Claire vs Lucy
Claire 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Claire was ranked #352 and Lucy #16 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2013, Claire was ranked #96 and Lucy #17 among girls in New Zealand.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Claire was ranked #638 and Lucy #28 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Claire was ranked #407 and Lucy #38 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2022, Claire was ranked #86 and Lucy #43 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Claire was ranked #1362 and Lucy #143 among girls in England and Wales.
Claire and Lucy over time
Claire and Lucy appear together in 5 published lists, across 167 years of shared records. Lucy held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Claire in 2.
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.
Claire reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Lucy 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 took the other's place near the top
In New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Lucy moved into the top 50 at #40 in 1992 as Claire fell out of it to #59, having been #42 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1992, Lucy moved ahead of Claire in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #42 and #44 the year before became #59 and #40.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 38 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Claire and Lucy averaged 29.9 places apart, ending at #86 and #43.
- Mirrored each other
Over 38 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Lucy rose about as far as Claire fell — from #51 and #89 in 1985 to #86 and #43 in 2022.
- Longest-running competitions
Claire and Lucy were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1362 and #143.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #28 and #37 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2024 they were #407 and #38.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Claire held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Lucy in 26.
Highest recorded here: Claire #10 in 1984, Lucy #3 in 2016.
The order changed in 2000: Lucy moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #39 and #43; by 2000 that had become #41 and #38.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Claire #352, Lucy #16.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls38 shared years, 1985–2022
Claire held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Lucy in 31.
Highest recorded here: Claire #40 in 1990, Lucy #20 in 2012.
The order changed in 1992: Lucy moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #42 and #44; by 1992 that had become #59 and #40.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Claire #86, Lucy #43.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Claire held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Lucy in 30.
Highest recorded here: Claire #90 in 1996, Lucy #7 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Claire #1362, Lucy #143.
Northern Ireland · Girls23 shared years, 1997–2024
Claire held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Lucy in 22.
Highest recorded here: Claire #26 in 1998, Lucy #4 in 2007.
The order changed in 1998: Lucy moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #28 and #37; by 1998 that had become #26 and #22.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Claire #407, Lucy #38.
New Zealand · Girls14 shared years, 1979–2013
Claire held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Lucy in 5.
Highest recorded here: Claire #30 in 1983, Lucy #17 in 2013.
The order changed in 1991: Lucy moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #51 and #54; by 1991 that had become #77 and #51.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Claire #96, Lucy #17.
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 | Claire | Lucy |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The French form of Clara, from Latin 'clarus' meaning 'clear, bright'. | The English form of Lucia, from Latin 'lux' meaning 'light'. In use since the Middle Ages. |
| Origin | Latin, via French transmission | Latin |
| Pronunciation | /klɛʁ/ | /ˈluː.si/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Clara | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (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
- Claire is recorded with a Latin, via French transmission origin, while Lucy is recorded with a Latin origin.
- Claire and Lucy both have 2 syllables.
- Claire'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, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Claire 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
Claire
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #98 among girls in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #10 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1984 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1362 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 #143 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls