Lucy
Lucy: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈluːsi/ · /ˈlʉwsɪj/
Meaning and origin of Lucy
Root meaning: “light”
- A female given name from Latin.
Etymology
From Middle English Lucy, from Old French Lucie (notably after the Christian martyr Lucia of Syracuse), from Latin Lucia (feminine of Lucius, a Roman praenomen), from lux (“light”). The name of the Australopithecus skeleton came from the Beatles song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”, which was being played repeatedly at the dig site camp at the time of the discovery. The slang term for LSD also derives from the song name, which many believe is essentially a reference to the drug.
How popular is Lucy?
Since 1880, 236,969 girls and 644 boys in the U.S. have been named Lucy (100% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #25 in 2025. Its highest rank for boys was #823 in 1901. In 2025 it ranked #25 for girls, with 6,184 babies given the name.
Names similar to Lucy
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Latin girl names
Sibling name ideas for Lucy
Sister and brother names that share Lucy's Latin roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Lucy FAQ
What does the name Lucy mean?
Lucy traces back to a root meaning "light". A female given name from Latin. From Middle English Lucy, from Old French Lucie (notably after the Christian martyr Lucia of Syracuse), from Latin Lucia (feminine of Lucius, a Roman praenomen), from lux (“light”). The name of the Australopithecus skeleton came from the Beatles song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”, which was being played repeatedly at the dig site camp at the time of the discovery. The slang term for LSD also derives from the song name, which many believe is essentially a reference to the drug.
What is the origin of the name Lucy?
Lucy is listed as a name of Latin origin.
How popular is the name Lucy?
Since 1880, 236,969 girls and 644 boys in the U.S. have been named Lucy (100% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #25 in 2025. Its highest rank for boys was #823 in 1901. In 2025 it ranked #25 for girls, with 6,184 babies given the name.
Is Lucy a boy or girl name?
Lucy is mostly a girl name in the U.S.: 236,969 girls and 644 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.