"laurel tree"
Origin: Latin (laurus)
Language: English
Laura
Pronunciation: [ l-AWR-uh ]
Does Laura flow with your last name?
A laurel-crowned classic that inspired Petrarch's sonnets for 40 years
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Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
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Nicknames
Nicknames for Laura
3 shorthand options for every setting
Meaning & Origin
"symbol of victory and honor"
Origin: Roman culture
Language: Latin
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The Story of Laura
Laura derives from the Latin laurus meaning laurel tree. In ancient Rome, laurel wreaths were given to victorious generals, emperors, and athletes — a symbol of honor that survives in the word laureate. The name gained its greatest romantic fame through Francesco Petrarch, the 14th-century Italian poet who fell in love with a woman named Laura (possibly Laura de Noves of Avignon) and wrote his Canzoniere sonnets in her honor — 366 poems across 40 years, virtually inventing the tradition of romantic lyric poetry in the process.
Laura was extremely popular in the English-speaking world from the 1960s through the 1980s, ranking in the US top 20 for most of that period. It has declined since the 1990s but remains a timeless classic. In Italy and Spain, Laura remains consistently in the top 20 female names.
Petrarch's idealized beloved Laura became one of the most iconic figures in Western literature, inspiring centuries of poets to write to an idealized beloved. Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House books gave the name a wholesome American pioneer identity. The name exists comfortably in both high literary culture and everyday American life.
Historical Record
Laura first appeared in US Social Security records in 1950.
Over 629,512 babies have been named Laura in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Laura is past its peak , currently ranked #358 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Petrarch wrote 366 poems to his muse Laura over 40 years, pioneering the sonnet form that Shakespeare and countless others later adopted
- Laura has been in the top baby name charts in Italy virtually every decade since the Renaissance — nearly 600 years of continuous popularity
Laura in Other Languages
French
Laure
German
Laura
Italian
Laura
Spanish
Laura
Romanian
Laura
Portuguese
Laura
Popularity Over Time
#358
Current Rank
Stable
Trend
Peaked 1969
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Laura
L
Laura Pausini
Musician
1974
Italian singer-songwriter; one of the best-selling Italian artists in history and a major figure in Latin pop
L
Laura Dern
Actor
1966
American actress and Oscar winner known for Jurassic Park, Wild, and Marriage Story; daughter of actors Bruce Dern and D...
American actress and Oscar winner known for Jurassic Park, Wild, and Marriage Story; daughter of actors Bruce Dern and Diane Ladd
L
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Writer
1867
American author of the Little House on the Prairie series, based on her own childhood on the American frontier
P
Petrarch's Laura
Other
The idealized beloved of Italian poet Francesco Petrarch, who inspired his Canzoniere (1327-1368) — the most influential...
The idealized beloved of Italian poet Francesco Petrarch, who inspired his Canzoniere (1327-1368) — the most influential collection of love poetry in Western literary history
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See all →Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #358
- Total SSA Count
- 868
- Cultural Origins
- English Italian Spanish German American
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Laur
Laurie
Laurel
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
Middle Names
Middle Names for Laura
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
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Also a Boy Name
Laura is also used as a boy name, ranked #28047.
View Laura as a boy name →Similar Names
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Frequently Asked Questions About Laura
What does the name Laura mean?
"laurel tree" (from Latin (laurus)). "symbol of victory and honor" (from Roman culture). Laura derives from the Latin laurus meaning laurel tree. In ancient Rome, laurel wreaths were given to victorious generals, emperors, and athletes — a symbol of honor that survives in the word laureate. The name gained its greatest romantic fame through Francesco Petrarch, the 14th-century Italian poet who fell in love with a woman named Laura (possibly Laura de Noves of Avignon) and wrote his Canzoniere sonnets in her honor — 366 poems across 40 years, virtually inventing the tradition of romantic lyric poetry in the process.
What is the origin of the name Laura?
Laura has Latin (laurus), Roman culture, English, Italian, Spanish, German, and American origins. In Latin (laurus), it means "laurel tree". In Roman culture, it means "symbol of victory and honor".
Is Laura a boy or girl name?
Laura is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #358. As a boy name, it is ranked #28047. Laura is more commonly used as a girl name.
How do you pronounce Laura?
Laura is pronounced l-AWR-uh.
How popular is the name Laura?
Laura is currently ranked #358 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Laura?
Common nicknames for Laura include Laur, Laurie, and Laurel.
What are good middle names for Laura?
Popular middle name pairings include Laura Anne, Laura Jane, Laura Elizabeth, Laura Marie, Laura Grace, Laura Louise, and Laura Kate.
What are good sibling names for Laura?
Names that pair well with Laura as siblings include Claire, Megan, Michael, David, Susan, Robert, and Catherine.
How many syllables does Laura have?
Laura has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Laura a common or rare name?
Laura is a popular name, ranked #358 for girls. It is well-known without being overused.
What girl names are similar to Laura?
About the Name Laura
Laura is a girl name with English, Italian, Spanish, German, and American origins . The name means "laurel tree" in Latin (laurus) .
Is Laura a boy or girl name? Laura is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #358 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #28,047. Laura is more commonly used as a girl name.
Laura is currently ranked #358 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Laura has 2 syllables and is pronounced l-AWR-uh, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Laura include Laur, Laurie, and Laurel. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Laura include Lauren, Laurel, Lauryn, Laurie . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
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Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis