Kathleen vs Lucy
Kathleen 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, Kathleen was ranked #352 and Lucy #16 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Kathleen was ranked #407 and Lucy #38 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1990, Kathleen was ranked #94 and Lucy #46 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1984, Kathleen was ranked #100 and Lucy #68 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Kathleen was ranked #997 and Lucy #143 among girls in England and Wales.
Kathleen and Lucy over time
Kathleen and Lucy appear together in 3 published lists, across 117 years of shared records. Lucy held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Kathleen in 1.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Kathleen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1996, Lucy moved ahead of Kathleen in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #70 and #106 the year before became #90 and #88.
- Longest-running competitions
Kathleen and Lucy were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #997 and #143.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Kathleen held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Lucy in 30.
Highest recorded here: Kathleen #18 in 1965, Lucy #3 in 2016.
The order changed in 1996: Lucy moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #70 and #106; by 1996 that had become #90 and #88.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kathleen #352, Lucy #16.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Kathleen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Lucy in 30.
Highest recorded here: Kathleen #227 in 1996, Lucy #7 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kathleen #997, Lucy #143.
Northern Ireland · Girls25 shared years, 1997–2024
Kathleen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Lucy in 25.
Highest recorded here: Kathleen #112 in 1997, Lucy #4 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kathleen #407, Lucy #38.
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 | Kathleen | Lucy |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The English form of Lucia, from Latin 'lux' meaning 'light'. In use since the Middle Ages. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Latin |
| Pronunciation | /ˈluː.si/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Lucy has a recorded origin (Latin); Kathleen does not have one recorded yet.
- Kathleen and Lucy both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Lucy; Kathleen doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Kathleen
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #29 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #18 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #997 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