Jonathan vs Luke
Jonathan 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jonathan was ranked #223 and Luke #23 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2013, Jonathan was ranked #88 and Luke #31 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #352 and Luke #50 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #305 and Luke #57 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2016, Jonathan was ranked #97 and Luke #75 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Jonathan was ranked #93 and Luke #322 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #302 and Luke #138 among boys in England and Wales.
Jonathan and Luke over time
Jonathan and Luke appear together in 5 published lists, across 200 years of shared records. Luke held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Jonathan 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.
Jonathan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Luke 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 1970, Luke moved ahead of Jonathan in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #75 and #82 the year before became #81 and #69.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jonathan and Luke changed places 5 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1978 and 2013, ending at #88 and #31.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 50 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Jonathan and Luke averaged 40.5 places apart, ending at #97 and #75.
- Mirrored each other
Over 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Luke rose about as far as Jonathan fell — from #125 and #105 in 1964 to #223 and #23 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Jonathan and Luke were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 50 years, from 1967 to 2016, ending at #97 and #75.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Jonathan #39 in 1996, Luke #11 in 1997.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #21 and #31 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2024 they were #305 and #57.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Jonathan held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Luke in 35.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #18 in 1981, Luke #7 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jonathan #223, Luke #23.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys50 shared years, 1967–2016
Jonathan held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Luke in 47.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #41 in 1980, Luke #5 in 1994.
The order changed in 1970: Luke moved ahead. In 1969 they stood at #75 and #82; by 1970 that had become #81 and #69.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Jonathan #97, Luke #75.
New Zealand · Boys31 shared years, 1978–2013
Jonathan held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Luke in 22.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #15 in 1982, Luke #14 in 2003.
The order changed in 1989: Luke moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #25 and #28; by 1989 that had become #30 and #27.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Jonathan #88, Luke #31.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jonathan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Luke in 29.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #39 in 1996, Luke #11 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jonathan #302, Luke #138.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Jonathan held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Luke in 26.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #20 in 1998, Luke #13 in 2005.
The order changed in 1999: Luke moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #20 and #32; by 1999 that had become #39 and #23.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jonathan #305, Luke #57.
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 | Jonathan | Luke |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | 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 | Not yet recorded | /ˈluk/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 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 | Norway · Boys #93 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #23 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 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); Jonathan does not have one recorded yet.
- Jonathan has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Luke.
- A meaning is recorded for Luke; Jonathan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Jonathan
Popularity journey
First recorded1949
First recorded at #371 among boys in Norway in 1949 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1957–2013
Highest recorded position: #15 among boys in New Zealand, in 1982 (recorded 1957–2013).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #93 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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