Laura Name Meaning

Helen Doanna

By Helen Doanna

Lastest Updated July 9, 2024
Home » Baby Names » Laura Name Meaning

Fact: Numerous songs feature the name Laura, including “Laura” by Billy Joel, “Tell Laura I Love Her” by Ray Peterson, and “Laura’s Theme” from the film “Doctor Zhivago”​

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A Deep Dive

Laura Overview

Meaning

Bay laurel, laurel

Gender

Girl

Origin

Latin

Etymology

Derived from the Latin word “laurus”

Pronunciation

/ˈlɔːrə/

Popularity

Laura is a classic name with widespread use in Europe, the Americas, and beyond. In the USA, Laura was ranked as the 365th most popular name for girls in 2023​

Syllable

2 syllables

Length

5 letters

Numerology

8 (Practical, Ambitious, Materialistic)

Name Styles

Classic, Traditional, Vintage

Associated Traits

Elegant, dependable, artistic, graceful

Spiritual, Religious, or Cultural Significance

Laura symbolizes victory and honor, derived from the laurel wreath worn by Roman emperors and Olympic athletes.

Name Day

January 22nd (France), June 17th (Hungary), October 19th (Italy), October 21st (Sweden)
A Deep Dive

Laura Variations in Different Cultures

Popular Variations

Lauren, Lorelei, Laurel, Liora

Common Nicknames

Lara, Lulu, Laurie, Lolo, Laury

Diminutives

Lau, Laur, Lala, Lari, La

Famous People

  • Laura Ingalls Wilder
    (American Author)
  • Laura Bush
    (American First Lady)
  • Laura Linney
    (American Actress)
  • Laura Pausini
    (Italian Singer)
  • Laura Ashley
    (Welsh Designer)

Pop Culture Icons and Works

  • Laura Palmer
    ("Twin Peaks," TV Series)
  • Laura Ingalls Wilder
    ("Little House on the Prairie," TV Series)
  • "Laura"
    (Film)
  • Laura Kinney
    ("Logan," Film)

Places

  • Laura River
    (Queensland, Australia)
  • Laura Bay
    (South Australia, Australia)
  • Laura Town
    (South Australia, Australia)

What Is the Meaning of Laura?

The name Laura means “bay laurel” or “laurel tree.” It often symbolizes victory and honor because laurel leaves were used to crown champions in ancient Greece and Rome.

What Is the Origin of The Name Laura?

Laura has Latin roots, derived from the word “laurus,” which means “laurel tree.” In Roman culture, the laurel tree was a significant symbol of triumph and achievement.

Laura Name Popularity

Popularity Chart of the Name Laura in the U.S. over the Years

United States flagUnited States#3892021#3632022#3652023
Top 3 Rankings#101969#111968#131970

Annual Statistics Breakdown for Laura

YearName RankingNumber of BirthsBirth Rate (%)
2023365
(-2 from 2022)
837
(-36 from 2022)
0.04785
2022363
(+26 from 2021)
873
(+69 from 2021)
0.04869
2021389
(-32 from 2020)
804
(-64 from 2020)
0.04488
2020357
(-20 from 2019)
868
(-83 from 2019)
0.04910
2019337
(+2 from 2018)
951
(+6 from 2018)
0.05183
2018339
No change from 2017
945
(-3 from 2017)
0.05082
2017339
(+5 from 2016)
948
(-20 from 2016)
0.05018
2016344
(-24 from 2015)
968
(-48 from 2015)
0.05000
2015320
(-5 from 2014)
1016
(-36 from 2014)
0.05208
2014315
No change from 2013
1052
(+25 from 2013)
0.05377
2013315
(-36 from 2012)
1027
(-119 from 2012)
0.05328
2012279
(-6 from 2011)
1146
(-24 from 2011)
0.05909
2011273
(-2 from 2010)
1170
(-43 from 2010)
0.06038
2010271
(-37 from 2009)
1213
(-199 from 2009)
0.06187
2009234
(-19 from 2008)
1412
(-181 from 2008)
0.06973
2008215
(-32 from 2007)
1593
(-249 from 2007)
0.07648
2007183
(-11 from 2006)
1842
(-223 from 2006)
0.08703
2006172
(-25 from 2005)
2065
(-288 from 2005)
0.09878
2005147
(-18 from 2004)
2353
(-203 from 2004)
0.11594
2004129
(-5 from 2003)
2556
(-194 from 2003)
0.12667
2003124
(-19 from 2002)
2750
(-406 from 2002)
0.13706
2002105
(-19 from 2001)
3156
(-407 from 2001)
0.15980
200186
(-1 from 2000)
3563
(-176 from 2000)
0.17986
200085
(-4 from 1999)
3739
(-138 from 1999)
0.18735
199981
(-7 from 1998)
3877
(-420 from 1998)
0.19915
199874
(-8 from 1997)
4297
(-553 from 1997)
0.22167
199766
No change from 1996
4850
(-377 from 1996)
0.25403
199666
(-11 from 1995)
5227
(-781 from 1995)
0.27263
199555
(-9 from 1994)
6008
(-852 from 1994)
0.31266
199446
(-3 from 1993)
6860
(-400 from 1993)
0.35191
199343
(-5 from 1992)
7260
(-1051 from 1992)
0.36824
199238
(-3 from 1991)
8311
(-1333 from 1991)
0.41458
199135
(-6 from 1990)
9644
(-1270 from 1990)
0.47427
199029
(-4 from 1989)
10914
(-826 from 1989)
0.53125
198925
(-2 from 1988)
11740
(-387 from 1988)
0.58930
198823
(-1 from 1987)
12127
(-905 from 1987)
0.63059
198722
(-2 from 1986)
13032
(-1141 from 1986)
0.69533
198620
(-6 from 1985)
14173
(-1830 from 1985)
0.76798
198514
(+5 from 1984)
16003
(+1185 from 1984)
0.86675
198419
(+4 from 1983)
14818
(+1621 from 1983)
0.82171
198323
(-1 from 1982)
13197
(-112 from 1982)
0.73740
198222
(-1 from 1981)
13309
(+18 from 1981)
0.73357
198121
No change from 1980
13291
(+374 from 1980)
0.74313
198021
(-1 from 1979)
12917
(+1037 from 1979)
0.72541
197920
(-1 from 1978)
11880
(+637 from 1978)
0.68938
197819
(+1 from 1977)
11243
(-76 from 1977)
0.68393
197720
No change from 1976
11319
(+66 from 1976)
0.68808
197620
No change from 1975
11253
(+943 from 1975)
0.71589
197520
(+1 from 1974)
10310
(+594 from 1974)
0.66053
197421
(-2 from 1973)
9716
(-626 from 1973)
0.62033
197319
(-2 from 1972)
10342
(-1435 from 1972)
0.66546
197217
(-1 from 1971)
11777
(-2097 from 1971)
0.73033
197116
(-3 from 1970)
13874
(-2618 from 1970)
0.79163
197013
(-3 from 1969)
16492
(-1429 from 1969)
0.90029
196910
(+1 from 1968)
17921
(-821 from 1968)
1.01666
196811
(+4 from 1967)
18742
(+2923 from 1967)
1.09623
196715
(+4 from 1966)
15819
(+267 from 1966)
0.92140
196619
(-2 from 1965)
15552
(-664 from 1965)
0.88576
196517
(-3 from 1964)
16216
(-2753 from 1964)
0.88735
196414
(+2 from 1963)
18969
(+458 from 1963)
0.96911
196316
(+5 from 1962)
18511
(+1022 from 1962)
0.93110
196221
No change from 1961
17489
(-411 from 1961)
0.86285
196121
(+3 from 1960)
17900
(+838 from 1960)
0.86176
196024
(+6 from 1959)
17062
(+2535 from 1959)
0.82039
195930
(-1 from 1958)
14527
(+1012 from 1958)
0.69888
195829
(+2 from 1957)
13515
(+1338 from 1957)
0.65424
195731
(+3 from 1956)
12177
(+1607 from 1956)
0.58037
195634
(+7 from 1955)
10570
(+1560 from 1955)
0.51322
195541
(+4 from 1954)
9010
(+291 from 1954)
0.44940
195445
(+6 from 1953)
8719
(+1091 from 1953)
0.43796
195351
(+2 from 1952)
7628
(+440 from 1952)
0.39533
195253
(+7 from 1951)
7188
(+722 from 1951)
0.37792
195160
(+3 from 1950)
6466
(+741 from 1950)
0.35003
195063
(+2 from 1949)
5725
(+341 from 1949)
0.32556
194965
(+8 from 1948)
5384
(+483 from 1948)
0.30669
194873
(+1 from 1947)
4901
(-150 from 1947)
0.28123
194774
(+1 from 1946)
5051
(+573 from 1946)
0.27785
194675
(+2 from 1945)
4478
(+889 from 1945)
0.27764
194577
(+42 from 1944)
3589
(+1345 from 1944)
0.26662
1944119
(-2 from 1943)
2244
(-147 from 1943)
0.16421
1943117
(-2 from 1942)
2391
(-18 from 1942)
0.16657
1942115
No change from 1941
2409
(+136 from 1941)
0.17325
1941115
(-7 from 1940)
2273
(-77 from 1940)
0.18242
1940108
(-1 from 1939)
2350
(-25 from 1939)
0.19893
1939107
(+1 from 1938)
2375
(-68 from 1938)
0.20942
1938108
(-3 from 1937)
2443
(+80 from 1937)
0.21403
1937105
(+1 from 1936)
2363
(+108 from 1936)
0.21446
1936106
(-5 from 1935)
2255
(-103 from 1935)
0.20927
1935101
(-5 from 1934)
2358
(-80 from 1934)
0.21697
193496
(-5 from 1933)
2438
(-98 from 1933)
0.22525
193391
(-3 from 1932)
2536
(-212 from 1932)
0.24244
193288
(+1 from 1931)
2748
(+80 from 1931)
0.24840
193189
No change from 1930
2668
(-241 from 1930)
0.24173
193089
(+1 from 1929)
2909
(-27 from 1929)
0.24939
192990
(-7 from 1928)
2936
(-210 from 1928)
0.25364
192883
(-2 from 1927)
3146
(-192 from 1927)
0.26315
192781
No change from 1926
3338
(-35 from 1926)
0.26997
192681
(-6 from 1925)
3373
(-215 from 1925)
0.27419
192575
(-3 from 1924)
3588
(-241 from 1924)
0.28407
192472
(+1 from 1923)
3829
(+119 from 1923)
0.29552
192373
(-5 from 1922)
3710
(-192 from 1922)
0.29622
192268
(+3 from 1921)
3902
(-96 from 1921)
0.31277
192171
(-8 from 1920)
3998
(-173 from 1920)
0.31241
192063
(+8 from 1919)
4171
(+508 from 1919)
0.33528
191971
(-7 from 1918)
3663
(-399 from 1918)
0.31184
191864
(+1 from 1917)
4062
(+255 from 1917)
0.33784
191765
(-1 from 1916)
3807
(+63 from 1916)
0.33879
191664
(-3 from 1915)
3744
(+21 from 1915)
0.34484
191561
(-2 from 1914)
3723
(+664 from 1914)
0.36362
191459
(+3 from 1913)
3059
(+605 from 1913)
0.38399
191362
(-5 from 1912)
2454
(+41 from 1912)
0.37471
191257
No change from 1911
2413
(+623 from 1911)
0.41127
191157
(-4 from 1910)
1790
(-44 from 1910)
0.40515
191053
(+2 from 1909)
1834
(+310 from 1909)
0.43716
190955
(-3 from 1908)
1524
(-34 from 1908)
0.41402
190852
(-1 from 1907)
1558
(-63 from 1907)
0.43946
190751
(+1 from 1906)
1621
(+154 from 1906)
0.48039
190652
(-3 from 1905)
1467
(-99 from 1905)
0.46804
190549
(-2 from 1904)
1566
(+58 from 1904)
0.50538
190447
(-4 from 1903)
1508
(+5 from 1903)
0.51567
190343
No change from 1902
1503
(-56 from 1902)
0.54027
190243
(+1 from 1901)
1559
(+157 from 1901)
0.55613
190144
(+1 from 1900)
1402
(-422 from 1900)
0.55147
190045
(-2 from 1899)
1824
(+352 from 1899)
0.57406
189943
(-5 from 1898)
1472
(-296 from 1898)
0.59477
189838
(+1 from 1897)
1768
(+183 from 1897)
0.64491
189739
(-2 from 1896)
1585
(-80 from 1896)
0.63840
189637
(-1 from 1895)
1665
(+22 from 1895)
0.66073
189536
(-4 from 1894)
1643
(-87 from 1894)
0.66490
189432
(-1 from 1893)
1730
(+47 from 1893)
0.73314
189331
(-2 from 1892)
1683
(-61 from 1892)
0.74723
189229
No change from 1891
1744
(+235 from 1891)
0.77541
189129
(-2 from 1890)
1509
(-125 from 1890)
0.76768
189027
(-2 from 1889)
1634
(+67 from 1889)
0.81026
188925
No change from 1888
1567
(-57 from 1888)
0.82815
188825
(-3 from 1887)
1624
(+260 from 1887)
0.85724
188722
No change from 1886
1364
(-8 from 1886)
0.87760
188622
(-1 from 1885)
1372
(+47 from 1885)
0.89245
188521
No change from 1884
1325
(+79 from 1884)
0.93345
188421
(-2 from 1883)
1246
(+63 from 1883)
0.90562
188319
(-2 from 1882)
1183
(+32 from 1882)
0.98534
188217
(+2 from 1881)
1151
(+189 from 1881)
0.99487
188119
(-2 from 1880)
962
(-50 from 1880)
0.97314
188017
First SSA data recorded
1012
First SSA data recorded
1.03683

American States Popularity Rankings for Laura

(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Number of Births )

California (CA)

California (CA) flagCalifornia (CA)#5242021#4892022#4982023

New York (NY)

New York (NY) flagNew York (NY)#4182021#3242022#4882023

Texas (TX)

Texas (TX) flagTexas (TX)#4182021#3442022#4032023

Illinois (IL)

Illinois (IL) flagIllinois (IL)#4332021#4252022#3712023

Ohio (OH)

Ohio (OH) flagOhio (OH)#4532021#2402022#3662023

Pennsylvania (PA)

Pennsylvania (PA) flagPennsylvania (PA)#2362021#1912022#1722023

Michigan (MI)

Michigan (MI) flagMichigan (MI)#3992021#5192022#4572023

New Jersey (NJ)

New Jersey (NJ) flagNew Jersey (NJ)#4482021#3222022#3782023

Florida (FL)

Florida (FL) flagFlorida (FL)#3152021#2912022#2362023

Massachusetts (MA)

Massachusetts (MA) flagMassachusetts (MA)#1212021#922022#1192023

North Carolina (NC)

North Carolina (NC) flagNorth Carolina (NC)#4442021#5082022#5552023

Indiana (IN)

Indiana (IN) flagIndiana (IN)#4982021#3192022#4402023

Georgia (GA)

Georgia (GA) flagGeorgia (GA)#3862021#5242022#4932023

Missouri (MO)

Missouri (MO) flagMissouri (MO)#5082021#4282022#5362023

Virginia (VA)

Virginia (VA) flagVirginia (VA)#4742021#4892022#3642023

Wisconsin (WI)

Wisconsin (WI) flagWisconsin (WI)#4942021#4892022#3142023

Minnesota (MN)

Minnesota (MN) flagMinnesota (MN)#6072021#3982022#4802023

Tennessee (TN)

Tennessee (TN) flagTennessee (TN)#2842021#4862022#2752023

Kentucky (KY)

Kentucky (KY) flagKentucky (KY)#2532021#2152022#3732023

Alabama (AL)

Alabama (AL) flagAlabama (AL)#2892021#5712022#3352023

Louisiana (LA)

Louisiana (LA) flagLouisiana (LA)#7052021#6992022#3572023

Maryland (MD)

Maryland (MD) flagMaryland (MD)#6162021#7732022#7332023

Washington (WA)

Washington (WA) flagWashington (WA)#3912021#3122022#3342023

Connecticut (CT)

Connecticut (CT) flagConnecticut (CT)#3322021#2542022#2802023

Iowa (IA)

Iowa (IA) flagIowa (IA)#4592020#4702021#4082023

South Carolina (SC)

South Carolina (SC) flagSouth Carolina (SC)#3352021#3912022#4482023

Mississippi (MS)

Mississippi (MS) flagMississippi (MS)#2622020#2502021#2492023

Colorado (CO)

Colorado (CO) flagColorado (CO)#6022021#6082022#4942023

Oklahoma (OK)

Oklahoma (OK) flagOklahoma (OK)#5842021#5902022#5132023

Arizona (AZ)

Arizona (AZ) flagArizona (AZ)#4922021#3842022#3652023

Kansas (KS)

Kansas (KS) flagKansas (KS)#3682021#5672022#4702023

Arkansas (AR)

Arkansas (AR) flagArkansas (AR)#6402021#4622022#4532023

Oregon (OR)

Oregon (OR) flagOregon (OR)#7052021#5072022#4872023

West Virginia (WV)

West Virginia (WV) flagWest Virginia (WV)#3842017#3552019#3632022

Nebraska (NE)

Nebraska (NE) flagNebraska (NE)#2102018#4012019#2922023

Utah (UT)

Utah (UT) flagUtah (UT)#4382021#3822022#4632023

District of Columbia (DC)

District of Columbia (DC) flagDistrict of Columbia (DC)#2812015#2202017#1912021

New Mexico (NM)

New Mexico (NM) flagNew Mexico (NM)#2922016#2482018#3742019

Maine (ME)

Maine (ME) flagMaine (ME)#1742012#1482013#2422015

Idaho (ID)

Idaho (ID) flagIdaho (ID)#3612019#2612021#4172022

Rhode Island (RI)

Rhode Island (RI) flagRhode Island (RI)#1822008#1712010#1392011

South Dakota (SD)

South Dakota (SD) flagSouth Dakota (SD)#1962011#2512013#2512015

New Hampshire (NH)

New Hampshire (NH) flagNew Hampshire (NH)#1822010#2552011#2462022

Montana (MT)

Montana (MT) flagMontana (MT)#2222010#1462016#2242018

North Dakota (ND)

North Dakota (ND) flagNorth Dakota (ND)#1362002#1292003#1782012

Hawaii (HI)

Hawaii (HI) flagHawaii (HI)#2262000#1772001#2742012

Delaware (DE)

Delaware (DE) flagDelaware (DE)#1452005#2242006#1222008

Nevada (NV)

Nevada (NV) flagNevada (NV)#2982018#4202019#4132021

Vermont (VT)

Vermont (VT) flagVermont (VT)#522004#1202006#1142010

Alaska (AK)

Alaska (AK) flagAlaska (AK)#2062015#952016#1792019

Wyoming (WY)

Wyoming (WY) flagWyoming (WY)#1112000#1022003#1062012

Popularity Rankings for Laura in other Countries and American Territories

(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Rankings)

Popularity in Estonia

Estonia flagEstonia#22001-2005#12006-2010#42011-2015

Popularity in Poland

Poland flagPoland#62021#42022#32023

Popularity in Austria

Austria flagAustria#102020#72021#72022

Popularity in Switzerland

Switzerland flagSwitzerland#102020#192021#282022

Popularity in Latvia

Latvia flagLatvia#112010#222015#342020

Popularity in Hungary

Hungary flagHungary#122021#112022#112023

Popularity in Portugal

Portugal flagPortugal#392018#162019#122020

Popularity in Lithuania

Lithuania flagLithuania#162001#132002#192003

Popularity in Slovakia

Slovakia flagSlovakia#142021#162022#132023

Popularity in Catalonia, Spain

Catalonia, Spain flagCatalonia, Spain#152009#142010

Popularity in Croatia

Croatia flagCroatia#252021#192022#172023

Popularity in Denmark

Denmark flagDenmark#202021#252022#29First half of 2023

Popularity in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan flagKazakhstan#242000#302001

Popularity in Galicia, Spain

Galicia, Spain flagGalicia, Spain#322020#342021#462022

Popularity in Chile

Chile flagChile#432019#372020#352021

Popularity in Germany

Germany flagGermany#352021#412022#462023

Popularity in Uruguay

Uruguay flagUruguay#552021#402022#532023

Popularity in Spain

Spain flagSpain#432020#522021#562022

Popularity in Finland

Finland flagFinland#452010

Popularity in Iceland

Iceland flagIceland#832021#452022#962023

Popularity in Italy

Italy flagItaly#472012#502013#502014

Popularity in Quebec, Canada

Quebec, Canada flagQuebec, Canada#542020#592021#642022

Popularity in Belgium

Belgium flagBelgium#672020#572021#1112022

Popularity in Australia (NSW)

Australia (NSW) flagAustralia (NSW)#752007#742008#902009

Popularity in Basque Country, Spain

Basque Country, Spain flagBasque Country, Spain#762016#922017#882020

Popularity in Ireland

Ireland flagIreland#782021#912022#1032023

Popularity in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina flagBosnia and Herzegovina#802017#862021#872022

Popularity in Sweden

Sweden flagSweden#942022#862023

Popularity in Argentina

Argentina flagArgentina#1031999#1492005#1952007

Popularity in Norway

Norway flagNorway#1042021#1102022#1112023

Popularity in France

France flagFrance#1412019#1582020#1802021

Popularity in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico flagPuerto Rico#1632021#2212022#2022023

Popularity in Scotland

Scotland flagScotland#2052021#1732022#2282023

Popularity in England and Wales

England and Wales flagEngland and Wales#1762019#1782020#1802021

Popularity in Greenland

Greenland flagGreenland#2002019#1842020#1822021

Popularity in Canada

Canada flagCanada#2462021#1882022#3342023

Popularity in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland flagNorthern Ireland#1902021#2432022#2372023

Popularity in New Zealand

New Zealand flagNew Zealand#2032021#2842022#3172023

Popularity in Mexico

Mexico flagMexico#3062020#2582021

Source: Social Security Administration (SSA) and Other National Sources

Is Laura a Name for Boys or Girls?

Laura is typically for girls. Its historical roots and feminine associations make it a common choice for baby girls.

Variants, Nicknames, Diminutives, and Ideal Middle Names for Laura