Laura

femaleLatin

From Latin 'laurus' meaning 'laurel' — laurel wreaths honoured victors in ancient Rome. Also the subject of 14th-century Italian poet Petrarch's poems.

Origin: Latin

Official popularity data is available for 7 regions, from 1945 to 2025. Highest recorded position: #2 in Republic of Ireland in 1992. See regions.

Laura: Recorded since 1945, it reached #2 in 1985, and it stood at #112 in 2025.

7registrars recorded it
258times a registrar ranked it
81years from first to last
#2highest recorded position
42groupings it qualifies for
52names it appears alongside

What stands out in Laura's record

Ranked inside the top 10 by 3 registrars. Names by top-10 reach
Held a top-100 place for 57 years running. Names by top-100 run
England and Wales registered 3,582 births with the name in 1996, its largest count from any one registrar. Names by yearly birth count
Held at least one birth in every 2,000 for 25 years. Names by sustained share

LOR-uh/ˈlɔɹ.ə/

Compare Laura Run Name Checker on Laura

Data Confidence

Evidence: ModerateCompleteness: SubstantialEditorial review: 2026-07-21

Confidence in the evidencebehind this name's data — never a rating of the name itself, and never affected by how well it matches your preferences. How this is assessed

Because: backed by officially or academically authoritative sources, recently verified, popularity data covers multiple regions.

Source authority

Averaged from the real per-claim source-authority assessments already computed for this name's meaning/origin/pronunciation/popularity evidence.

Independent corroboration

Averaged from the real per-claim supporting-source counts already computed for this name's evidence.

See full evidence assessment (8 dimensions, 1 not yet tracked)

Source agreement

No recorded source disagreement for this name's meanings or origins.

Recency

Calculated from how long ago this record was last verified (2026-07-21), against a 270-day staleness threshold.

Geographic relevance

Calculated from the number of geographies with official popularity data (7) — broader official coverage means the evidence base is relevant to more of where the name is actually used.

Completeness

Calculated from how many of the expected data sections (variants, similar names, popularity, notable usage, IPA pronunciation) are actually populated for this name.

Direct observation vs. inference

Averaged from the real per-claim direct-observation-vs-inference ratios already computed for this name's evidence.

Identity & variant resolution quality

Cross-source identity and variant resolution requires HEKNO Knowledge, which isn't connected yet.

Name Characteristics

How these are calculated

Descriptive attributes of the name itself — not a confidence measurement, and not an overall quality score. Namewise doesn't approve or disapprove of names.

Pronunciation clarity

Editorial judgement of how consistently this name is pronounced correctly on first read, mapped from an easy/moderate/variable rating to a number. Describes the name — not a measure of evidence confidence.

Spelling simplicity

Calculated directly from the name's spelling: shorter names with fewer irregular letter clusters score higher. A disclosed formula, not an editorial opinion — and not a confidence measurement.

Recorded regional spread

Derived from how many geographies' official statistics record this name. It measures where the name is registered, not how well-known it feels to people living there.

International spread

Derived from the same official statistical coverage, scaled to reflect how widely the name crosses national datasets. Not a measure of how easily it is understood in another language.

Trend stability

Derived from the name's traditional/modern classification and its current popularity trend direction.

Overview

Origin: Latin
Meaning: From Latin 'laurus' meaning 'laurel' — laurel wreaths honoured victors in ancient Rome. Also the subject of 14th-century Italian poet Petrarch's poems.
Pronunciation: LOR-uh
Syllables: 2
Common nicknames: None recorded
Classification: Traditional & modern
Gender usage: female
Language family: Latin

Popularity

Region

Falling

among girls in England and Wales · 1996–2025

View as table

England and Wales · Girls rank by year
Year	Rank
1996	#17
1997	#17
1998	#25
1999	#29
2000	#30
2001	#37
2002	#48
2003	#67
2004	#81
2005	#94
2006	#101
2007	#106
2008	#120
2009	#117
2010	#125
2011	#134
2012	#140
2013	#146
2014	#160
2015	#145
2016	#150
2017	#145
2018	#169
2019	#176
2020	#178
2021	#180
2022	#200
2023	#233
2024	#258
2025	#303

VerifiedSource: Office for National Statistics — Baby Names in England and Wales.Confidence: high.

See all England and Wales names · Source: Office for National Statistics — Baby Names in England and Wales

What the data shows

FallingEngland and Wales · Girls

Recorded in official data among girls in Norway in 73 of the 81 years from 1945 to 2025.

