Lucia vs Tess
Lucia and Tesscompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Lucia was ranked #87 and Tess #227 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Lucia was ranked #93 and Tess #638 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Lucia was ranked #160 and Tess #148 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Lucia was ranked #176 and Tess #2771 among girls in England and Wales.
Lucia and Tess over time
Lucia and Tess appear together in 3 published lists, across 81 years of shared records. Lucia held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Tess in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Tess reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Lucia 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 2025, Tess moved ahead of Lucia in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #135 and #149 the year before became #160 and #148.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Lucia and Tess changed places 9 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1995 and 2025, ending at #160 and #148.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Lucia #71 in 2022, Tess #175 in 2022.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Lucia held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Tess in 0.
Highest recorded here: Lucia #169 in 2013, Tess #423 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Lucia #176, Tess #2771.
Republic of Ireland · Girls29 shared years, 1995–2025
Lucia held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Tess in 5.
Highest recorded here: Lucia #85 in 2023, Tess #133 in 2021.
The order changed in 2025: Tess moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #135 and #149; by 2025 that had become #160 and #148.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lucia #160, Tess #148.
Northern Ireland · Girls23 shared years, 1997–2024
Lucia held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Tess in 0.
Highest recorded here: Lucia #71 in 2022, Tess #175 in 2022.
The order changed in 2000: Lucia moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #358 and #358; by 2000 that had become #282 and #348.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Lucia #87, Tess #227.
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 | Lucia | Tess |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The feminine form of Lucius, from Latin 'lux' meaning 'light'. Associated with Saint Lucia, a 4th-century martyr from Syracuse and patron saint of the blind — widely celebrated in Scandinavian Saint Lucy's Day traditions. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Latin | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /lɵ.ˈsiː.a/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #78 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #148 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Lucia has a recorded origin (Latin); Tess does not have one recorded yet.
- Lucia has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Tess.
- A meaning is recorded for Lucia; Tess doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Lucia
Popularity journey
First recorded1959
First recorded at #428 among girls in Norway in 1959 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #71 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2022 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #78 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Tess
Popularity journey
First recorded1990
First recorded at #517 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1990 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1990–2025
Highest recorded position: #133 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2021 (recorded 1990–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #148 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls