Lucifer

Lucifer is the name of the archangel cast into hell and while theologians disagree on whether he and Satan are separate beings, it long been on the list of forbidden names for religious and non-religious parents alike. With connotations of hell and devilry so strongly attached to it, the name is officially banned in some places, including New Zealand.

But is there hope for Lucifer? With its light-related meaning and its rebellious, edgy feel, parents who enjoy Lilith, Riot, Rebel, Rogue and similar, may be drawn to it, especially with modern portrayals of the the figure, in series such as Lucifer (2021).

A controversial choice, Lucifer had never appeared in the US stats before 2002, when it began to be sporadically used for a small handful of boys. Over the last decade, however, use of the name has picked up, with more than 70 babies given the name in 2021. The number dropped to 43 in 2023, placing it alongside Jedediah, Remiel, Olsen, Kyzir, and Ted in the charts.

Pronounced LOO-sih-fer.

As of October 2026, Lucifer ranked #4632 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #2089 in 2021, Nameberry popularity #890.