Duke

English rank of nobility

Duke Origin and Meaning

The name Duke is a boy's name of English origin.

While John Wayne and Duke Ellington are worthy role models, the reason Duke is currently enjoying a revival and returned to the Top 1000 in 2013 as one of the year's fastest-rising boys’ names is more likely due to the name given to high-profile TV couple Giuliana and Bill Rancic. Christened Edward Duke, he has always been called by his middle name, just as Edward Duke Ellington was. Duke is just one of several aristocratic titles being increasingly used by ordinary citizens.

Duke Rank in US Top 1000

# 684 in the US

Duke Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

# 1003 on Nameberry

Popularity of the name Duke

• 684 US 2023
• 1003 Nameberry 2025
• 305 Future 2028
• 968 England 2014
• 10 Dogs 2023
• 89 Cats 2021

20 Names Similar to Duke

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Duke.

• Ronnie
• Clay
• Bailey
• Joey
• London
• Houston
• Cliff
• Ray
• Chance
• Buck
• Boston
• Jay
• Buddy
• Harley
• Marley
• Denver
• Frankie
• Brock
• Benji
• Drake

Famous People Named Duke

• (Edward) Duke Ellington American jazz musician
• Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku American Hawaiian surfer and Olympic swimmer
• Duke Calhoun NFL football player
• Duke Uba Ihenacho American NFL football player
• Duke Worne American actor and director
• Edwin Donald "Duke" Snider American baseball player
• Abdul "Duke" Fakir American singer of The Four Tops
• Duke Keaton son of actress Diane Keaton
• Duke Kenneth Fluent son of American actress Justine Bateman
• Duke Gaines (b. 2008) son of reality stars Chip and Joanna Gaines
• (Edward) Duke Rancic (b. 2012) son of TV personalities Giuliana and Bill Rancic

The name Duke in Pop Culture

• Duke surname of the family on TV's "Dukes of Hazzard"
• "The Duke " a nickname for actor John Wayne and his characters
• Duke Orsino character in movie, "She's the Man"
• Duke Crocker character on TV's "Haven"
• Duke Thomas character in DC Universe
• Duke character on TV's "iCarly"
• Duke Ellis character in "A Woman Called Fancy" by Frank Yerby
• Duke character in the "G.I. Joe" series
• Duke the Lost Engine character in "The Railway" series
• Uncle Duke character in comic strip "Doonesbury"
• Tony "Duke" Evers character in the "Rocky" films
• Duke Lavery character on American soap opera "General Hospital"
• Duke character in video game "KOF: Maximum Impact"
• Duke of New York character in film "Escape from New York"
• "Duke Nukem " video game series and its main character
• "Duke " novel by Hal Ellson and its main character
• Duke University school in North Carolina, USA