LAURA  

Gender: F
Origin: Latin
Meaning: "bay laurel"

Popularity in 2008: #215

A hauntingly evocative perennial, never trendy, never dated, feminine without being fussy, with literary links stretching back to Dante: a more solid choice than any of its more decorative enhancements.

Variations:
Lorie, Lauretta, Loris, Loren, Laurina, Lauriane, Lauralee, Lorry, Lorinda, Laurestine, Lori, Lorri, Laureen, Lolly, Lorretta, Lorrie, Lauretha, Laranca, Lorena, Laurena, Laurentine, Loretta, Lorette, Loreen, Lorey, Laurence, Lorine, Larea, Laurianne, Loree, Lauricia, Laurie, Laurella, Lollie, Lorene, Laurelle, Laurene, Lari, Lorelle, Laurel, Lauren, Lawra, Lauri, Lorna

International Variations:
Lora (Bulgarian) Laurette, Laure (French) Laurice, Lorita, Lauris, Lore (German) Laurenza, Lorenza (Italian) Laurka (Polish) Laurica, Lavra, Laurissa (Russian) Lorezza, Llora, Laurensa, Laurentena, Laurinda, Laureana, Laurita, Laurentia (Spanish)

Laura is being discussed in our message boards:

• need a 3syllable name to go with ALMAZ
• Help With L Names
• Best of British - some Telegraph birth announcements
• A brother or sister for little Jack or Olivia
• narrowing my list...need help

Read Nameberry blog posts about Laura:

• CALIFORNIA DESERT NAMES
• NEW YORK BABY NAMES: Big competition in the Big Apple
• HEY, JUDE: Names from the Beatles and beyond
• WHEN MOM HATES YOUR BABY'S NAME
• MIXED-MARRIAGE NAMES