Yes, less can follow by file name

The feature has a fairly obscure syntax:

less --follow-name +F file.log 

With less, --follow-name is different from the tail option --follow=name.
It does not make less follow the file, instead it modifying the behaviour of the command key F inside of less to follow based on the file name, not the file descriptor.

Also, there is no normal option to start less in follow mode.
But you can use the command line to give keystrokes to execute after startup, by prefixing them with +.
Combining the modifier option with +F, less will actually start in the (modified) follow mode.

Use +F alone for the equivalent of plain tail-f:

less +F file.log