Luca

♂ Boy

Pronounced LOO-kuh /ˈluː.kə/High

Meaning: Light; from Lucania; Italian form of Lucas/LukeHigh

In 30 seconds: The Italian form of Lucas/Luke, meaning 'light' or 'from Lucania.' Once exclusively Italian, Luca has become a global favorite and climbed into the U.S. top 30.

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Origin HighLatin, Italian

MeaningLight; from Lucania; Italian form of Lucas/Luke

Peak year2017

Total births (all-time)≈ 25,282

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Luca is the Italian form of Lucas, the Latin rendering of the Greek Loukas, possibly meaning 'from Lucania' (a region of southern Italy) or connected to the Latin lux (light). It is thus the same name as Luke and Lucas in a different linguistic tradition.

Luca has been the #1 boys' name in Italy for extended periods. In the United States it began appearing in Italian-American communities and entered the top 100 in the early 2000s. It has climbed to the top 30 by the 2020s, valued for its crisp sound and cosmopolitan feel.

Did you know? While Luca is now popular across many countries, it has been a classic Italian boys' name for centuries. It is derived from the same Latin root as both Lucas and Luke — the evangelist's name in its various national forms.

Variations

LucasLukeLukasLuc

Nicknames

Famous Bearers

★Luca Pacioli (c. 1447–c. 1517)
Italian mathematician known as the father of accounting.

If you like Luca…

Leo— shares the short, strong Latin-Italian appeal

Lucas— the Latin form of the same name

Matteo— Italian classic with the same Mediterranean warmth

Felix— shares the crisp, happy Latin-origin quality

Frequently Asked

What does the name Luca mean?

Luca is the Italian form of Lucas/Luke, derived from Latin Lucania or possibly associated with lux (light), making it the same name as the New Testament evangelist Luke.

How do you pronounce Luca?

Luca is pronounced LOO-kuh /ˈluː.kə/ — two syllables, with stress on the first.

Is Luca a boy or girl name?

Luca is used primarily as a boy's name, especially in Italian-speaking traditions.

How popular is Luca?

Luca has climbed into the U.S. top 30 boys' names as of the early 2020s, and is the #1 boys' name in Italy.