Lucy
Say it: LOO-see
GirlMeans usually linked to Latin lux, "light"4 letters2 syllables
#16
in Ireland (2025)
#17 with spellings combined
179
babies in 2025
#3
best rank (2016)
9,634
babies since 1964
Down 10
10-year rank change
Lucy through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 179 | #17 |
| 2024 | 204 | #11 |
| 2023 | 214 | #14 |
| 2022 | 232 | #16 |
| 2021 | 287 | #6 |
| 2020 | 261 | #9 |
| 2019 | 285 | #11 |
| 2018 | 277 | #13 |
| 2017 | 349 | #6 |
| 2016 | 388 | #3 |
| 2015 | 379 | #7 |
| 2014 | 369 | #9 |
| 2013 | 397 | #8 |
| 2012 | 439 | #9 |
| 2011 | 463 | #7 |
| 2010 | 543 | #4 |
| 2009 | 463 | #8 |
| 2008 | 418 | #11 |
| 2007 | 404 | #14 |
| 2006 | 390 | #13 |
| 2005 | 275 | #24 |
| 2004 | 276 | #22 |
| 2003 | 203 | #29 |
| 2002 | 169 | #36 |
| 2001 | 157 | #35 |
| 2000 | 136 | #38 |
| 1999 | 105 | #43 |
| 1998 | 89 | #46 |
| 1997 | 89 | #63 |
| 1996 | 61 | #88 |
| 1995 | 51 | #106 |
| 1994 | 50 | #110 |
| 1993 | 50 | #113 |
| 1992 | 42 | #129 |
| 1991 | 39 | #133 |
| 1990 | 35 | #143 |
| 1989 | 42 | #126 |
| 1988 | 32 | #157 |
| 1987 | 29 | #173 |
| 1986 | 39 | #145 |
| 1985 | 32 | #170 |
| 1984 | 42 | #150 |
| 1983 | 36 | #167 |
| 1982 | 24 | #216 |
| 1981 | 40 | #163 |
| 1980 | 35 | #182 |
| 1979 | 34 | #178 |
| 1978 | 28 | #200 |
| 1977 | 27 | #195 |
| 1976 | 34 | #176 |
| 1975 | 27 | #190 |
| 1974 | 27 | #198 |
| 1973 | 34 | #176 |
| 1972 | 28 | #187 |
| 1971 | 17 | #229 |
| 1970 | 35 | #159 |
| 1969 | 36 | #157 |
| 1968 | 39 | #141 |
| 1967 | 47 | #120 |
| 1966 | 49 | #118 |
| 1965 | 29 | #148 |
| 1964 | 24 | #154 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Lucy mean?
Usually linked to Latin lux, "light"
English, from Latin Lucia, the feminine of the Roman name Lucius.
Say it right
LOOsee
The story of Lucy
Lucy came into English through the French Lucie, from the Latin Lucia, the feminine form of the Roman first name Lucius. The name is linked with lux, the Latin word for light. Much of its spread in the Middle Ages is owed to Saint Lucy of Syracuse, a Christian martyr in Sicily whose feast day is 13 December.
Lucy was already given in Ireland in 1964, but it stayed modest, usually 20 to 50 girls a year, until the mid-1990s. It rose through the 2000s and reached number 4 in 2010, its biggest year, with 543 girls. Its best rank came in 2016, at number 3.
In Northern Ireland it was fourth in 2007.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Lucy (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Lucy
- Wikipedia: Saint Lucy
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Lucy | 179 | 9,634 |
In Northern Ireland
#34 in 2025 with 48 babies. Best rank #4 (2007); 3,730 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.