Names Inspired by Lucy
Lucy has been used consistently for centuries. It began as an Anglicization of a saint's name and has since been frequently popular among English-speakers. In the United States, Lucy was a top 100 name through the mid-1920s. It returned to the top 100 in 2010 and recently returned to the top 50.
While Lucy never completely went away, it is a revival name that is popular for the second time. That makes the name both timeless and vintage. In addition to appearing in every era, Lucy fits a range of personalities, from the ladylike to the spunky. Lucy is also short, sweet, and has a nickname-like sound despite its roots as a full name.
This list will appeal to parents who love Lucy but find it too popular or ordinary. Name enthusiasts who love the name Lucy and parents seeking sister names will also enjoy this list. The names listed below have the same qualities that make Lucy appealing without sounding too similar or different. None of them rank in the current top 100, either.
Here are some names that are inspired by Lucy:
Vintage Belle sounds sweet but can clearly suit a mature, adventurous woman (think outlaw Belle Starr). While it could often be short for longer names like Isabella, Belle sounds complete.
Betsy
Betsy feels both solid and spunky and has the same "see" ending sound as Lucy. This classic Elizabeth nickname feels complete as a standalone, too.
Bonnie
Bonnie sounds like a nickname, but it actually came from the Scottish word for "pretty." Bonnie fits in with any personality and feels old-fashioned.
Dulcie
Dulcie is a complete name coming from the Latin word for "sweet." It has the same "see" ending sound as Lucy along with its old-fashioned feel.
Eve
Eve is a short and sweet name that shares Lucy's status as a true classic.
Frances
Frances is a classic old-fashioned name that has Lucy's soft mid-"c" sound.
Hattie
This is a short form of Harriet that sounds complete as a standalone and has Lucy's mix of sweetness and sauciness.
Heidi
Heidi began as a nickname for Adelheid, but Johanna Spyri's Swiss children's novel made it famous as a standalone. Heidi peaked in the 1970s and has since declined. Yet, it remains a sweet literary name and shows no signs of disappearing completely.
Judith
Classic Judith has peaked early in the 1940s, making it feel old-fashioned. Its "oo" sound ties it closer to Lucy.
Lena
Lena is a four-letter "l" name with centuries of consistent use and popularity in the 1880s.
Louise
Louise is another classic and vintage name that has Lucy's "lu" sound.
Lucille
Lucille is vintage, solid, and saucy. It can even shorten to Lucy. For more of a standout, though, Lulie would be another nickname option.
Lula
Lula ranked along Lucy in the 1880s top 100. It is another "lu" name with two syllables and four letters.
Mabel
Other name experts deemed Mabel completely sassy, but it also feels slightly solid. Mabel also has Lucy's sweet old-fashioned feel.
Maisie
This traditional Margaret nickname now feels complete, often used on its own. It feels old-fashioned, too.
Marie is the French form of Mary with more of Lucy's sweetness. Marie is both classic and vintage, too.
Nancy
Nancy might not be revival-ready, but it's still a classic. It becomes youthful once you hear it on a child. Besides, it has Lucy's "see" ending.
Nina
Nina is a classic name that is as short and sweet as Lucy. It can fit different personalities, too.
Vintage Nola sounds sweet and conservative as much as it has a punch via its "no" sound. It also means "white shoulder," which goes hand-in-hand with Lucy's meaning of "light."
Orli
This Hebrew name is not exactly traditional, but German Holocaust survivor Orli Wald (1914-1962) creates a heroic saint-like namesake. It also shares Lucy's meaning of "light" alongside a personality-spanning, nickname-like sound.
Penny
Penny is both a word and a nickname for Penelope. It transcends personalities, too. While the name was popular in the 1960s, Penny has already started its revival.
Classic Phoebe means "bright", which goes hand-in-hand with Lucy's meaning of "light". It is phonetically similar to Lucy, too.
Polly
Polly began as a nickname for Mary, but it feels complete on its own. This classic name is shockingly rare these days, having been off the charts since the 1970s.
Ruthie
Ruth also works, but it's getting more popular. Diminutive Ruthie has Lucy's long "u" and ending sounds.
Sally
Sally began as a Sarah nickname, but now feels complete. It is solid, saucy, classic, and old-fashioned.
Sylvie
Sylvie can transcend personalities. In addition, like Lucy, Sylvie sounds like a nickname without having nickname roots. It's the French form of classic Sylvia.
Tess
Tess is a nickname for Teresa that feels solid and saucy at once. It is also old-fashioned thanks to Thomas Hardy's 1891 novel, Tess of the D'Ubervilles.
Thea
Vintage Thea is similar to Theia, the name of the light goddess. Lucy means "light", making this sweet name, like Orli, a great alternative. Thea is a complete Theodora nickname as well.
Trudy
Trudy, like Ruthie, has Lucy's long "u" and ending sounds. While it's traditionally a nickname for Gertrude, Trudy feels complete. It even feels more usable than the latter.
Willa is a vintage name that fits a variety of personalities, not exclusively conservative or bold. It's also just as sweet as Lucy.
What are your favorite substitutes for Lucy? What names would you add to this list?
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