I was named Lucas in honor of my great-great-grandfather, Label. Since Label is a Yiddish name, my family sought the closest English equivalent and chose Lucas. I appreciate my parent's decision to translate the name Label to an English alternative as given the amount of antisemitism in our world, a Yiddish name could predispose me to discrimination. Label was an immigrant from Russia. Coming to America, he had nothing but the clothes on his back and a dream. With this, he crafted a gas station business and acquired real estate in Detroit, which is still in my family's possession. I reflect Label’s characteristics through my entrepreneurial spirit and drive to make something of myself by myself through my studying of business. Furthermore, the name has guided me throughout my life, and to honor my great-great-grandfather, during significant Jewish events, such as my bar mitzvah, I am referred to by my Hebrew name, Label, which reinforces my connection to my ancestry.

Beyond its connection to heritage, the name Lucas has roots in both Greek and Latin. The Latin derivation, Lucius, signifies "light," while the Greek form, Loukas, means "man from light" (Riley). In many cultures, light symbolizes wisdom, knowledge, and guidance and represents the ability to lead others out of the darkness. This symbolic meaning is fascinating to me as Label led my family to America, where we would be safe from the Holocaust.

Through research in the U.S. Social Security database, I discovered that the name Lucas has become increasingly popular since 1977 (“Top 5”). Its ranking peaked around 2018, consistently placing among the top ten most common names. In 2005, when I was born, Lucas was even more prevalent in Michigan than in the rest of the country, ranking 39th in Michigan in 2005 (“Top 5”). Given that my parents were looking to give me a mainstream alternative the name Label, Lucas was an easy choice because of its rise in popularity.  According to parents.com, the name Lucas became increasingly popular after the release of Star Wars due to the main character in the movie being named Luke (Coppa). Growing up, I felt connected to the Star Wars movie series because of the name because of this name. Seeing Luke Skywalker as a heroic character made me appreciate my name even more.

My name serves as a bridge between my modern identity and my family’s past. It reminds me of the values, traditions, and stories that continue to shape who I am today.

Works Cited

Coppa, Christine. “What Does the Name Lucas Mean?” Parents, Parents, 18 Dec. 2024, www.parents.com/lucas-name-meaning-origin-popularity-8627668. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025

 Riley, L. “Lucas Name Meaning: Origin, History, and Significance.” Name of the Year, 3 Sept. 2023, www.nameoftheyear.com/lucas-name-meaning/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025

“Top 5 Names in Each of the Last 100 Years.” U.S. Social Security Administration Baby Name Database, U.S. Social Security Administration, n.d., ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/top5names.html, Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.