Declining since 1985, #738 for girls today.
Popularity of Lacey since 1888
Babies named Lacey per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 5 |
| 1890s | 0 |
| 1900s | 6 |
| 1910s | 23 |
| 1920s | 34 |
| 1930s | 22 |
| 1940s | 80 |
| 1950s | 145 |
| 1960s | 371 |
| 1970s | 2,823 |
| 1980s | 20,773 |
| 1990s | 13,852 |
| 2000s | 7,397 |
| 2010s | 6,068 |
| 2020s | 2,175 |
Meaning & origin
Lacey first appeared in American baby name records in 1888, but its climb to popularity began in the mid-20th century. It reached its peak rank in 1983, placing among the top 200 names that year. Since 1985, the name has been on a steady decline; by 2025 it had fallen to rank 738, with only about 1 in 4,344 girls receiving the name. The name has seen strongest usage in Idaho, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. Despite its downturn, Lacey retains a soft, feminine appeal and a straightforward pronunciation that has kept it in consistent, if modest, use for well over a century.
Lacey originated as an English surname, ultimately from a Norman baronial name de Lassy, referring to a place in Calvados, France. The place name itself is of uncertain Gaulish or Latin origin. As a given name, it emerged in the late 19th century, particularly in the United States, and gained popularity through the 20th century.
Where Lacey is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Lacey” around the world
Where Lacey lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
Ireland
5
babies in 2025
New Zealand
16
babies in 2025
Sources: CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Lace
Sibling names for Lacey
Names that share Lacey's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Lacey
Names whose popularity has moved with Lacey's over the last 50 years.
