Luke vs Philip
Luke and Philipcompared 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 1988, Luke was ranked #10 and Philip #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1992, Luke was ranked #18 and Philip #95 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Luke was ranked #21 and Philip #311 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Luke was ranked #23 and Philip #309 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Luke was ranked #50 and Philip #619 among boys in Scotland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Luke was ranked #322 and Philip #91 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Luke was ranked #138 and Philip #461 among boys in England and Wales.
Luke and Philip over time
Luke and Philip appear together in 5 published lists, across 152 years of shared records. Luke held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Philip in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Philip reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Boys, Luke moved into the top 50 at #30 in 1979 as Philip fell out of it to #56, having been #42 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1972, Luke moved ahead of Philip in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #70 and #67 the year before became #58 and #64.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Luke and Philip averaged 49.5 places apart, ending at #10 and #98.
- Mirrored each other
Over 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Luke rose about as far as Philip fell — from #96 and #43 in 1967 to #10 and #98 in 1988.
- Longest-running competitions
Luke and Philip were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #23 and #309.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Luke #11 in 1997, Philip #103 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Luke held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Philip in 28.
Highest recorded here: Luke #7 in 2006, Philip #30 in 1978.
The order changed in 1992: Luke moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #51 and #42; by 1992 that had become #41 and #49.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Luke #23, Philip #309.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Luke held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Philip in 0.
Highest recorded here: Luke #11 in 1997, Philip #103 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Luke #138, Philip #461.
Northern Ireland · Boys26 shared years, 1997–2022
Luke held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Philip in 0.
Highest recorded here: Luke #13 in 2005, Philip #51 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Luke #21, Philip #311.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys21 shared years, 1967–1988
Luke held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Philip in 5.
Highest recorded here: Luke #7 in 1981, Philip #43 in 1967.
The order changed in 1972: Luke moved ahead. In 1971 they stood at #70 and #67; by 1972 that had become #58 and #64.
Most recent shared year, 1988: Luke #10, Philip #98.
New Zealand · Boys14 shared years, 1978–1992
Luke held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Philip in 1.
Highest recorded here: Luke #18 in 1992, Philip #42 in 1978.
The order changed in 1979: Luke moved ahead. In 1978 they stood at #62 and #42; by 1979 that had become #30 and #56.
Most recent shared year, 1992: Luke #18, Philip #95.
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 | Luke | Philip |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | Not yet recorded |
| 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 | Republic of Ireland · Boys #23 (2025) | Norway · Boys #91 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Luke has a recorded origin (Greek/Latin, biblical); Philip does not have one recorded yet.
- Luke and Philip both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Luke; Philip 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 #322 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Philip
Popularity journey
First recorded1948
First recorded at #341 among boys in Norway in 1948 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1992
Highest recorded position: #20 among boys in New Zealand, in 1963 (recorded 1954–1992).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #91 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys