"from the town of Lassy in Normandy"
Lacey
Pronunciation: [ l-AYS-ee ]
Norman nobility in a breezy Southern-belle package
Meaning & Origin
"lace-like, delicate"
The Story of Lacey
Lacey is an Anglicized form of the Norman French surname 'de Lacy' or 'de Lassi,' derived from the village of Lassy in Calvados, Normandy. The place name itself comes from the Latin personal name Lascius. The de Lacy family were powerful Norman nobles who came to England with William the Conqueror in 1066 and held extensive lands in England and Ireland. The name began transitioning to a given name for girls in the 20th century, also influenced by the delicate, ornamental quality of the word 'lace.'
Lacey (also spelled Lacy) was most popular in the US in the 1980s and 1990s, part of a wave of soft, country-inflected feminine names. It has maintained steady use without returning to its peak, appealing to parents who want something familiar but not overly common.
The de Lacy family's influence in medieval Ireland was so significant that they built some of the country's most important castles. In contemporary culture, the name feels warmly American, with a gentle, feminine quality reinforced by the visual and tactile associations with the fabric lace.
Fun Facts
- The de Lacy family built Trim Castle in County Meath, Ireland — the largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland and a filming location for Braveheart (1995)
- Both spellings 'Lacey' and 'Lacy' are widely used, with no clear winner in US birth records
Lacey in Other Languages
Famous People Named Lacey
Lacey Turner
Actor
1988
British actress who has played Stacey Fowler in EastEnders since 2004
Lacey Chabert
Actor
1982
American actress known for Mean Girls (2004) and a prolific career in Hallmark holiday films
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #747
- Total SSA Count
- 376
- Cultural Origins
- English American French
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Casual
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Common Nicknames
Pairs Well With
Sibling Names
Also a Boy Name
Lacey is also used as a boy name, ranked #32375.
View Lacey as a boy name →Similar Names
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Frequently Asked Questions About Lacey
What does the name Lacey mean?
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About the Name Lacey
Lacey is a girl name with English, American, and French origins . The name means "from the town of Lassy in Normandy" in Old French/Norman .
Is Lacey a boy or girl name? Lacey is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #747 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #32,375. Lacey is more commonly used as a girl name.
Lacey is currently ranked #747 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Lacey has 2 syllables and is pronounced l-AYS-ee, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Lacey include Lace. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.