Tracy

♂ Boy

Tracy Pronunciation

Tracy is pronounced TRAY-see /ˈtreɪ.si/High

Meaning: From Norman place names like Tracy-Bocage, 'estate of Thracius' — a Gallo-Roman personal name meaning 'of Thrace'High

In 30 seconds: Before it softened, Tracy was a Norman knight's surname — 'estate of Thracius' — and a tough-guy first name: Spencer Tracy's grit, Dick Tracy's jaw. For a son, it's vintage Hollywood steel.

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Origin HighNorman French, English

MeaningFrom Norman place names like Tracy-Bocage, 'estate of Thracius' — a Gallo-Roman personal name meaning 'of Thrace'

U.S. rank (2024)#3313 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births36 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1966

Total births (all-time)≈ 61,471

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

History & Origin

Tracy descends from Norman place names — Tracy-Bocage and kin — meaning 'estate of Thracius', a Gallo-Roman name pointing to Thrace; a de Tracy knight was among Becket's murderers, for medieval notoriety. As an American first name it ran masculine (Spencer Tracy's surname helping) before swinging to girls midcentury.

Male Tracys persisted — NBA star Tracy McGrady and country's Tracy Lawrence among them. Today it is rare for sons and reads as either retro-cool or family homage.

Did you know? Dick Tracy's square-jawed detective and two-time Oscar winner Spencer Tracy kept this name masculine through midcentury — before The Philadelphia Story's Tracy Lord helped girls claim it.

Overall data confidence 85%

Behind the Name — Tracy — etymology

Variations

TraceyTraceTreacy

Nicknames

Trace

Famous Bearers

★Tracy McGrady (1979–present)
American Hall of Fame NBA guard and seven-time All-Star.

If you like Tracy…

Trace— the modern clipped form that stayed masculine

Stacy— the fellow unisex midcentury journeyman

Casey— another -cy name comfortable on either roster

Lindsay— a fellow Norman surname that crossed over

→ See all names like Tracy

Browse the whole category: All Norman French names → · All English names → · All origins →

Frequently Asked

How do you pronounce Tracy?

Tracy is pronounced TRAY-see (/ˈtreɪ.si/). Press play above to hear Tracy said aloud.

How do you say Tracy?

Tracy is said TRAY-see (/ˈtreɪ.si/). Press play above to hear Tracy said aloud.

What does the name Tracy mean?

Tracy comes from Norman place names meaning 'estate of Thracius', a personal name pointing to Thrace.

Is Tracy a boy or girl name?

Tracy serves both sexes; it began masculine, and this page covers its use as a boy's name.

How popular is Tracy?

Tracy is rare for boys today, a vintage choice with Hollywood-era steel.