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Laura Name Origin: Latin
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Pronunciation: lawr-ah
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See what 3 people think about Laura
Laura Name Meaning
The name Laura has a rich history, dating back to ancient times. Let’s dive into the origin, meaning, and popularity of this classic girl’s name.
Ancient Origins
The name Laura has its roots in ancient Rome, where it was a popular name for girls. It is believed to have originated from the Latin word “laurus,” which means “laurel tree.” In ancient Roman culture, the laurel tree was a symbol of victory and success, so it’s no surprise that parents would want to give their daughters a name associated with these positive attributes.
A Name Fit for a Saint
In the Middle Ages, the name Laura was given to girls in honor of Saint Laura, a martyr from the 4th century. Saint Laura’s story is not well-known, but it is said that she was a Christian who refused to renounce her faith and was executed for her beliefs. Giving a child the name Laura was a way to pay homage to this brave woman and to instill similar values of strength and faith in the child.
The Romantic Laura
In the 19th century, the name Laura became popularized by the famous novel “Villette” written by Charlotte Bronte. In the book, the main character’s name is Lucy Snowe, but she is referred to as “Laura” by one of the male characters. The novel was a romantic one and the name Laura became associated with romance and femininity.
The Popularity of Laura
The name Laura has been a popular choice for girls for centuries. It was consistently in the top 50 names for girls in the United States from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s. Although it’s not as popular as it used to be, it’s still a classic and timeless name that never went out of style. In 2021, it was the 103rd most popular name for girls in the US.
Conclusion
The name Laura has a rich history, from its origins in ancient Rome to its association with Saint Laura, to its romantic associations in the 19th century. It has been a popular name for girls for centuries and continues to be a timeless classic. If you’re considering naming your daughter Laura, you can be sure that she will be in good company with many strong, victorious, and romantic women.
Infographic of Laura name meaning, which is From the Latin term laurus, Laura means laurel.
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Laura Name Popularity
How popular is the name Laura? Here’s everything we know.
| Year |
Rank |
# Births |
% Births |
| 1910 |
53 |
1,819 |
0.5166% |
| 1911 |
57 |
1,768 |
0.4748% |
| 1912 |
57 |
2,403 |
0.4765% |
| 1913 |
62 |
2,451 |
0.4323% |
| 1914 |
59 |
3,055 |
0.4384% |
| 1915 |
61 |
3,720 |
0.4094% |
| 1916 |
64 |
3,738 |
0.387% |
| 1917 |
65 |
3,797 |
0.3795% |
| 1918 |
63 |
4,061 |
0.3784% |
| 1919 |
71 |
3,658 |
0.3493% |
| 1920 |
63 |
4,169 |
0.375% |
| 1921 |
71 |
3,992 |
0.3486% |
| 1922 |
68 |
3,900 |
0.3501% |
| 1923 |
73 |
3,706 |
0.3309% |
| 1924 |
72 |
3,822 |
0.3291% |
| 1925 |
75 |
3,583 |
0.317% |
| 1926 |
81 |
3,373 |
0.3067% |
| 1927 |
81 |
3,335 |
0.3013% |
| 1928 |
83 |
3,134 |
0.2929% |
| 1929 |
89 |
2,932 |
0.2831% |
| 1930 |
89 |
2,903 |
0.2779% |
| 1931 |
89 |
2,664 |
0.2699% |
| 1932 |
88 |
2,745 |
0.2778% |
| 1933 |
91 |
2,520 |
0.2705% |
| 1934 |
96 |
2,433 |
0.2517% |
| 1935 |
99 |
2,354 |
0.2422% |
| 1936 |
106 |
2,248 |
0.2334% |
| 1937 |
105 |
2,349 |
0.2384% |
| 1938 |
108 |
2,432 |
0.2376% |
| 1939 |
108 |
2,364 |
0.2324% |
| 1940 |
107 |
2,339 |
0.2201% |
| 1941 |
115 |
2,261 |
0.2009% |
| 1942 |
115 |
2,399 |
0.19% |
| 1943 |
117 |
2,381 |
0.1824% |
| 1944 |
118 |
2,237 |
0.1805% |
| 1945 |
76 |
3,586 |
0.294% |
| 1946 |
75 |
4,468 |
0.3028% |
| 1947 |
74 |
5,052 |
0.3027% |
| 1948 |
73 |
4,901 |
0.307% |
| 1949 |
65 |
5,385 |
0.3348% |
| 1950 |
63 |
5,724 |
0.3555% |
| 1951 |
60 |
6,467 |
0.3814% |
| 1952 |
53 |
7,187 |
0.4117% |
| 1953 |
51 |
7,631 |
0.4312% |
| 1954 |
45 |
8,715 |
0.4767% |
| 1955 |
41 |
9,008 |
0.4897% |
| 1956 |
34 |
10,568 |
0.5595% |
| 1957 |
31 |
12,175 |
0.6327% |
| 1958 |
29 |
13,507 |
0.7147% |
| 1959 |
30 |
14,530 |
0.7648% |
| 1960 |
24 |
17,061 |
0.9004% |
| 1961 |
21 |
17,897 |
0.948% |
| 1962 |
21 |
17,493 |
0.9528% |
| 1963 |
16 |
18,507 |
1.031% |
| 1964 |
14 |
18,972 |
1.0778% |
| 1965 |
17 |
16,215 |
0.9916% |
| 1966 |
19 |
15,550 |
0.996% |
| 1967 |
15 |
15,817 |
1.0423% |
| 1968 |
11 |
18,744 |
1.2483% |
| 1969 |
10 |
17,920 |
1.1632% |
| 1970 |
13 |
16,494 |
1.0364% |
| 1971 |
16 |
13,874 |
0.9233% |
| 1972 |
17 |
11,771 |
0.8642% |
| 1973 |
19 |
10,341 |
0.7977% |
| 1974 |
21 |
9,718 |
0.7477% |
| 1975 |
20 |
10,312 |
0.8025% |
| 1976 |
20 |
11,253 |
0.8731% |
| 1977 |
20 |
11,320 |
0.8398% |
| 1978 |
19 |
11,243 |
0.8363% |
| 1979 |
20 |
11,886 |
0.843% |
| 1980 |
21 |
12,917 |
0.8834% |
| 1981 |
21 |
13,292 |
0.9042% |
| 1982 |
22 |
13,307 |
0.8905% |
| 1983 |
23 |
13,196 |
0.8942% |
| 1984 |
19 |
14,813 |
0.9958% |
| 1985 |
14 |
16,000 |
1.0541% |
| 1986 |
20 |
14,175 |
0.9391% |
| 1987 |
23 |
13,029 |
0.8538% |
| 1988 |
23 |
12,117 |
0.7775% |
| 1989 |
25 |
11,742 |
0.7276% |
| 1990 |
29 |
10,910 |
0.6582% |
| 1991 |
35 |
9,644 |
0.5917% |
| 1992 |
38 |
8,307 |
0.5204% |
| 1993 |
43 |
7,253 |
0.4652% |
| 1994 |
46 |
6,858 |
0.4469% |
| 1995 |
56 |
6,007 |
0.3986% |
| 1996 |
66 |
5,226 |
0.349% |
| 1997 |
66 |
4,848 |
0.3278% |
| 1998 |
74 |
4,290 |
0.2866% |
| 1999 |
81 |
3,872 |
0.2586% |
| 2000 |
85 |
3,730 |
0.2442% |
| 2001 |
86 |
3,552 |
0.2357% |
| 2002 |
106 |
3,135 |
0.2092% |
| 2003 |
124 |
2,736 |
0.1798% |
| 2004 |
129 |
2,544 |
0.1669% |
| 2005 |
146 |
2,335 |
0.1527% |
| 2006 |
172 |
2,048 |
0.1308% |
| 2007 |
184 |
1,816 |
0.1151% |
| 2008 |
214 |
1,571 |
0.1016% |
| 2009 |
233 |
1,383 |
0.0925% |
| 2010 |
272 |
1,185 |
0.0822% |
| 2011 |
266 |
1,155 |
0.0811% |
| 2012 |
274 |
1,115 |
0.0782% |
| 2013 |
315 |
994 |
0.0698% |
| 2014 |
310 |
1,015 |
0.0697% |
| 2015 |
315 |
982 |
0.0675% |
| 2016 |
335 |
931 |
0.0646% |
| 2017 |
333 |
903 |
0.0647% |
| 2018 |
331 |
903 |
0.0657% |
| 2019 |
326 |
917 |
0.0677% |
| 2020 |
365 |
800 |
0.0629% |
| 2021 |
393 |
704 |
0.0576% |
District of Columbia (DC)
Data via SSA.gov.
Names Like Laura
If you like Laura, you’ll love these other names like Laura.
What names are variants of Laura?
Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Laura.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
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Laralyn
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
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Laranca
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
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Larea
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Lari
|
Cheerful, lighthearted; the bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Lauraine
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Lauralee
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Laurana
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Laure
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Laureen
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Laurel
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Laurella
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Lauren
|
Laurel
|
English
|
|
|
|
Laurena
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Laurence
|
|
French
|
|
|
|
Laurene
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Laurentia
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Laurentine
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Laurestine
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Lauretha
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Lauretta
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Laurette
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Lauri
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Lauriane
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Laurianne
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Laurice
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Lauricia
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Laurie
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Laurina
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Laurinda
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Laurine
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Laurita
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Laurnea
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Lavra
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Lawra
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Lollie
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Lolly
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Lora
|
A variant short form of Leonora and Laura.
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Loree
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Loreen
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Loren
|
Laurel
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Lorena
|
Laurel
|
Spanish
|
|
|
|
Lorene
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Lorenza
|
From Laurentum
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Loretta
|
“The knowing one,” from the Middle English lore, traditional learning.
|
Italian
|
|
|
|
Lorette
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Lorey
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Lori
|
“The lazy one,” in allusion to the loris, a slow-moving nocturnal lemur, from the Flemish lorrias.
|
Modern
|
|
|
|
Lorie
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Lorinda
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Lorine
|
The bay, or laurel plant; from Lorraine
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Lorita
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Lorna
|
"The lovelorn,” from the Anglo-Saxon losen, to lose.
|
Scottish
|
|
|
|
Lorretta
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Lorrette
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Lorri
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Lorrie
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Lorry
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Lory
|
The bay, or laurel plant
|
Latin
|
|
|
What names sound like Laura?
If you like how Laura sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Laura.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
Lara
|
Protection
|
Latin
|
|
|
What names are similar to Laura?
Find a name that’s like Laura, but just a little bit different.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
Lorelle
|
A variant of Lorella.
|
Latin
|
|
|
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Lorraine
|
From Lorraine
|
French
|
|
|
Lists With Laura
Find inspiration in these baby girl name lists featuring the name Laura.
