Meaning: Its source is Treasaigh, an Irish Gaelic name meaning "Warlike."

Alternative Spellings: Tracey

Source Forms: Treasaigh

Popularity: The name Tracy ranked 291st in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

Though this name has fluctuated in use, it has been quietly present throughout the last century.

Narrative: Another possible derivation is from a Norman French place name, which was itself based on a Gallic Latin personal name (Thrax or Thracius).

Meaning: Its source is Treasaigh, an Irish Gaelic name meaning "Warlike."

Languages: This girl's name is used in English.

Compound Forms: Tracilee and Tracilyn

Alternative Spellings: Tracee, Tracey, Traci, Tracie and Traeci

Variant Forms: Tracia, Tracina, Tracineya, Traice, Trace and Traycee

Popularity: The name Tracy ranked 812th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics and 108th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

This name first made its appearance on state popularity lists before 1993, but is becoming less commonly used. In some cases, it has fallen off the lists altogether.

Narrative: There is a tradition that Tracy originated as a nickname for Theresa. Another possible derivation is from a Norman French place name, itself based on a Gallic Latin personal name, Thrax or Thracius, whose meaning has been lost.

Two great actresses boosted awareness of this name in the middle of the 20th century. The character Tracy Lord was played by Katherine Hepburn in the 1940 film version of Phillip Barry's Broadway hit The Philadelphia Story. Sixteen years later, Grace Kelly portrayed the same character in a remake titled High Society.

The Tracy these two screen beauties portrayed is an idle heiress, at once smart, funny and vulnerable.