John vs Luca
John 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, John was ranked #174 and Luca #4 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, John was ranked #78 and Luca #6 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, John was ranked #67 and Luca #7 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2021, John was ranked #86 and Luca #10 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, John was ranked #29 and Luca #11 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2019, John was ranked #97 and Luca #29 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, John was ranked #161 and Luca #60 among boys in Norway.
John and Luca over time
John and Luca appear together in 6 published lists, across 155 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 6 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
John reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 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 took the other's place near the top
In Northern Ireland · Boys, Luca moved into the top 50 at #16 in 2022 as John fell out of it to #79, having been #48 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2007, Luca moved ahead of John in England and Wales · Boys — #73 and #81 the year before became #75 and #72.
- Longest-running competitions
John and Luca were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #174 and #4.
List by list
Norway · Boys39 shared years, 1973–2025
John held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Luca in 5.
Highest recorded here: John #30 in 1978, Luca #60 in 2025.
The order changed in 2021: Luca moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #160 and #183; by 2021 that had become #147 and #110.
Most recent shared year, 2025: John #161, Luca #60.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
John held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Luca in 19.
Highest recorded here: John #46 in 1996, Luca #4 in 2025.
The order changed in 2007: Luca moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #73 and #81; by 2007 that had become #75 and #72.
Most recent shared year, 2025: John #174, Luca #4.
Republic of Ireland · Boys30 shared years, 1994–2025
John held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Luca in 4.
Highest recorded here: John #4 in 1994, Luca #11 in 2025.
The order changed in 2022: Luca moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #28 and #54; by 2022 that had become #36 and #30.
Most recent shared year, 2025: John #29, Luca #11.
Northern Ireland · Boys25 shared years, 2000–2024
John held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Luca in 4.
Highest recorded here: John #19 in 2003, Luca #7 in 2024.
The order changed in 2022: Luca moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #48 and #63; by 2022 that had become #79 and #16.
Most recent shared year, 2024: John #67, Luca #7.
New Zealand · Boys18 shared years, 2004–2021
John held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Luca in 14.
Highest recorded here: John #46 in 2004, Luca #10 in 2021.
The order changed in 2009: Luca moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #54 and #55; by 2009 that had become #57 and #52.
Most recent shared year, 2021: John #86, Luca #10.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys13 shared years, 2005–2019
John held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Luca in 11.
Highest recorded here: John #65 in 2007, Luca #29 in 2019.
The order changed in 2008: Luca moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #65 and #83; by 2008 that had become #83 and #77.
Most recent shared year, 2019: John #97, Luca #29.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving John
Pairs where John shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- John vs Scott
In 1996 they stood at #46 and #48 in England and Wales · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #174 and #845.
John · Scott · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- John vs Ashley
In 1996 they stood at #46 and #40 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #174 and #716.
John · Ashley · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- John vs Sean
In 1996 they stood at #46 and #49 in England and Wales · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #174 and #615.
John · Sean · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- John vs Aksel
John and Aksel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #161 and #25.
John · Aksel · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
Other comparisons involving Luca
Pairs where Luca shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Oliver vs Luca
Oliver and Luca both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Luca · 43 shared years, 1973–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Arthur vs Luca
Arthur and Luca both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Arthur · Luca · 41 shared years, 1974–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Luca vs Hugo
Luca and Hugo both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Luca · Hugo · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Luca vs Levi
Luca and Levi both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — New South Wales, Australia · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Luca · Levi · 34 shared years, 1974–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one took the other's place near the top.
- Sean vs Adam
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Adam moved into the top 50 at #9 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Adam · 61 shared years, 1965–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Charlie vs Oisin
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Charlie moved into the top 50 at #10 in 2018 as Oisin fell out of it to #247, having been #11 the year before.
Charlie · Oisin · 33 shared years, 1983–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Sean vs Charlie
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Charlie moved into the top 50 at #10 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Charlie · 33 shared years, 1983–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Sean vs Liam
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Liam moved into the top 50 at #11 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Liam · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
Other pairs from Northern Ireland lists
Pairs measured inside Northern Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Charlotte vs Jodie
In 1997 they stood at #72 and #77 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2021 they were #13 and #446.
Charlotte · Jodie · 23 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Emily vs Rachael
In 1997 they stood at #32 and #25 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2017 they were #1 and #432.
Emily · Rachael · 19 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Fiona
In 1997 they stood at #57 and #66 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2017 they were #2 and #432.
Grace · Fiona · 18 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
- Oliver vs Colin
In 1997 they stood at #100 and #96 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2021 they were #5 and #433.
Oliver · Colin · 21 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | John | Luca |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From Hebrew Yochanan, 'Yahweh is gracious', via Greek Ioannes and Latin Iohannes. One of the most widespread names in Christian Europe, associated with both John the Baptist and the apostle John. | 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 | Biblical Hebrew | Italian, via Greek Loukas |
| Pronunciation | /ˈjɔn/ | /ˈluːkə/ |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #29 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #4 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 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
- John is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew origin, while Luca is recorded with a Italian, via Greek Loukas origin.
- John has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Luca.
- John's recorded meaning differs from Luca's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
John
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #20 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2019
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–2019).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #174 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 #4867 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls