Leo vs Luca
Leo 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, Leo was ranked #3 and Luca #4 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Leo was ranked #5 and Luca #3 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Leo was ranked #5 and Luca #4 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Leo was ranked #5 and Luca #6 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Leo was ranked #12 and Luca #7 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Leo was ranked #10 and Luca #11 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Leo was ranked #28 and Luca #60 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Leo was ranked #4867 and Luca #4867 among girls in England and Wales.
Leo 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.
Leo and Luca over time
Leo and Luca appear together in 6 published lists, across 159 years of shared records. Leo held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Luca in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Leo reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 2024, Luca moved ahead of Leo in Northern Ireland · Boys — #6 and #9 the year before became #12 and #7.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Leo and Luca changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Boys between 2004 and 2023, ending at #5 and #3.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Leo and Luca averaged 31.9 places apart, ending at #3 and #4.
- Longest-running competitions
Leo and Luca were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #3 and #4.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Leo #3 in 2025, Luca #4 in 2025.
List by list
Norway · Boys37 shared years, 1974–2025
Leo held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Luca in 3.
Highest recorded here: Leo #28 in 2025, Luca #60 in 2025.
The order changed in 1987: Leo moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #628 and #588; by 1987 that had become #498 and #581.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leo #28, Luca #60.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Leo held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Luca in 1.
Highest recorded here: Leo #3 in 2025, Luca #4 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leo #3, Luca #4.
Republic of Ireland · Boys30 shared years, 1994–2025
Leo held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Luca in 0.
Highest recorded here: Leo #10 in 2025, Luca #11 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leo #10, Luca #11.
Northern Ireland · Boys25 shared years, 2000–2024
Leo held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Luca in 1.
Highest recorded here: Leo #6 in 2023, Luca #7 in 2024.
The order changed in 2024: Luca moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #6 and #9; by 2024 that had become #12 and #7.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Leo #12, Luca #7.
New Zealand · Boys20 shared years, 2004–2023
Leo held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Luca in 3.
Highest recorded here: Leo #3 in 2019, Luca #3 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Leo #5, Luca #3.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys17 shared years, 2009–2025
Leo held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Luca in 4.
Highest recorded here: Leo #3 in 2022, Luca #4 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leo #5, 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 Leo
Pairs where Leo shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Leo vs Keith
In 1964 they stood at #101 and #96 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #10 and #577.
Leo · Keith · 59 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Leo vs Jonathan
Over 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Leo rose about as far as Jonathan fell — from #101 and #125 in 1964 to #10 and #223 in 2025.
Leo · Jonathan · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Leo vs Marcus
Over 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Leo rose about as far as Marcus fell — from #101 and #136 in 1964 to #10 and #232 in 2025.
Leo · Marcus · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Leo vs Shane
Over 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Leo rose about as far as Shane fell — from #101 and #75 in 1964 to #10 and #152 in 2025.
Leo · Shane · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Mirrored each other
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 moved ahead of the other.
- Emily vs Amelia
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Emily in England and Wales · Girls — #3 and #5 the year before became #5 and #1.
Emily · Amelia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
- Sophie vs Amelia
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Sophie in England and Wales · Girls — #2 and #5 the year before became #6 and #1.
Sophie · Amelia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
- Sarah vs Angela
In 1974, Sarah moved ahead of Angela in New Zealand · Girls — #6 and #5 the year before became #1 and #6.
Sarah · Angela · 36 shared years, 1958–1998 · One moved ahead of the other
- Emma vs Aoife
In 2003, Emma moved ahead of Aoife in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #4 and #2 the year before became #1 and #3.
Emma · Aoife · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
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 | Leo | Luca |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Lion. | 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 | Latin | Italian, via Greek Loukas |
| Pronunciation | /ˈliːoʊ/ | /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 Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #3 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #4 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Leo is recorded with a Latin origin, while Luca is recorded with a Italian, via Greek Loukas origin.
- Leo has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Luca.
- Leo'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
Leo
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #303 among boys in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · 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