Luke vs Shane
Luke and Shane 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1996, Luke was ranked #9 and Shane #83 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1998, Luke was ranked #20 and Shane #90 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Luke was ranked #23 and Shane #152 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Luke was ranked #50 and Shane #478 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Luke was ranked #57 and Shane #216 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Luke was ranked #131 and Shane #1153 among boys in England and Wales.
Luke and Shane 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 Shane over time
Luke and Shane appear together in 5 published lists, across 170 years of shared records. Luke held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Shane in 1.
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.
Shane 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1979, Luke moved ahead of Shane in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #20 and #19 the year before became #14 and #21.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Luke and Shane averaged 36.7 places apart, ending at #9 and #83.
- Mirrored each other
Over 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Luke rose about as far as Shane fell — from #105 and #75 in 1964 to #23 and #152 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Luke and Shane were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #131 and #1153.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Luke #11 in 1997, Shane #74 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Luke held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Shane in 36.
Highest recorded here: Luke #7 in 2006, Shane #3 in 1996.
The order changed in 2000: Luke moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #14 and #11; by 2000 that had become #8 and #13.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Luke #23, Shane #152.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Luke held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Shane in 0.
Highest recorded here: Luke #11 in 1997, Shane #74 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Luke #131, Shane #1153.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys30 shared years, 1967–1996
Luke held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Shane in 12.
Highest recorded here: Luke #5 in 1994, Shane #15 in 1971.
The order changed in 1979: Luke moved ahead. In 1978 they stood at #20 and #19; by 1979 that had become #14 and #21.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Luke #9, Shane #83.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Luke held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Shane in 0.
Highest recorded here: Luke #13 in 2005, Shane #41 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Luke #57, Shane #216.
New Zealand · Boys20 shared years, 1978–1998
Luke held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Shane in 5.
Highest recorded here: Luke #16 in 1993, Shane #15 in 1979.
The order changed in 1983: Luke moved ahead. In 1982 they stood at #27 and #25; by 1983 that had become #25 and #34.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Luke #20, Shane #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 Shane
Pairs where Shane shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Patrick vs Shane
In 1996 they stood at #66 and #74 in England and Wales · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #134 and #1153.
Patrick · Shane · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Shane vs Anthony
In 1996 they stood at #74 and #65 in England and Wales · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #1153 and #239.
Shane · Anthony · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Shane vs Tyler
In 1996 they stood at #74 and #67 in England and Wales · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #1153 and #265.
Shane · Tyler · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Shane vs Ross
In 1996 they stood at #74 and #68 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #1153 and #2014.
Shane · Ross · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · 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 | Shane |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| 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. | An Anglicized form of Seán, ultimately from Hebrew elements meaning 'Yahweh' and 'gracious' — the same root tradition as John. Popularised in America by the 1953 western film Shane. |
| Origin | Greek/Latin, biblical | Hebrew, via Irish Seán |
| Pronunciation | /ˈluk/ | /ˈʃeɪn/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Seán, Sean, Shaun, Shawn |
| 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, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #23 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #152 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Luke is recorded with a Greek/Latin, biblical origin, while Shane is recorded with a Hebrew, via Irish Seán origin.
- Luke and Shane both have 2 syllables.
- Luke's recorded meaning differs from Shane's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Luke a "medium" Data Confidence level and Shane a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
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
Shane
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #72 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1996 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1153 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys