- Laura Name Origin: Latin
- Pronunciation: lawr-ah
- See what 11 people think about Laura
Laura Name Meaning
Laura comes from the Latin term “laurus” means “laurel.”
Origins of the Name Laura
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.
History of the Name Laura
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.
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.
Popularity of the Name 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.
Final Thoughts on the Name Laura
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.
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% |
| 2022 | 364 | 835 | 0.0633% |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laralyn |
The bay, or laurel plant |
Latin |
||
| Laranca |
The bay, or laurel plant |
Latin |
||
| 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 |
|
| Larra |
Protection |
Latin |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lura |
German |
|
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 |
|
|
| Lorraine |
From Lorraine |
French |
|
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Find inspiration in these baby girl name lists featuring the name Laura.
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11 Comments
Deanna
Laura is a classic name. I think it is beautiful pronounced “Lawr-ah”. I don’t like the harder sounding “Lora“.
Teeto
My only girl didn’t think much of her name, considering it a name for only female writers , as most Laura’s she knew are writers (aren’t writers great, intellectual and creative people!), until I showed her the origin and meaning of the name. She instantly fell in love with her name and got excited to be associated with the strength, victory, success and romance that are attributes of the name, the exciting variants and the unique characters with that name (including the writers!)
Laura
I’ve never really cared much for my name. My grandmother’s name is
Annielaura. My mom’s name is Anna. I always felt they just stuck me with Laura. But, as I’m researching it. It really does fit who I am.
Laura
Love my daughters so very much! Oldest one has a daughter and a son! Middle daughter has a son and a daughter! Middle daughter has six beautiful kittens! Her name is LAURA! I am writing these stories for all three! Started with the youngest!!!
Nancy Plahutnik
I have three beautiful grown up daughters! Linda. Lisa. Laura.
Jhaala
Her name is actually Ja’Laura we chose it because we liked Laura but both of our names start with a j
Laura
I love it. Very unique
Laura A
You guys are crazy. ?? That’s a funny way to name, I kinda like it.?. I’ve just seen above that the pronunciation of my or our name is lawr-ah, but to me, it’s Lora
Rachel
not a big fan of this name tbh.
Lou
Gorgeous name so cute and feminine
Katie
Family name