AbstractThe Pb2+ luminescence in a series of silicate oxyapatites Me2(Y, Gd)8(SiO4)6O2, Me4Y6(SiO4)6O(Me = Mg, Ca, Sr) is reported and discussed in relation to the crystal structure. The maximum wavelengths of the excitation (1S03P1) and emission (3P1−1S0) bands of Pb2+ are independent of the Me:Y ratio (2:8 or 4:6), but they have lower energies in MgY‐oxyapatites than in CaY‐ and SrY‐oxyapatites. The Stokes shift of Pb2+ luminescence amounts to 11100 to 11400 cm−1, which does not depend strongly on the host composition. There exists a mutual energy transfer between Pb2+ and Gd2+ in Sr2Gd8(SiO4)6O2. At last, the dependence of the energy transfer efficiency of Pb2+−Sm3+, Tb3+, Dy3+ in Sr2(La, Gd)8(SiO4)6O2 and Ca2(Y, Gd)8(SiO4)6O2 on their doping concentrations was studied in more detail.