Lucas vs Luke
Lucas 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2024, Lucas was ranked #9 and Luke #96 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Lucas was ranked #16 and Luke #38 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Lucas was ranked #64 and Luke #23 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Lucas was ranked #23 and Luke #50 among boys in Scotland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Lucas was ranked #24 and Luke #322 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Lucas was ranked #25 and Luke #138 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Lucas was ranked #30 and Luke #57 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Lucas and Luke over time
Lucas and Luke appear together in 5 published lists, across 151 years of shared records. Lucas held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Luke in 2.
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.
Luke reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Lucas 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, Lucas moved into the top 50 at #30 in 2024 as Luke fell out of it to #57, having been #42 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2009, Lucas moved ahead of Luke in England and Wales · Boys — #36 and #25 the year before became #17 and #33.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Lucas and Luke changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #30 and #57.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Lucas and Luke averaged 59.6 places apart, ending at #25 and #138.
- Mirrored each other
Over 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Lucas rose about as far as Luke fell — from #192 and #31 in 1997 to #30 and #57 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Lucas and Luke were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 35 years, from 1980 to 2024, ending at #9 and #96.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys36 shared years, 1979–2025
Lucas held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Luke in 36.
Highest recorded here: Lucas #55 in 2018, Luke #7 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lucas #64, Luke #23.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys35 shared years, 1980–2024
Lucas held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Luke in 17.
Highest recorded here: Lucas #2 in 2011, Luke #7 in 1981.
The order changed in 2007: Lucas moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #23 and #17; by 2007 that had become #16 and #22.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Lucas #9, Luke #96.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Lucas held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Luke in 13.
Highest recorded here: Lucas #17 in 2009, Luke #11 in 1997.
The order changed in 2009: Lucas moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #36 and #25; by 2009 that had become #17 and #33.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Lucas #25, Luke #138.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Lucas held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Luke in 24.
Highest recorded here: Lucas #22 in 2013, Luke #13 in 2005.
The order changed in 2024: Lucas moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #61 and #42; by 2024 that had become #30 and #57.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Lucas #30, Luke #57.
New Zealand · Boys23 shared years, 2001–2023
Lucas held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Luke in 6.
Highest recorded here: Lucas #4 in 2011, Luke #14 in 2003.
The order changed in 2007: Lucas moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #31 and #14; by 2007 that had become #14 and #15.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Lucas #16, Luke #38.
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 | Lucas | Luke |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | 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. | 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 | Latin, via Greek Loukas | Greek/Latin, biblical |
| Pronunciation | /ˈluːkəs/ | /ˈluk/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 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 | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #14 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #23 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Lucas is recorded with a Latin, via Greek Loukas origin, while Luke is recorded with a Greek/Latin, biblical origin.
- Lucas and Luke both have 2 syllables.
- Lucas's recorded meaning differs from Luke'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
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
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