Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929.

He was born in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, and was originally named Michael King Jr. His father later changed both of their names to Martin Luther King after a trip to Germany, in honor of the Protestant reformer Martin Luther.

That date-January 15, 1929-is historically settled and not disputed.

This question routinely trends around:

  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day, observed in the United States each January
  • Black History Month (February in the U.S. and Canada)
  • School exams, essays, and general knowledge searches
  • Social media posts that reference MLK quotes without context

It also spikes when people notice that MLK Day is not always on January 15, which creates confusion and drives searches about his actual birthdate.

What’s Confirmed vs. What’s Unclear

Confirmed facts:

  • Birthdate: January 15, 1929
  • Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia
  • Birth name: Michael King Jr.
  • Renamed in childhood to Martin Luther King Jr.

Nothing material about his birthdate is unclear or debated. Historical records are consistent.

What People Are Getting Wrong

A common misunderstanding is assuming Martin Luther King Jr. was born on MLK Day.

He was not.

  • MLK Day is observed on the third Monday of January, not January 15.
  • The holiday was designed for a long weekend, not to match his exact birthday.
  • Some years, MLK Day falls before January 15; other years, after.

Another misconception is confusing his birth year-1929-with the start of the Civil Rights Movement, which peaked decades later in the 1950s and 1960s.

Real-World Impact (Everyday Scenarios)

For students: Knowing the exact birthdate matters for exams, essays, and timelines. Mixing up the holiday date and birthdate is a common, avoidable error.

For workplaces and schools: MLK Day is a federal holiday in the U.S., but it is not his birthday. This distinction often comes up in educational programming and DEI discussions.

Benefits, Risks & Limitations

Benefits of clarity:

  • Accurate historical understanding
  • Better context for MLK’s age during key events (e.g., he was 26 during the Montgomery Bus Boycott)

Risks of confusion:

  • Misinformation spreading through social posts or casual references
  • Oversimplifying history by treating symbolic dates as literal ones

There are no meaningful limitations or uncertainties around this fact.

What to Watch Next

If you are learning about Martin Luther King Jr., the more useful next questions tend to be:

  • How old was he during major civil rights milestones?
  • Why was MLK Day established decades after his death?
  • What did he accomplish before age 40?

He was only 39 years old when he was assassinated in 1968-a detail that often surprises people once they know his birth year.

What You Can Ignore Safely

  • Claims that his birthday is “the third Monday in January”
  • Viral posts implying uncertainty about his birthdate
  • Alternative dates with no historical backing

These are errors, not debates.

Was Martin Luther King Jr. born on MLK Day? No. MLK Day is a movable federal holiday. His birthday is always January 15.

How old would MLK be today if he were alive? That depends on the current year, but he would have been born in 1929.

Why was his name changed from Michael to Martin? His father changed both their names after being inspired by the German theologian Martin Luther.