, with a notable increase in usage in recent years.

Variants

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International Variants

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Famous people named Duke

Duke Ellington was a renowned American jazz composer and bandleader, known for his significant contributions to the genre.

Duke Kahanamoku was an Olympic swimmer and surfer, recognized as the father of modern surfing.

Fictional characters named Duke

Duke from the G.I. Joe franchise is a prominent character known for his leadership and combat skills.

Duke Caboom is a character from the Toy Story franchise, known as a stuntman toy with a flair for dramatic jumps.

Sibling Suggestions

Max Leo Finn Jace Zane Cole

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Duke was first seen in the United States in 1880. Duke has ranked as high as #877 nationally, which occurred in 2018, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Hawaii, New York, and Ohio. In the past 5 years the name Duke has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Duke (2024)

Year:

State	Births	Share
TX	48	15%
CA	36	11%
FL	21	6%
MN	15	5%
OH	15	5%
UT	14	4%
TN	14	4%
HI	13	4%
IL	12	4%
NC	12	4%
PA	12	4%
MI	12	4%
WI	11	3%
IA	10	3%
MO	8	2%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

Year	Births
1880	7
1881	5
1883	5
1884	5
1886	5
1888	8
1890	7
1891	5
1892	6
1893	6
1894	5
1895	7
1896	5
1897	9
1898	9
1899	8
1900	11
1901	5
1902	7
1904	8
1905	6
1906	5
1907	5
1908	13
1909	11
1910	13
1911	15
1912	20
1913	19
1914	17
1915	35
1916	37
1917	40
1918	39
1919	41
1920	33
1921	31
1922	41
1923	27
1924	35
1925	45
1926	43
1927	45
1928	40
1929	22
1930	33
1931	40
1932	19
1933	31
1934	28
1935	22
1936	38
1937	46
1938	46
1939	41
1940	45
1941	46
1942	42
1943	46
1944	28
1945	35
1946	43
1947	47
1948	59
1949	38
1950	60
1951	49
1952	49
1953	53
1954	75
1955	85
1956	105
1957	108
1958	89
1959	107
1960	96
1961	70
1962	76
1963	100
1964	89
1965	70
1966	84
1967	73
1968	62
1969	76
1970	78
1971	75
1972	57
1973	62
1974	52
1975	44
1976	43
1977	36
1978	36
1979	70
1980	47
1981	41
1982	43
1983	44
1984	36
1985	37
1986	33
1987	56
1988	63
1989	50
1990	60
1991	43
1992	65
1993	75
1994	63
1995	55
1996	44
1997	59
1998	49
1999	54
2000	55
2001	53
2002	59
2003	74
2004	62
2005	75
2006	89
2007	96
2008	104
2009	89
2010	141
2011	147
2012	160
2013	323
2014	384
2015	455
2016	515
2017	523
2018	529
2019	521
2020	424
2021	419
2022	403
2023	395
2024	375