Luke vs Nigel
Luke and Nigelcompared 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 1979, Luke was ranked #14 and Nigel #99 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Luke was ranked #23 and Nigel #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2000, Luke was ranked #24 and Nigel #277 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1983, Luke was ranked #25 and Nigel #76 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Luke was ranked #131 and Nigel #3684 among boys in England and Wales.
Luke and Nigel over time
Luke and Nigel appear together in 3 published lists, across 87 years of shared records. Luke held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Nigel 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.
Nigel reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Luke 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 1970, Luke moved ahead of Nigel in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #82 and #79 the year before became #69 and #84.
- Longest-running competitions
Luke and Nigel were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 48 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #23 and #676.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Luke #11 in 1997, Nigel #552 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #105 and #98 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #23 and #676.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys48 shared years, 1964–2025
Luke held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Nigel in 19.
Highest recorded here: Luke #7 in 2006, Nigel #67 in 1975.
The order changed in 1984: Luke moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #111 and #96; by 1984 that had become #89 and #113.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Luke #23, Nigel #676.
England and Wales · Boys27 shared years, 1996–2025
Luke held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Nigel in 0.
Highest recorded here: Luke #11 in 1997, Nigel #552 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Luke #131, Nigel #3684.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys12 shared years, 1967–1979
Luke held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Nigel in 3.
Highest recorded here: Luke #14 in 1979, Nigel #69 in 1972.
The order changed in 1970: Luke moved ahead. In 1969 they stood at #82 and #79; by 1970 that had become #69 and #84.
Most recent shared year, 1979: Luke #14, Nigel #99.
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
Side by side
| Field | Luke | Nigel |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #23 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #676 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Luke has a recorded origin (Greek/Latin, biblical); Nigel does not have one recorded yet.
- Luke and Nigel both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Luke; Nigel doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, 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
Nigel
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #72 among boys in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1983
Highest recorded position: #27 among boys in New Zealand, in 1969 (recorded 1954–1983).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #3684 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys