Laura (given name)


Laura is a traditionally feminine given name in Europe and the Americas, of Latin origin, whose meaning is a metonym for a victor, and an early hypocorism from Laurel and Lauren.

Origin and usage

The name Laura is the feminized form of laurus, Latin for "bay laurel plant", which in the Greco-Roman era was used as a symbol of victory, honor or fame. The name represents the embodiment of victory and strength. The name Daphne, derived from Ancient Greek, carries the same meaning.

Popularity

In British North America, the name Laura reached 17th most popular in 1880 and 1882, but dropped to #43 in 1899. It was among the top 50 names for female newborns for much of the early 20th century in the United States, but dropped to 100–120 between 1930 and 1950; reached No.10 in 1969, and has since steadily decreased in popularity.
In Europe, Laura remains popular. In 2009 it ranked within the top 10 in Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Greenland, Luxembourg, Spain, and Switzerland.
Laura is occasionally conflated with Lara, which has different origins and is listed separately on name popularity lists.

Variants

Notable people with the name

Religion

Academics

Artists

Businesspeople

Celebrities

Entertainers

Law

Nobility

Politics

Science and technology

Sports

Writers and journalists

Others

Fictional characters

Name days

Christian name days for Laura:
  • January 15: Sweden
  • January 18: Estonia, Finland
  • January 22: France
  • April 18: Latvia
  • June 1: Czech Republic
  • June 5: Slovakia, Slovenia
  • June 17: Hungary, Lithuania, Poland
  • August 10: Austria, Germany
  • October 19: Lithuania, Italy, Spain, England