Leon vs Lucas
Leon and Lucascompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Leon was ranked #53 and Lucas #14 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Leon was ranked #95 and Lucas #16 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Leon was ranked #56 and Lucas #23 among boys in Scotland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Leon was ranked #46 and Lucas #24 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Leon was ranked #100 and Lucas #25 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Leon was ranked #125 and Lucas #30 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Leon was ranked #73 and Lucas #64 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Leon and Lucas over time
Leon and Lucas appear together in 6 published lists, across 154 years of shared records. Lucas held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Leon in 1.
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.
Lucas reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Leon in 2. 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 2002, Lucas moved ahead of Leon in England and Wales · Boys — #74 and #78 the year before became #73 and #72.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Leon and Lucas changed places 15 times in Norway · Boys between 1979 and 2025, ending at #46 and #24.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Leon and Lucas averaged 41.9 places apart, ending at #100 and #25.
- Longest-running competitions
Leon and Lucas were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 42 years, from 1979 to 2025, ending at #46 and #24.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Leon #60 in 2009, Lucas #17 in 2009.
List by list
Norway · Boys42 shared years, 1979–2025
Leon held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Lucas in 23.
Highest recorded here: Leon #13 in 2014, Lucas #12 in 2012.
The order changed in 2021: Lucas moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #27 and #37; by 2021 that had become #36 and #31.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leon #46, Lucas #24.
Republic of Ireland · Boys36 shared years, 1979–2025
Leon held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Lucas in 5.
Highest recorded here: Leon #44 in 2008, Lucas #55 in 2018.
The order changed in 2025: Lucas moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #60 and #74; by 2025 that had become #73 and #64.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leon #73, Lucas #64.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Leon held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Lucas in 23.
Highest recorded here: Leon #60 in 2009, Lucas #17 in 2009.
The order changed in 2002: Lucas moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #74 and #78; by 2002 that had become #73 and #72.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Leon #100, Lucas #25.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Leon held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Lucas in 19.
Highest recorded here: Leon #70 in 2010, Lucas #22 in 2013.
The order changed in 2006: Lucas moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #101 and #149; by 2006 that had become #131 and #113.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Leon #125, Lucas #30.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys10 shared years, 2016–2025
Leon held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Lucas in 10.
Highest recorded here: Leon #43 in 2022, Lucas #5 in 2016.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leon #53, Lucas #14.
New Zealand · Boys9 shared years, 2008–2023
Leon held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Lucas in 9.
Highest recorded here: Leon #83 in 2022, Lucas #5 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Leon #95, Lucas #16.
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 | Leon | Lucas |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From Greek λέων (leon), meaning 'lion'. Merged with the Latin cognate Leo during the Christian era, making the two forms largely interchangeable across Europe; also used among medieval English Jews. | The Latin form of the Greek name Loukas, ultimately linked to the English name Luke. The deeper root meaning is itself disputed — possibly a shortened form of 'from Lucania' (a region of southern Italy), or alternatively derived from the Latin name Lucius. |
| Origin | Greek | Latin, via Greek Loukas |
| Pronunciation | /ˈleː.ɔn/ | /ˈluːkəs/ |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Leo | 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 #46 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #14 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Leon is recorded with a Greek origin, while Lucas is recorded with a Latin, via Greek Loukas origin.
- Leon has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Lucas.
- Leon's recorded meaning differs from Lucas's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Leon a "high" Data Confidence level and Lucas a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Leon
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #306 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #13 among boys in Norway, in 2014 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #53 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Lucas
Popularity journey
First recorded1976
First recorded at #607 among boys in Norway in 1976 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1980–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2011 (recorded 1980–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #14 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys