Back to Baby Names

James vs Luke

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

James

Boy #5 Most Popular 1 Syllable

Meaning

"supplanter, one who follows at the heel"

Origin: Hebrew

Cultural Roots

English Scottish Biblical

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#5
Total SSA Count
11,793
Syllables
1
Formality
Formal

Playground Safety Score

All Clear

Similar Names

Luke

Boy #34 Most Popular 1 Syllable

Meaning

"man from Lucania"

Origin: Greek Loukas referring to Lucania region of Italy

Cultural Roots

Greek English Latin American

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#34
Total SSA Count
7,039
Syllables
1
Formality
Moderate

Playground Safety Score

All Clear

Similar Names

Popularity Comparison

James Rank #5
Luke Rank #34

James is more popular, ranked #5 vs #34 for Luke.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is James or Luke more popular?

James is more popular, ranked #5 compared to Luke at #34 in the United States.

What do James and Luke mean?

James means "supplanter, one who follows at the heel" (Hebrew origin). Luke means "man from Lucania" (Greek Loukas referring to Lucania region of Italy origin).

Are James and Luke boy or girl names?

James is primarily a boy name. Luke is primarily a boy name.

More Comparisons