Beau vs Luke
Beau and Lukecompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Beau was ranked #22 and Luke #38 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Beau was ranked #152 and Luke #23 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2024, Beau was ranked #31 and Luke #96 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Beau was ranked #160 and Luke #50 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Beau was ranked #164 and Luke #57 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Beau was ranked #110 and Luke #138 among boys in England and Wales.
Beau and Luke over time
Beau and Luke appear together in 5 published lists, across 103 years of shared records. Luke held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Beau in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Luke reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Beau in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Boys, Beau moved into the top 50 at #37 in 2021 as Luke fell out of it to #65, having been #38 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2023, Beau moved ahead of Luke in England and Wales · Boys — #125 and #110 the year before became #109 and #118.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Beau and Luke changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1986 and 2024, ending at #31 and #96.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Beau and Luke averaged 45.0 places apart, ending at #31 and #96.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Beau held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Luke in 26.
Highest recorded here: Beau #109 in 2023, Luke #11 in 1997.
The order changed in 2023: Beau moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #125 and #110; by 2023 that had become #109 and #118.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Beau #110, Luke #138.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys29 shared years, 1986–2024
Beau held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Luke in 19.
Highest recorded here: Beau #31 in 2024, Luke #5 in 1994.
The order changed in 2019: Beau moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #76 and #75; by 2019 that had become #74 and #79.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Beau #31, Luke #96.
Republic of Ireland · Boys19 shared years, 2004–2025
Beau held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Luke in 19.
Highest recorded here: Beau #127 in 2023, Luke #7 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Beau #152, Luke #23.
Northern Ireland · Boys14 shared years, 2009–2024
Beau held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Luke in 14.
Highest recorded here: Beau #150 in 2021, Luke #13 in 2016.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Beau #164, Luke #57.
New Zealand · Boys12 shared years, 2012–2023
Beau held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Luke in 8.
Highest recorded here: Beau #22 in 2023, Luke #31 in 2013.
The order changed in 2021: Beau moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #40 and #38; by 2021 that had become #37 and #65.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Beau #22, Luke #38.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Beau | Luke |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | Used for both boys and girls | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Latin Lucas, from Greek Loukas — probably 'from Lucania' (a region of southern Italy), or possibly connected to Lucius. Luke was a physician who accompanied Paul and is traditionally credited as author of the third Gospel and Acts. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek/Latin, biblical |
| Pronunciation | /ˈluk/ | |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #25 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #23 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Luke has a recorded origin (Greek/Latin, biblical); Beau does not have one recorded yet.
- Beau has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Luke.
- A meaning is recorded for Luke; Beau doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Beau
Popularity journey
First recorded1986
First recorded at #86 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1986 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded2012–2023
Highest recorded position: #22 among boys in New Zealand, in 2023 (recorded 2012–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #25 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Luke
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #105 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1967–2024
Highest recorded position: #5 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1994 (recorded 1967–2024).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #322 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys