UK girl's name
Luce
A feminine name of Italian origin meaning "light" or "bright".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Luce is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Luce popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3970, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2022, with 5 births.
This profile covers 15 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2017 to 2022. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
Luce is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 15 living people in the UK are called Luce. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Luce ranked #3970 for girls in England and Wales in 2022, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2022, when 5 girls were registered as Luce.
- • About 15 living people in the UK are estimated to have Luce as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3970
2022
Births in 2022
5
Latest year
Peak year
2022
5 births
Estimated living
15
2026
Meaning
What does Luce mean?
The given name Luce traces its origins to the Latin word "lux," meaning "light." It has been a popular name across various cultures and time periods, often associated with radiance, illumination, and brightness.
In ancient Roman times, the name Luce was sometimes bestowed upon children as a symbol of hope and positivity. It was believed that those bearing this name would bring light and guidance to their families and communities.
During the Middle Ages, the name Luce gained prominence in Italy, particularly in regions like Tuscany and Umbria. It was commonly used by aristocratic families, with notable figures like Luce da Siena, a 13th-century mystic and writer, bearing this name.
In the Renaissance period, the name Luce experienced a resurgence in popularity, resonating with the era's emphasis on enlightenment and intellectual pursuits. Luce d'Eramo, an Italian philosopher and author from the 16th century, was one such individual who carried this name.
The name Luce has also been found in various literary works throughout history. In Dante Alighieri's "Divine Comedy," the character Lucia is depicted as a representation of divine grace and enlightenment, guiding the poet through his journey.
Historically, the name Luce has been borne by several notable individuals, including:
1. Luce Irigaray (born 1932), a Belgian feminist philosopher known for her work on gender and psychoanalytic theory. 2. Luce Fabbri (1908-1989), an Italian actress and film director active during the Golden Age of Italian cinema. 3. Luce Vigo (1892-1985), a French filmmaker and wife of the renowned director Jean Vigo. 4. Luce Lebart (1899-1986), a French physicist and one of the first women to receive a doctorate in nuclear physics. 5. Luce Dufault (1916-1997), a Canadian actress and singer who achieved success on stage and television.
While the name Luce has maintained its presence throughout history, it has also evolved and adapted to different cultural contexts, with variations such as Lucia, Lucie, and Lucy emerging in various languages and regions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Luce over time
The chart below shows babies named Luce registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2017 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Luce, the clearest high point is 2022. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2022, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Luce by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Luce was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4699 | 12 | 3 |
| 2010s | #5765 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Luce
- Lily 72,956
- Lucy 70,663
- Lauren 50,664
- Leah 33,185
- Lola 24,525
- Layla 24,520
- Laura 23,471
- Lilly 21,714
- Lydia 18,353
- Libby 14,515
- Lara 13,415
- Lacey 13,406
FAQ
Luce: questions and answers
How popular is the name Luce in the UK right now?
In 2022, Luce was ranked #3970 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Luce most popular?
The peak year on record was 2022, with 5 babies registered as Luce in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Luce?
A feminine name of Italian origin meaning "light" or "bright".
How many people are called Luce in the UK?
A total of 15 babies have been registered as Luce across the 4 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.