Why Did Lucille Ball Choose the Name Lucie for Her Daughter?

Picture the moment: Lucille Ball, the iconic redhead who made us laugh week after week, finds herself in the hospital, breathlessly awaiting the arrival of her first child. It’s July 17, 1951, and she can’t wait to meet her baby girl, whom she had lovingly named “Susan.” But what happens next is a twist worthy of the wild, comedic scripts that made her famous.

In a fascinating new memoir by Todd S. Purdum, Desi Arnaz: The Man Who Invented Television, we learn that the name Lucille had picked for her daughter had already been altered without her knowledge. Desi Arnaz, her husband and co-star, had taken it upon himself to name their newborn Lucie Desiree, while Lucille was still groggy from anesthesia.

“I want to see Susan!” she exclaimed to the nurse. But instead, she was met with a bewildering revelation: “You mean Lucie?” the nurse replied, sparking a mix of surprise and pride in Lucy’s heart. Despite her initial shock, she recognized the sentiment behind the name—an homage to her mother and grandmother. And when it came time to welcome their son in January 1953, the name “Desi Jr.” finally matched Lucy’s original intentions.

Though Lucie and Desi Jr. would eventually reveal their perspectives on their parents’ tumultuous relationship to Purdum, they also carry the weight of being part of a legendary television dynasty. All the laughter they brought to their fans served as a mask for the struggles they faced offscreen. “It wasn’t good for anyone,” Desi Jr. recalled about the dynamic between his parents, who ultimately divorced in 1960 after two decades of marriage.

This memoir pulls back the curtain on the beloved TV couple. It’s a reminder that the glitz and glamour often hide deeper, sometimes painful realities. As fans continue to celebrate their contributions to television history, the revelations in Desi Arnaz: The Man Who Invented Television suggest that love and laughter don’t always go hand in hand.

The book is now available, and it promises to unearth fascinating insights into not just Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz as stars, but as parents navigating the complex terrain of fame and family. From Netflix binges of their classic shows to biographical explorations, the legacy of this iconic duo lives on, capturing our imagination and affection in new ways.