Names That Mean Laurel

  1. Daphne
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "laurel tree, bay tree"
    • Description:

      In Greek mythology, Daphne was the nymph daughter of Peneus, a river god. Peneus saved Daphne from Apollo’s romantic obsessions by transforming her into a laurel tree. It is from this myth that the plant genus daphne, which contains the laurel species, gets its name.
  2. Laura
    • Origin:

      English from Latin
    • Meaning:

      "from Laurentum or bay laurel"
    • Description:

      Laura is a hauntingly evocative perennial, never trendy, never dated, feminine without being fussy, with long-standing literary links. All this makes Laura a more solid choice than any of its more decorative counterparts and one of the most classic girl names starting with L.
  3. Lawrence
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "from Laurentium or bay laurel"
    • Description:

      Lawrence has survived from Roman times, when Laurentium was a city noted for its laurel trees (the laurel is a symbol of wisdom and achievement). It was in the Top 50 from the 1890s through the 1950s and the Top 100 for decades longer, always among the most popular boys' names starting with L, but Lawrence is now used less for babies than Landon or Lorenzo.
  4. Laurel
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "laurel tree"
    • Description:

      Laurel takes Laura back to its meaning in nature, resulting in a gentle, botanical option. Even more directly than Laura, Laurel relates back to the laurel wreath signifying success and peace in ancient Greece and Rome.
  5. Lauren
    • Origin:

      English from Latin
    • Meaning:

      "from Laurentum or bay laurel"
    • Description:

      Lauren was derived from Laurence, an English name from the Roman family name Laurentius, meaning "from Laurentum." Laurentum, an ancient Italian city, got its name from the Latin word laurus, meaning "bay laurel."
  6. Oren
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "laurel or pine tree"
    • Description:

      Soft and sensitive name often heard in Israel.
  7. Loretta
    • Origin:

      English variation of Italian Lauretta; diminutive of Laura
    • Meaning:

      "bay laurel"
    • Description:

      Though Loretta has long ago lost its Latin flair, fashionable Sarah Jessica Parker's choice of it as the middle name of one of her twin daughters freshens it up a bit. It's one of several such names, like Anita and Rita that we can envision making a comeback.
  8. Laurence
    • Origin:

      English from Latin
    • Meaning:

      "from Laurentum or bay laurel"
    • Description:

      Lawrence is the dominant spelling in the US, but in the UK Laurence and Lawrence are given in almost equal numbers each year, often with the adorable nickname Laurie or Lawrie. British actor Sir Laurence Olivier is a famous bearer.
  9. Loren
    • Origin:

      Variation of Laurence, English from Latin
    • Meaning:

      "from Laurentum or bay laurel"
    • Description:

      A variant form of Laurence or Lawrence which ranked in the #200s in the US from the 1900s through to the 1960s. It didn't fall off the boys' Top 1000 until the late 1990s, following the huge popularity of Lauren for girls.
  10. Lori
    • Origin:

      English spelling variation of Laurie; diminutive of Laura
    • Meaning:

      "from Laurentium or bay laurel"
    • Description:

      Lori, with this sleek modern spelling, was an extremely popular name in the middle of the 20th century, ranking among the Top 100 girls' names from the early 1950s until the early 1980s.
  11. Lars
    • Origin:

      Scandinavian from Latin Laurentius
    • Meaning:

      "crowned with laurel"
    • Description:

      Lars is a perfect candidate for a cross-cultural passport: it has been heard often enough here to sound familiar and friendly, yet retains the charisma of a charming foreigner.
  12. Laurel
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "laurel or bay tree"
    • Description:

      Laurel puts the natural meanings of all the Laur- names front and center, making it a gentle, botanical option. Laurel relates back to the laurel wreath, signifying success and peace in ancient Greece.
  13. Laurent
    • Origin:

      French variation of Lawrence
    • Meaning:

      "of Laurentium or bay laurel"
    • Description:

      A French accent makes almost everything sound better, especially when attached to a Twilight vampire. Laurent also has a high-style feel via designer Yves St-Laurent. Laurent de Brunhoff is the French author-illustrator who continued his father Jean's series of Babar books.
  14. Laurie
    • Origin:

      English diminutive of Laurence
    • Meaning:

      "from Laurentum or bay laurel"
    • Description:

      A sweet and sophisticated nickname which feels fresh again after many years in style limbo. For literature lovers, it brings to mind Theodore "Laurie" Laurence from Louisa May Alcott's Little Women. Another famous bearer is English actor Hugh Laurie.
  15. Loren
    • Origin:

      English spelling variation of Lauren, Latin
    • Meaning:

      "from Laurentum or bay laurel"
    • Description:

      The spelling Loren turns Lauren or its male form Laurence into a gender-neutral name. Last year 75 baby girls were named Loren in the US vs. 60 baby boys, making this name a good nonbinary choice.
  16. Larry
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Lawrence, English from Latin
    • Meaning:

      "from Laurentium or bay laurel"
    • Description:

      Your friendly next-door neighbor...not your baby. Although Larry was once one of the most popular boys' names starting with L, that title now belongs to Liam.
  17. Lowri
    • Origin:

      Welsh, from Latin
    • Meaning:

      "laurel"
    • Description:

      This unusual and appealing form of Laura is popular in sections of Wales.
  18. Lawrence
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "from Laurentium or bay laurel"
    • Description:

      We approve of this name for a girl, but prefer the au, Laura-Laurenish, spelling.
  19. Laurie
    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Laura
    • Meaning:

      "from Laurentum or bay laurel"
    • Description:

      Laurie morphed into the more streamlined Lori in the sixties but now feels dated for a girl in either spelling. Update Lauren has been renovated as Laurel or Laura itself.
  20. Larsa
    • Origin:

      Arabic, Sumerian place name, Swedish feminization of Lars
    • Meaning:

      "crowned with laurel"
    • Description:

      Larsa was the name of a city-state in Sumer, an ancient Mesopotamian civilization. It is occasionally used as a baby name in Arabic-speaking cultures, as well as in Sweden, where Larsa is a feminization of Lars.