In 2025: #112 among girls in Republic of Ireland, #141 among girls in Norway, #303 among girls in England and Wales.

Official data from 7 national registrars across 7 regions, 1945–2025 · Office for National Statistics. Data sources

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
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #303 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls

Laura appears in 6 of the published lists Namewise holds. The longest record is Norway · Girls, which has ranked it in 73 years beginning in 1945, and has registered 2,169 births with the name.

Laura across 6 official records

Each registrar publishes its own list, so these figures are read down a row, never across one. A position in one country is not comparable with a position in another, and Namewise never combines them into a single ranking. The birth counts do not compare across rows either, for a different reason: England and Wales registers roughly thirty times as many births a year as Northern Ireland, so a larger total says which registrar recorded it as much as how widely the name was given.

Laura's first, highest and most recent recorded position in each official list, with the number of births each registrar registered with the name and its largest single year
Published list	First recorded	Highest	Most recent	Years recorded	Births registered	Most in one year
Norway · Girls	#313 (1945)	#99 (2024)	#141 (2025)	73 of 81	2,169 (1945–2025)	58 (2017)
Republic of Ireland · Girls	#131 (1964)	#2 (1985)	#112 (2025)	62 of 62	19,105 (1964–2025)	783 (1986)
New South Wales, Australia · Girls	#83 (1976)	#9 (1994)	#90 (2009)	34 of 34	8,714 (1976–2009)	468 (1990)
New Zealand · Girls	#84 (1978)	#8 (1995)	#71 (2008)	30 of 31	4,669 (1978–2008)	273 (1989)
England and Wales · Girls	#17 (1996)	#17 (1996)	#303 (2025)	30 of 30	23,616 (1996–2025)	3,582 (1996)
Northern Ireland · Girls	#13 (1997)	#13 (1997)	#253 (2024)	28 of 28	1,343 (1997–2024)	163 (1997)

Laura by decade in Norway · Girls

Births registered with the name in each decade of this one list, with the number of years the list covers in that decade. Bars are scaled on births a year, which is the figure that compares between decades — a decade the list only partly covers has a smaller total without being a quieter decade. Figures belong to this registrar alone and do not carry to another.

Births registered with Laura in Norway · Girls, by decade, with years covered and the average per year
Decade	Births registered	Years covered	A year
1940s	34	4 of 10	9
1950s	45	7 of 10	6
1960s	36	6 of 10	6
1970s	160	10 of 10	16
1980s	450	10 of 10	45
1990s	382	10 of 10	38
2000s	342	10 of 10	34
2010s	439	10 of 10	44
2020sbusiest	281	6 of 10	47

Across Norway · Girls, the 2020s were its busiest decade — the 6 years of it this list covers, averaging 47 births a year.

Its sharpest single-year move came between 1989 and 1990, when recorded births fell by 26, from 51 to 25.

See the names Norwayhas recorded the most births with →

Laura appears in

Groupings this name qualifies for under their own stated rules, from the same official statistics shown above.

What the record shows

Recorded by 7 registrars between 1945 and 2025, ranked in 74 years of that period.

Its highest recorded position is #2, first reached in 1985.

It held a top-100 place in 58 years, 57 of them consecutive.

Its largest count from any one registrar is 3,582 births, registered in England and Wales in 1996.

3 registrars ranked it inside their own top 10.

Its record falls into 5 separate stretches, with a longest absence of 4 years.

A second registrar first ranked it in 1964, and 79 years separate the first registrar to record it from the last.

Every figure here is counted from the seven official registrars Namewise holds. A position is only ever a place within the list that published it, and a record that thins or stops is a fact about what registrars printed — never about how many children received the name.

Laura was ranked #2 in Republic of Ireland · Girls in 1985. These are the names immediately either side of it on that published list — a fact about the registrar's own output, not a similarity judgement.

Where to go next

Records with a comparable body of evidence, so the catalogue can be read outward from this one. Each group states the rule it was selected by.

Next in the catalogue

The records either side of this one alphabetically.

Latoya · #620, 22y
Lauchlan · #307, 15y
Lauran · #576, 11y
Laurel · #758, 30y

A comparable record

Records held by the same 7 registrars, over a similar number of ranked years, whose highest position is closest to this one. A similar body of evidence — never a claim that the names themselves are alike.

Andrew · #2, 79y
Catherine · #2, 75y
George · #2, 78y
Mark · #2, 75y

Also first recorded in the 1940s

Records whose earliest ranking in Namewise's registrar data also falls between 1940 and 1949.

Andrew · #2, 79y
Bente · #2, 62y
Bjørn · #2, 81y
Camilla · #2, 70y

Comparisons involving Laura

Existing comparison pages where Laura and another name were ranked in the same published list, in the same years, on the same scale. Each has its own evidence; none of them says the names are alike.

Longest shared records

Names ranked alongside Laura in the same published list across at least 25 years.

Laura vs Shannon
In 1996 they stood at #17 and #11 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #303 and #2138.
Laura · Shannon · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2025 England and Wales ranking
Laura vs Therese
In 1964 they stood at #131 and #127 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2015 they were #48 and #896.
Laura · Therese · 51 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2015 Republic of Ireland ranking
Laura vs Anita
In 1964 they stood at #131 and #130 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2022 they were #91 and #905.
Laura · Anita · 53 shared years, 1964–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2022 Republic of Ireland ranking

Closest long-running positions

Names that stayed close to Laura within one registrar's list over many years. A gap measured inside that list, never across registrars.

Laura vs Ashleigh
Across 20 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Laura and Ashleigh averaged 10.1 places apart, ending at #69 and #72.
Laura · Ashleigh · 20 shared years, 1986–2005 · Closest over the longest run
See the 2005 New Zealand ranking
Laura vs Stephanie
Across 34 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Laura and Stephanie averaged 10.5 places apart, ending at #90 and #84.
Laura · Stephanie · 34 shared years, 1976–2009 · Closest over the longest run
See the 2009 New South Wales, Australia ranking
Laura vs Nicole
Across 29 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Laura and Nicole averaged 10.6 places apart, ending at #67 and #84.
Laura · Nicole · 29 shared years, 1978–2006 · Closest over the longest run
See the 2006 New Zealand ranking

Order changes

Pairs where Laura and another name exchanged position in a published list, taken as the final meaningful change.

Emma vs Laura
In 1996, Emma moved ahead of Laura in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #5 and #4 the year before became #2 and #6.
Emma · Laura · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
See the 1996 Republic of Ireland ranking
Aoife vs Laura
In 1995, Aoife moved ahead of Laura in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #6 and #3 the year before became #3 and #4.
Aoife · Laura · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
See the 1995 Republic of Ireland ranking
Laura vs Catherine
In 1983, Laura moved ahead of Catherine in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #11 and #10 the year before became #3 and #12.
Laura · Catherine · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
See the 1983 Republic of Ireland ranking

Compared inside Republic of Ireland lists

Pairs involving Laura measured in Republic of Ireland's own published lists — the registrar that recorded Laura at its highest position.

Laura vs Elaine
In 1983, Laura moved ahead of Elaine in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #11 and #6 the year before became #3 and #13.
Laura · Elaine · 59 shared years, 1964–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
See the 1983 Republic of Ireland ranking
Jennifer vs Laura
In 1983, Laura moved ahead of Jennifer in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #4 and #11 the year before became #5 and #3.
Jennifer · Laura · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
See the 1983 Republic of Ireland ranking
Laura vs Louise
In 1983, Laura moved ahead of Louise in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #11 and #7 the year before became #3 and #10.
Laura · Louise · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
See the 1983 Republic of Ireland ranking

Republic of Ireland overview→

Laura and the names beside it

Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale, in the same year, by the same registrar — so these are positions that genuinely passed each other, not a similarity judgement. Drawn from the 2,577 names with a recorded popularity standing (common, familiar, uncommon), so a name outside that set could have passed Laura without appearing here.

Laura moved ahead of

Samantha
In 1977 they stood at #564 and #519 in Norway · Girls; by 1978 that had become #225 and #645.
Gro
In 1990 they stood at #231 and #197 in Norway · Girls; by 1991 that had become #163 and #320.
Ellen
In 2013 they stood at #187 and #176 in Norway · Girls; by 2014 that had become #149 and #271.
Tove
In 1990 they stood at #231 and #214 in Norway · Girls; by 1991 that had become #163 and #281.

Moved ahead of Laura

Ellen
In 2016 they stood at #92 and #99 in Northern Ireland · Girls; by 2017 that had become #215 and #103.
Mathilde
In 1989 they stood at #146 and #193 in Norway · Girls; by 1990 that had become #231 and #122.
Amanda
In 1989 they stood at #146 and #165 in Norway · Girls; by 1990 that had become #231 and #124.
Iben
In 2003 they stood at #167 and #175 in Norway · Girls; by 2004 that had become #181 and #77.

Moved the opposite way to Laura

Anne
Between 1945 and 2025 in Norway · Girls, Laura went from #313 to #141 while Anne went from #1 to #159.
Åse
Between 1945 and 2025 in Norway · Girls, Laura went from #313 to #141 while Åse went from #25 to #93.
Aud
Between 1945 and 2025 in Norway · Girls, Laura went from #313 to #141 while Aud went from #13 to #427.
Bjørg
Between 1945 and 2025 in Norway · Girls, Laura went from #313 to #141 while Bjørg went from #6 to #369.

Moved the same way as Laura

Ada
Between 1945 and 2025 in Norway · Girls, Laura went from #313 to #141 and Ada from #229 to #18.
Alma
Between 1945 and 2025 in Norway · Girls, Laura went from #313 to #141 and Alma from #293 to #8.
Ella Compare
Between 1945 and 2025 in Norway · Girls, Laura went from #313 to #141 and Ella from #137 to #4.
Ellinor
Between 1945 and 2025 in Norway · Girls, Laura went from #313 to #141 and Ellinor from #102 to #7.

Meaning & Origin

From Latin 'laurus' meaning 'laurel' — laurel wreaths honoured victors in ancient Rome. Also the subject of 14th-century Italian poet Petrarch's poems.

VerifiedSource: Behind the Name.Confidence: medium.

Latin

VerifiedSource: Behind the Name.Confidence: medium.

Other names with a researched meaning and origin →

Where Laura is officially recorded

7 official registrars have recorded Laura, between 1945 and 2025, in 74 of those 81 years. Each registrar publishes for its own population on its own methodology, so the positions below are each one country's own ranking and are not comparable with one another.

Registrar	Recorded	Years	Its own highest position
Norway	1945–2025	73	#99 in 2024
Republic of Ireland	1964–2025	62	#2 in 1985
New South Wales, Australia	1976–2009	34	#9 in 1994
New Zealand	1978–2008	30	#8 in 1995
England and Wales	1996–2025	30	#17 in 1996
Northern Ireland	1997–2024	28	#13 in 1997
Scotland	2024	1	#351 in 2024

Its high point came 39 years earlier in Republic of Ireland (1985) than in Norway (2024).

No registrar recorded it for 4 years after 1958; it appears again in 1963.

Variants

No spelling variants or nicknames recorded yet.

Similar Names

No similar names recorded yet for this name.

Similarity is a demonstration score — see methodology.

Spelling

Spelling simplicity

Calculated directly from the name's spelling — see Name Characteristics above.

No commonly used alternate spellings recorded.

Pronunciation

LOR-uh/ˈlɔɹ.ə/

Syllables: 2
Ease: easy

VerifiedSource: Behind the Name.Confidence: medium.

Where Laura Is Recorded

National statistical agencies have recorded Laura in these places. This shows where the name is used — not where it comes from, and not that it carries particular cultural significance there.

New South Wales, AustraliaEngland and WalesNorthern IrelandScotlandRepublic of IrelandNorwayNew Zealand

Notable Usage

No safely-sourced notable usage recorded for this name yet.

Sibling & Surname Compatibility

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Laura

Laura at a glance

What stands out in Laura's record

Overview

Popularity

What the data shows

Popularity journey

Laura across 6 official records

Laura by decade in Norway · Girls

Laura appears in

What the record shows

Names published alongside Laura

Where to go next

Next in the catalogue

A comparable record

Also first recorded in the 1940s

Comparisons involving Laura

Longest shared records

Closest long-running positions

Order changes

Compared inside Republic of Ireland lists

Laura and the names beside it

Laura moved ahead of

Moved ahead of Laura

Moved the opposite way to Laura

Moved the same way as Laura

Meaning & Origin

Where Laura is officially recorded

Variants

Similar Names

Spelling

Pronunciation

Where Laura Is Recorded

Notable Usage

Sibling & Surname Compatibility

Laura at a glance

What stands out in Laura's record

Laura across 6 official records

Laura by decade in Norway · Girls

Laura appears in

What the record shows

Names published alongside Laura

Where to go next

Next in the catalogue

A comparable record

Also first recorded in the 1940s

Comparisons involving Laura

Longest shared records

Closest long-running positions

Order changes

Compared inside Republic of Ireland lists

Laura and the names beside it

Laura moved ahead of

Moved ahead of Laura

Moved the opposite way to Laura

Moved the same way as Laura