Laura vs Lauren
Laura and Laurencompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2008, Laura was ranked #71 and Lauren #90 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2009, Laura was ranked #90 and Lauren #95 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Laura was ranked #112 and Lauren #118 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Laura was ranked #237 and Lauren #264 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Laura was ranked #258 and Lauren #934 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Laura was ranked #351 and Lauren #638 among girls in Scotland.
Laura and Lauren over time
Laura and Lauren appear together in 5 published lists, across 168 years of shared records. Lauren held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Laura in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2015, Laura moved ahead of Lauren in England and Wales · Girls — #160 and #130 the year before became #145 and #180.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Laura and Lauren changed places 6 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1978 and 2008, ending at #71 and #90.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 33 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Laura and Lauren averaged 11.3 places apart, ending at #90 and #95.
- Longest-running competitions
Laura and Lauren were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 33 years, from 1977 to 2009, ending at #90 and #95.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Laura #17 in 1996, Lauren #5 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls49 shared years, 1971–2025
Laura held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Lauren in 25.
Highest recorded here: Laura #2 in 1985, Lauren #6 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Laura #112, Lauren #118.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls33 shared years, 1977–2009
Laura held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Lauren in 31.
Highest recorded here: Laura #9 in 1994, Lauren #5 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Laura #90, Lauren #95.
New Zealand · Girls30 shared years, 1978–2008
Laura held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Lauren in 3.
Highest recorded here: Laura #8 in 1995, Lauren #19 in 1990.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Laura #71, Lauren #90.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Laura held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Lauren in 19.
Highest recorded here: Laura #17 in 1996, Lauren #5 in 1996.
The order changed in 2015: Laura moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #160 and #130; by 2015 that had become #145 and #180.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Laura #258, Lauren #934.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2023
Laura held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Lauren in 21.
Highest recorded here: Laura #13 in 1997, Lauren #2 in 2001.
The order changed in 2019: Laura moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #179 and #151; by 2019 that had become #157 and #167.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Laura #237, Lauren #264.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Laura | Lauren |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | From Latin 'laurus' meaning 'laurel' — laurel wreaths honoured victors in ancient Rome. Also the subject of 14th-century Italian poet Petrarch's poems. | A variant/feminine form of Laurence, tracing to the place name Laurentum. First popularized as a feminine name by actress Lauren Bacall (born Betty Jean Perske). |
| Origin | Latin | Latin (place name origin), via a modern stage-name |
| Pronunciation | /ˈlɔɹ.ə/ | /ˈlɔɹ.ən/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #118 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Laura is recorded with a Latin origin, while Lauren is recorded with a Latin (place name origin), via a modern stage-name origin.
- Laura and Lauren both have 2 syllables.
- Laura's recorded meaning differs from Lauren's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Laura
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #313 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1985 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #141 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Lauren
Popularity journey
First recorded1971
First recorded at #466 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1971 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2023
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2001 (recorded 1997–2023).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #118 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls