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. Thus, the name is 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 had 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:

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 share's Lucy's status as a true classic.  

Frances

Frances is a classic old-fashioned name that has Lucy's soft mid-"c" sound.

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. 

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. 

Marie

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. 

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 to come back. 

Phoebe

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 that 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 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

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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