Lucia is the Italian feminine form of Lucius, derived from Latin and means light! She has usage and history in many parts of the world, including Chile, Italy, Spain, France, Mexico, New Zealand, Sweden, and more. 

    Pronunciation can vary from Loo-see-ah to Loo-CHEE-ah, and some even would say LOO-sha. I tend toward the Loo-see-ah pronunciation as that is how we say it in order to celebrate St. Lucia day on December 13th in order to mark the ushering in of the Christmas season. I think many who grew up with American Girl dolls will remember Kirsten, her cousins, and her teacher trying to feel more at home in their new country by planning a surprise Lucia day celebration in Kirsten’s Surprise. Lucia is a sweet and subtle callback to childhood in that way. 

    Lucia currently ranks at #136 in the US and is more popular than she ever has been before although she has never dropped out of the top 1000 since the Social Security started recording. 

    This saint name is wearable, captivating, and international. A great choice for a daughter!