Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Lucy
GirlEnglish, Latin· “light”
- Meaning
- light
- Origin
- English, Latin
- Pronunciation
- LOO-see
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #25
- US babies 2025
- 6,176
- Best rank
- #25 (2025)
- Peak year
- 2025
Meaning and origin of Lucy
Lucy is an English and Latin name that means “light”.
Lucy is the English form of Lucia, the feminine of Lucius, from the Latin lux, meaning light. Saint Lucy of Syracuse, an early martyr, is honored with festivals of light in Scandinavia in December, and the name has been used in England since the Middle Ages. It appears in the poetry of William Wordsworth and in many Victorian novels. Lucy is bright, friendly and easy to spell, suited to both a child and an adult. It has a timeless quality that keeps it from feeling dated. Lu and Lulu are affectionate nicknames.
Other spellings with the same sound: Lucie.
Famous parents who chose Lucy: Andy Cohen (2022). More celebrity baby names
Popularity over time
Lucy has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 146 different years. It is at its all-time high right now: 2025 brought both its best national rank, #25, and its highest count, 6,176 babies. Use has grown 36% in ten years.
Its national rank moved from #94 in 1920, #207 in 1950, #480 in 1980, #324 in 2000, #75 in 2010, and #25 in 2025. Of the 236,969 US girls named Lucy since records began, 18% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2020s come next, with 29,759 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Ellie, Isla, Nora, Lainey, and Valentina.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Lucy ranked highest in Montana, Utah, and District of Columbia.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Montana | #2 | 41 |
| Utah | #3 | 189 |
| District of Columbia | #4 | 31 |
| New Hampshire | #7 | 51 |
| Maine | #7 | 39 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Lucy is usually pronounced LOO-see, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with L and ends in “-cy”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Lucie.
Middle names for Lucy
A few middle names that flow with Lucy: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Lucy
Similar names
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GRAY-see
“variant of Gracie, grace” · English
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Lily Girl
LIH-lee
“lily flower” · English
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Audrey Girl
AW-dree
“noble strength” · English
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Lucia Girl
loo-SEE-uh
“light” · Latin
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Macy Girl
MAY-see
“from a French place name” · English
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Frances Girl
FRAN-sihs
“Frenchman, Frankish” · Latin
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Autumn Girl
AW-tuhm
“autumn season” · English
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Ruby Girl
ROO-bee
“red gemstone” · Latin
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Clara Girl
KLEHR-uh
“bright, clear” · Latin
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Gracie Girl
GRAY-see
“grace” · English
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Remi Girl
REM-ee
“oarsman” · French
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Gemma Girl
JEH-muh
“gem, precious stone” · Italian
#170
Lists that include Lucy
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Lucy mean?
Lucy is an English and Latin name that means “light”.
What is the origin of the name Lucy?
Lucy has English and Latin roots. Lucy is the English form of Lucia, the feminine of Lucius, from the Latin lux, meaning light.
Is Lucy a popular name?
Yes. Lucy ranked #25 in the US in 2025, which makes it one of the 100 most popular names.
Is Lucy a boy or girl name?
Lucy is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Lucy?
Lucy is usually pronounced LOO-see. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings