Luke vs James

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

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

Rowan Noah Isaac

Full profile for Luke →

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

Thomas Colton Jacob Cole

Full profile for James →

Popularity Comparison

Luke Rank #34

James Rank #5

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Luke or James more popular?

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

What do Luke and James mean?

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

Are Luke and James boy or girl names?

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

More Comparisons

James vs Luke Luke vs Rowan Luke vs Noah Luke vs Isaac Luke vs Thomas

← Full profile: Luke ← Full profile: James Browse all baby names