Lucian

This Old World ancient charmer has been “shining” upon the masculine naming charts in American since the government first began tracking naming trends back in 1880. At the turn of the 20th century, Lucian was used in moderation and most likely by immigrants considering Lucian has a very Euro-cool ethnic sensibility compared to most English names. Unfortunately, Lucian lost his “cool” factor as the name slowly went out of style as the 20th century progressed. By the 1940s, Lucian could barely hold onto even a low position on the charts. The name finally dimmed his “light” in 1953 when he fell off the naming charts and into the darkness. He would remain in hiding for over 50 consecutive years, finally returning to the charts this new century in 2005. Lucian didn’t exactly come back with a bang, but at least he’s back on the radar. Lucian is a cool name and its pronunciation even gives it more of a cosmopolitan flavor. It has ancient intelligence thanks to the 2nd century satirical writer Lucian of Samosata who is also considered one of the first Western novelists. This name is so far from being overused that it’s a nice choice for parents looking for a little more originality (also a great alternative to the ever-popular and perhaps too trendy Luke or Lucas). If you want a little more Italian flair, then you may want to consider Luciano (as in Pavarotti).