Luce

Light.

Luce brings light directly into a name: luce is the Italian word for it, and the feminine name also belongs to the Lucia family with its Latin light root. The image can feel clear and luminous rather than ornate. For someone who likes Lucia’s meaning but prefers a more pared-back written form, Luce offers a different balance. Its French and Italian sounds are distinct. Italian /ˈluːtʃe/ has two syllables and a ch sound; French /lys/ is one syllable, with a French u and a final s sound. Neither pronunciation can be read off an English “loose” without changing a sound. The Italian form has a little lift at the end, while the French form can feel especially concentrated and neat.

Etymology: An Italian and French form of Lucia, in the Latin lux, “light”, name family. Luce is also the ordinary Italian word for light.