The name Lucy derives from the Latin name Lucia, which was the feminine form of the Roman family name Lucius. The name Lucius itself originated from the Latin word "lux," meaning light. Lucy was quite a common name among early Christian martyrs and saints.

The earliest known bearer of the name Lucy was Saint Lucy, a young Christian martyr who was killed in Syracuse, Sicily, during the Diocletianic Persecution in 304 AD. According to legend, she was a young Christian who had her eyes gouged out for her faith, and she is depicted in artwork holding a dish with two eyes on it. Saint Lucy's memorial is celebrated on December 13 in the Western Christian Church.

Another early prominent figure with the name Lucy was Lucy, Countess of Bolingbroke (c. 1092 - 1137), an English noblewoman who founded the Benedictine Markyate Priory in Hertfordshire, England, and became its first prioress.

In literature, one of the earliest mentions of the name Lucy is in Dante Alighieri's epic poem "The Divine Comedy," written in the early 14th century. Lucy appears as a representation of the illuminating grace of God in the Purgatorio section of the poem.

Throughout history, there have been several notable figures named Lucy. These include Lucy Hay, Countess of Carlisle (1599-1660), an English noblewoman and courtier during the reign of King Charles I; Lucy Hutchinson (1620-1681), an English biographer and writer; Lucy Wharton, Countess of Huntingdon (1720-1794), an English noblewoman who played a significant role in the Methodist movement; and Lucy Stone (1818-1893), a prominent American abolitionist and suffragist.

In the arts, one of the most famous Lucys is Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874-1942), the Canadian author best known for her novel "Anne of Green Gables" and its sequels. Another notable Lucy is Lucy Lawless (born 1968), a New Zealand actress best known for her role as Xena in the television series "Xena: Warrior Princess."