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BoyOrigin debated2 syllables

Luca

Meaning: not confirmed (origin debated)

About the name Luca

The origin of Luca is debated, and we couldn't confirm its meaning from a sourced etymology. A commonly cited theory links it to Italian roots, with the meaning “Man from Lucania; associated with light”. Treat that as a theory, not a settled fact.

Why we say this: we only state a meaning as fact when a sourced etymology (Wiktionary, with its references) supports it. For Luca we didn't find one we were confident in, so we show the popular explanation as a theory.

It has a modern, short & sweet feel. In 2025, Luca ranked #14 for boys in the US, with 8,759 babies given the name. Its peak year since 1940 was 2025. Since 2000, 98% of US babies named Luca were boys.

US rank 2025
#14
In 2015
#157
Babies in 2025
8,759

Popularity of Luca, 1940–2025

02.2k4.4k6.6k8.8k19401960198020002020
Boys GirlsBabies per year in the US

Latest SSA data: 2025.

Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration national baby names (public domain; names given to at least 5 babies of one sex per year).

Nicknames for Luca

Luca is already short and sweet, so it doesn't usually get a nickname.

Names similar to Luca

Name meanings marked or linked “Wiktionary” are adapted from Wiktionary by Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; each name page links its source entry.