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Lorelei

Heart
German
"alluring, temptress"

Lorelei Origin and Meaning

The name Lorelei is a girl's name of German origin meaning "alluring, temptress".

The lovely Lorelei, a name from old German legend, was a beautiful Rhine River seductress whose haunting voice led sailors to hazardous rocks that would cause them to be shipwrecked. And this siren image clung to the name for ages.

Lorelei was the name of the gold digger portrayed by Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes in 1953, then went underground for half a century before it was popularized by TV's The Gilmore Girls in 2004.

The name itself had a starring role in the show, used for the mother, daughter, and even the grandmother. Spelled Lorelai, the characters used three different nicknames: Rory for the daughter, Lori for the mom, and the seemingly unrelated Trix for grandma.

Beyond the influence of the show, Lorelei is benefiting from the popularity of girls' names starting with L -- and two Ls are even better than one.

# 442 in the US

Lorelei Rank in US Top 1000

# 183 on Nameberry

Lorelei Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

Lorelei Popularity

20 Names Similar to Lorelei

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Famous People Named Lorelei

  • Lorelei Elizabeth KingAmerican actress
  • Lorelei MahoneyAmerican singer and actress
  • Lorelei DeCora MeansNative American civil rights activist
  • Lorelei LeeAmerican adult film actress
  • Lorelei Leering name of Amy Janas, American pro wrestler
  • Lorelei Grace Linklater (b. 1994)daughter of director Richard Linklater
  • Lorelei Judith Krone (b. 2005)daughter of jockey Julie Krone
  • Lorelei Toley (b. 2007)daughter of bridal designer Claire Pettibone and Guy Patrick Toley
  • Lorelei Jade Anderson (b. 2010)daughter of singer Jessa Anderson

Lorelei in Pop Culture

  • Lorelai Gilmoretwo characters in the show Gilmore Girls, a mother and daughter. (Spelling is different, but this is why the name spiked in the 2000s in the US)
  • "Die Lorelei" German poem by Heinrich Heine
  • Loreleione of the Elite Four trainers in the Pokemon series
  • Loreleitwo characters in Marvel comics
  • Lorelei Roxcharacter in Spirit comics
  • Lorelei Ambrosiacharacter in movie "Superman III"
  • Lorelei Martinscharacter on TV's "The Mentalist"
  • Lorelei the Chickencharacter on TV's "The Electric Company"
  • "Lorelei" song by The Pogues
  • "Lorelei" song by Styx
  • "Lorelei" song by The Cocteau Twins
  • "Lorelei" song by George and Ira Gershwin
  • "Lorelei's Secret" aka "The Dogs of Babel" novel by Carolyn Parkhurst
  • LoreleiAmerican rock band
  • Loreleicharacter in MCU Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D
  • Lorelei DavisJoss and Harry's daughter on TV's "Mistresses"
  • Lorelei StaffordParker, character in Vampire: The Requiem
  • Loreleicharacter from the picture book Moongirl
  • Loreleicharacter from "Victor Frankenstein"
  • LoreleiAndy's guitar's name on 'The Office'
  • Lorelei Wilkinsoncharacter in television series 'Prisoner Cell Block H'