Caleb vs Luca
Caleb and Lucacompared 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, Caleb was ranked #45 and Luca #3 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2024, Caleb was ranked #97 and Luca #4 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Caleb was ranked #42 and Luca #6 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Caleb was ranked #75 and Luca #7 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Caleb was ranked #26 and Luca #7 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Caleb was ranked #108 and Luca #11 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Caleb and Luca over time
Caleb and Luca appear together in 5 published lists, across 119 years of shared records. Luca held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Caleb in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Caleb reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Luca 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2000, Luca moved ahead of Caleb in England and Wales · Boys — #161 and #179 the year before became #149 and #139.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Caleb and Luca changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2025, ending at #108 and #11.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Caleb and Luca averaged 46.0 places apart, ending at #75 and #7.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Caleb #72 in 2023, Luca #7 in 2023.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Caleb held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Luca in 25.
Highest recorded here: Caleb #72 in 2023, Luca #7 in 2023.
The order changed in 2000: Luca moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #161 and #179; by 2000 that had become #149 and #139.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Caleb #75, Luca #7.
Republic of Ireland · Boys29 shared years, 1997–2025
Caleb held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Luca in 24.
Highest recorded here: Caleb #91 in 2024, Luca #11 in 2025.
The order changed in 2012: Luca moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #132 and #147; by 2012 that had become #122 and #116.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caleb #108, Luca #11.
Northern Ireland · Boys25 shared years, 2000–2024
Caleb held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Luca in 3.
Highest recorded here: Caleb #20 in 2023, Luca #7 in 2024.
The order changed in 2022: Luca moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #26 and #63; by 2022 that had become #23 and #16.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Caleb #26, Luca #7.
New Zealand · Boys20 shared years, 2004–2023
Caleb held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Luca in 10.
Highest recorded here: Caleb #14 in 2004, Luca #3 in 2023.
The order changed in 2014: Luca moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #38 and #54; by 2014 that had become #44 and #39.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Caleb #45, Luca #3.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys16 shared years, 2005–2024
Caleb held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Luca in 9.
Highest recorded here: Caleb #51 in 2005, Luca #4 in 2024.
The order changed in 2012: Luca moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #72 and #79; by 2012 that had become #85 and #60.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Caleb #97, Luca #4.
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 | Caleb | Luca |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The Italian and Romanian form of Lucas, itself probably a shortened form of the Greek 'Loukanos', meaning 'from Lucania' (a region of southern Italy). |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Italian, via Greek Loukas |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈluːkə/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 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 | Republic of Ireland · Boys #108 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #4 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Luca has a recorded origin (Italian, via Greek Loukas); Caleb does not have one recorded yet.
- Caleb and Luca both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Luca; Caleb 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
Caleb
Popularity journey
First recorded1982
First recorded at #98 among boys in New Zealand in 1982 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1982–2023
Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in New Zealand, in 1999 (recorded 1982–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #108 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Luca
Popularity journey
First recorded1973
First recorded at #603 among boys in Norway in 1973 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded2004–2023
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New Zealand, in 2023 (recorded 2004–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys