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Lucinda

♀ Girl

Pronounced loo-SIN-duh /luˈsɪn.də/Medium

Meaning: Literary elaboration of Lucia, from Latin 'lux' (light); first used by Cervantes in 'Don Quixote'.Medium

In 30 seconds: Lucinda is a literary elaboration of Lucia, from Latin 'lux', 'light', and was first coined by Cervantes in 'Don Quixote'.

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Origin MediumLatin, Literature

MeaningLiterary elaboration of Lucia, from Latin 'lux' (light); first used by Cervantes in 'Don Quixote'.

U.S. rank (2025)#1750 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births116 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1957

Total births (all-time)≈ 38,397

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Cervantes invented Lucinda for a character in 'Don Quixote', building it out from Lucia and the Latin word 'lux', meaning 'light'. From that fictional debut it passed into real use as a graceful, literary name. Its bright core meaning has stayed constant beneath the added '-inda' flourish.

The American singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams, known for 'Car Wheels on a Gravel Road', has carried the name into roots and country music. It keeps company with forms like Lucia, Lúcia, Luzia, and Lucilla across several languages.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Lucinda is 'origin uncertain', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.

Overall data confidence 78%

Behind the Name - Lucinda — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

LuciaLúciaLuziaLucillaLyusi

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Lucinda Williams (1953-present)
American singer-songwriter and guitarist known for her blend of rock, folk, blues, and country, and for the acclaimed album 'Car Wheels on a Gravel Road'.

If you like Lucinda…

Lucia— the 'light' name from Latin 'lux' that Cervantes elaborated into Lucinda

Amada— echoes that soft -da sound

Jillian— shares Lucinda's Latin roots

Ellery— another Latin name

Marcela— another Latin name

Explore names like Lucinda

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By meaningLight

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Lucinda mean?

Lucinda is usually explained as meaning 'origin uncertain' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Lucinda?

It's commonly said loo-SIN-duh /luˈsɪn.də/.

Is Lucinda a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Lucinda is used as a girl name.

How popular is Lucinda?

In 2024, Lucinda ranked #1717 in the U.S. for girls, with 118 births recorded.