Amelia vs Lucy
Amelia and Lucycompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Amelia was ranked #2 and Lucy #123 among girls in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2025, Amelia was ranked #2 and Lucy #32 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Amelia was ranked #2 and Lucy #21 among girls in New Zealand.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Amelia was ranked #7 and Lucy #28 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Amelia was ranked #12 and Lucy #16 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Amelia was ranked #14 and Lucy #38 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Amelia was ranked #39 and Lucy #296 among girls in Norway.
Amelia and Lucy over time
Amelia and Lucy appear together in 7 published lists, across 237 years of shared records. Amelia held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Lucy in 3.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Lucy reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 of those lists, and Amelia in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2007, Amelia moved ahead of Lucy in England and Wales · Girls — #16 and #8 the year before became #10 and #11.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Amelia and Lucy changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #12 and #16.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 38 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Amelia and Lucy averaged 56.0 places apart, ending at #2 and #123.
- Longest-running competitions
Amelia and Lucy were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 38 years, from 1996 to 2024, ending at #2 and #123.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Norway · Girls within 2 years — Amelia #32 in 2019, Lucy #212 in 2018.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1964–2025
Amelia held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Lucy in 45.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #3 in 2017, Lucy #3 in 2016.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amelia #12, Lucy #16.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls39 shared years, 1985–2025
Amelia held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Lucy in 16.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #1 in 2020, Lucy #20 in 2012.
The order changed in 2003: Amelia moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #33 and #31; by 2003 that had become #20 and #29.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amelia #2, Lucy #32.
England and Wales · Girls38 shared years, 1996–2024
Amelia held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Lucy in 11.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #1 in 2011, Lucy #7 in 2003.
The order changed in 2007: Amelia moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #16 and #8; by 2007 that had become #10 and #11.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amelia #2, Lucy #123.
New Zealand · Girls38 shared years, 1986–2023
Amelia held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Lucy in 22.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #1 in 2019, Lucy #12 in 2006.
The order changed in 2009: Amelia moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #16 and #14; by 2009 that had become #10 and #16.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Amelia #2, Lucy #21.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2024
Amelia held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Lucy in 15.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #4 in 2012, Lucy #4 in 2007.
The order changed in 2014: Amelia moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #8 and #6; by 2014 that had become #4 and #8.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amelia #14, Lucy #38.
Norway · Girls24 shared years, 1995–2025
Amelia held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Lucy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #32 in 2019, Lucy #212 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amelia #39, Lucy #296.
Scotland · Girls15 shared years, 2024–2024
Amelia held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Lucy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #7 in 2024, Lucy #28 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amelia #7, Lucy #28.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Amelia | Lucy |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'work' or 'industrious', with usage strongly influenced by the separate Roman name Aemilia. | The English form of Lucia, from Latin 'lux' meaning 'light'. In use since the Middle Ages. |
| Origin | Latin (influence) | Latin |
| Pronunciation | /əˈmiːliə/ | /ˈluː.si/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Amelie, Amalia, Amy, Mia | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #1 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #16 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Amelia is recorded with a Latin (influence) origin, while Lucy is recorded with a Latin origin.
- Amelia has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Lucy.
- Amelia's recorded meaning differs from Lucy's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Amelia a "high" Data Confidence level and Lucy a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Amelia
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #300 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2011 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Lucy
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #523 among girls in Norway in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2016 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #32 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls