What does Lucy mean?
From the Latin lux, “light.” Saint Lucy is associated with light and sight.
What does Clara mean?
From the Latin clarus, “bright” or “clear.” Saint Clare of Assisi carried the name.
Lucy vs Clara
Which is more popular?
Lucy is more popular than Clara today: about 6,176 US babies were given the name Lucy in 2025, compared with 3,601 named Clara.
| Lucy | Clara | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Light | Bright, clear |
| Origin | Latin | Latin |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | LOO-see | KLAIR-uh |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2025 (6,176) | 1918 (5,778) |
| In 2025 | 6,176 | 3,601 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Lucy
Clara
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Lucy | Clara |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 29,759 | 17,277 |
| 2010s | 42,024 | 26,657 |
| 2000s | 19,399 | 12,789 |
| 1990s | 6,090 | 6,266 |
| 1980s | 4,727 | 3,668 |
| 1970s | 3,700 | 3,290 |
| 1960s | 8,671 | 6,505 |
| 1950s | 13,644 | 12,768 |
| 1940s | 13,128 | 20,028 |
| 1930s | 16,413 | 31,658 |
| 1920s | 27,434 | 48,183 |
| 1910s | 23,117 | 44,346 |
| 1900s | 11,020 | 23,899 |
| 1890s | 10,323 | 25,473 |
| 1880s | 7,520 | 17,717 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Lucy or Clara more popular?
Lucy is more popular than Clara today: about 6,176 US babies were given the name Lucy in 2025, compared with 3,601 named Clara.
What is the difference between Lucy and Clara?
Lucy means Light (Latin origin), while Clara means Bright, clear (Latin origin).
Which name is older, Lucy or Clara?
In US records, Lucy first appears in 1880 and Clara in 1880, so Lucy has the longer recorded history.