Kai vs Luca
Kai and Luca compared 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, Kai was ranked #78 and Luca #4 among boys in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Kai was ranked #23 and Luca #4 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Kai was ranked #56 and Luca #6 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Kai was ranked #69 and Luca #7 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Kai was ranked #34 and Luca #11 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Kai was ranked #282 and Luca #60 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Kai was ranked #4867 and Luca #4867 among girls in England and Wales.
Kai and Luca over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Kai and Luca over time
Kai and Luca appear together in 6 published lists, across 170 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Kai 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2012, Luca moved ahead of Kai in England and Wales · Boys — #56 and #64 the year before became #63 and #61.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Kai and Luca changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #4867 and #4867.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Kai and Luca averaged 47.7 places apart, ending at #78 and #4.
- Longest-running competitions
Kai and Luca were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #78 and #4.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Kai #20 in 2023, Luca #4 in 2024.
List by list
Norway · Boys39 shared years, 1973–2025
Kai held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Luca in 21.
Highest recorded here: Kai #70 in 1977, Luca #60 in 2025.
The order changed in 2007: Luca moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #272 and #273; by 2007 that had become #390 and #256.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kai #282, Luca #60.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Kai held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Luca in 14.
Highest recorded here: Kai #56 in 2003, Luca #4 in 2025.
The order changed in 2012: Luca moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #56 and #64; by 2012 that had become #63 and #61.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kai #78, Luca #4.
Republic of Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2025
Kai held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Luca in 15.
Highest recorded here: Kai #30 in 2024, Luca #11 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kai #34, Luca #11.
England and Wales · Girls27 shared years, 1996–2025
Kai held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Luca in 12.
Highest recorded here: Kai #1126 in 1997, Luca #1628 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kai #4867, Luca #4867.
Northern Ireland · Boys25 shared years, 2000–2024
Kai held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Luca in 8.
Highest recorded here: Kai #52 in 2021, Luca #7 in 2024.
The order changed in 2022: Luca moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #52 and #63; by 2022 that had become #67 and #16.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kai #69, Luca #7.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys21 shared years, 2005–2025
Kai held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Luca in 13.
Highest recorded here: Kai #20 in 2023, Luca #4 in 2024.
The order changed in 2018: Luca moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #53 and #54; by 2018 that had become #48 and #41.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kai #23, 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.
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 Kai
Pairs where Kai shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Aksel vs Kai
Aksel and Kai were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #25 and #282.
Aksel · Kai · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Anders vs Kai
Anders and Kai were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #293 and #282.
Anders · Kai · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Andreas vs Kai
Andreas and Kai were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #96 and #282.
Andreas · Kai · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Arne vs Kai
Arne and Kai were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #222 and #282.
Arne · Kai · 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 — closest over the longest run.
- Daniel vs Samuel
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Daniel and Samuel averaged 2.6 places apart, ending at #62 and #66.
Daniel · Samuel · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Closest over the longest run
- Samuel vs Joseph
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Samuel and Joseph averaged 3.5 places apart, ending at #66 and #59.
Samuel · Joseph · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Closest over the longest run
- Graeme vs Ross
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Graeme and Ross averaged 3.7 places apart, ending at #96 and #99.
Graeme · Ross · 21 shared years, 1952–1972 · Closest over the longest run
- Thomas vs Patrick
Across 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Thomas and Patrick averaged 3.9 places apart, ending at #16 and #25.
Thomas · Patrick · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Closest over the longest run
Other pairs from New South Wales, Australia lists
Pairs measured inside New South Wales, Australia's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Thomas vs Edward
Over 70 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Thomas rose about as far as Edward fell — from #44 and #48 in 1952 to #13 and #75 in 2025.
Thomas · Edward · 70 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Alexander vs Edward
Over 67 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Edward fell — from #80 and #48 in 1952 to #22 and #75 in 2025.
Alexander · Edward · 67 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Thomas vs Andrew
Over 63 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Thomas rose about as far as Andrew fell — from #44 and #51 in 1952 to #8 and #89 in 2016.
Thomas · Andrew · 63 shared years, 1952–2016 · Mirrored each other
- Andrew vs Alexander
Over 60 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Andrew fell — from #51 and #80 in 1952 to #89 and #9 in 2016.
Andrew · Alexander · 60 shared years, 1952–2016 · Mirrored each other
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 | Kai | 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 | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #23 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #4 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Luca has a recorded origin (Italian, via Greek Loukas); Kai does not have one recorded yet.
- Kai has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Luca.
- A meaning is recorded for Luca; Kai doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Kai
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #76 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded2002–2025
Highest recorded position: #20 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2023 (recorded 2002–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4867 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
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