Luke vs Marcus
Luke and Marcus 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Luke was ranked #23 and Marcus #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2014, Luke was ranked #35 and Marcus #90 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Luke was ranked #50 and Marcus #176 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Luke was ranked #57 and Marcus #144 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2024, Luke was ranked #96 and Marcus #93 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Luke was ranked #131 and Marcus #267 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Luke was ranked #322 and Marcus #150 among boys in Norway.
Luke and Marcus 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.
Luke and Marcus over time
Luke and Marcus appear together in 5 published lists, across 162 years of shared records. Luke held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Marcus in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Luke reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Marcus 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Luke and Marcus changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #23 and #232.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Luke and Marcus averaged 33.6 places apart, ending at #96 and #93.
- Mirrored each other
Over 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Luke rose about as far as Marcus fell — from #105 and #136 in 1964 to #23 and #232 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Luke and Marcus were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #131 and #267.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Luke #13 in 2005, Marcus #100 in 2003.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Luke held the stronger position in 55 of those years, Marcus in 7.
Highest recorded here: Luke #7 in 2006, Marcus #99 in 1972.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Luke #23, Marcus #232.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Luke held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Marcus in 0.
Highest recorded here: Luke #11 in 1997, Marcus #83 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Luke #131, Marcus #267.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys28 shared years, 1971–2024
Luke held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Marcus in 2.
Highest recorded here: Luke #9 in 1995, Marcus #49 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Luke #96, Marcus #93.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Luke held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Marcus in 0.
Highest recorded here: Luke #13 in 2005, Marcus #100 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Luke #57, Marcus #144.
New Zealand · Boys14 shared years, 1980–2014
Luke held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Marcus in 0.
Highest recorded here: Luke #16 in 1993, Marcus #78 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Luke #35, Marcus #90.
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 Luke
Pairs where Luke shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Luke vs Garry
In 1964 they stood at #105 and #114 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2009 they were #9 and #701.
Luke · Garry · 45 shared years, 1964–2009 · Started together, ended far apart
- Luke vs Roger
In 1964 they stood at #105 and #113 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2021 they were #18 and #631.
Luke · Roger · 41 shared years, 1964–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Luke vs Keith
In 1964 they stood at #105 and #96 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #23 and #577.
Luke · Keith · 59 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Luke vs Ross
In 1997 they stood at #31 and #30 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2023 they were #42 and #395.
Luke · Ross · 27 shared years, 1997–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Marcus
Pairs where Marcus shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Calum vs Marcus
In 1996 they stood at #91 and #85 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #3256 and #267.
Calum · Marcus · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Craig vs Marcus
In 1996 they stood at #81 and #85 in England and Wales · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #1705 and #267.
Craig · Marcus · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Mitchell vs Marcus
In 1996 they stood at #79 and #85 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #1538 and #267.
Mitchell · Marcus · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Graham vs Marcus
In 1964 they stood at #129 and #136 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2023 they were #770 and #172.
Graham · Marcus · 54 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — mirrored each other.
- Nora vs Heidi
Over 81 shared years in Norway · Girls, Nora rose about as far as Heidi fell — from #219 and #188 in 1945 to #3 and #437 in 2025.
Nora · Heidi · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Henrik vs Morten
Over 81 shared years in Norway · Boys, Henrik rose about as far as Morten fell — from #141 and #107 in 1945 to #16 and #214 in 2025.
Henrik · Morten · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Henrik vs Nils
Over 81 shared years in Norway · Boys, Henrik rose about as far as Nils fell — from #141 and #26 in 1945 to #16 and #61 in 2025.
Henrik · Nils · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Peter vs Henrik
Over 81 shared years in Norway · Boys, Henrik rose about as far as Peter fell — from #106 and #141 in 1945 to #174 and #16 in 2025.
Peter · Henrik · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists
Pairs measured inside Republic of 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.
- Grace vs Sinead
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #109 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #2 and #905.
Grace · Sinead · 58 shared years, 1964–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Therese
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #127 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2015 they were #8 and #896.
Grace · Therese · 51 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Lorraine
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2018 they were #21 and #896.
Sarah · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Pamela
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #116 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2017 they were #3 and #873.
Grace · Pamela · 46 shared years, 1964–2017 · 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 | Luke | Marcus |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | 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. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Greek/Latin, biblical | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈluk/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 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 | Republic of Ireland · Boys #23 (2025) | Norway · Boys #150 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Luke has a recorded origin (Greek/Latin, biblical); Marcus does not have one recorded yet.
- Luke and Marcus both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Luke; Marcus 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
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 #131 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Marcus
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #399 among boys in Norway in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1963–2025
Highest recorded position: #24 among boys in Norway, in 2001 (recorded 1963–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #267 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys