Laurence
Laurence was the 1747th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 93 babies. Its best year was 1898, when it ranked 201st; the most babies were born in 1952 (845). Over the last ten years it has moved up 502 places. More babies were named Laurence in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Lawrence) from Laurentum; associated with laurel · Latin
- Rank in 2025
- #1,747 boys, up 243 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 93boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1952845 babies
- Total since 1880
- 40,215babies recorded
What does the name Laurence mean?
Laurence is a spelling of Lawrence, pronounced the same way, so it shares Lawrence's meaning and origin.
Lawrence is the usual American spelling of Laurence, from Latin Laurentius. The name means "man from Laurentum," and Wiktionary says that place name may come from laurus, laurel or bay tree; DMNES derives Laurentius directly from laurus. DMNES lists a third-century Italian martyr, Saint Lawrence, among the name's early bearers. DMNES records it in England from the 12th century. Wiktionary notes that Lawrence is the usual US spelling and that Lauren serves as a feminine form.
Laurentius (Latin, “of Laurentum”)laurus (Latin, “laurel, bay tree”)
How sure is this? Probable. Sources agree on Laurentius; whether the Laurentum place name itself comes from laurus is less certain.
Related names: Laurence, Larry, Laurent, Lorenzo, Lars, Lauren.
See also: Latin names, names from places.
Sources for this meaning
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Laurence', DMNES (Durham University)
- Wiktionary, entry 'Lawrence' (English section), Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- Wiktionary, entry 'Laurence' (English section), Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
Laurence popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 495 since 1890, 5 in 2025.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,747 | 93 |
| 2020 | #1,990 | 72 |
| 2010 | #2,901 | 41 |
| 2000 | #1,649 | 71 |
| 1990 | #936 | 122 |
| 1980 | #683 | 161 |
| 1970 | #466 | 303 |
| 1960 | #344 | 513 |
| 1950 | #227 | 807 |
| 1940 | #211 | 604 |
| 1930 | #226 | 562 |
| 1920 | #228 | 550 |
| 1910 | #219 | 114 |
| 1900 | #220 | 81 |
| 1890 | #268 | 42 |
| 1880 | #347 | 25 |
How popular is Laurence, counting every spelling?
Laurence is a spelling of Lawrence, a name family that ranked #456 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #1,747 for Laurence on its own. Together these spellings went to 678 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence | 578 | #520 | 2,724 |
| Laurence | 93 | #1,747 | 344 |
| Lorence | 7 | #10,281 | 30 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Laurence?
93 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Laurence (0.03 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Laurence born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 90 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Laurence.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Laurence?
About 17,100 people born in the US named Laurence are alive today, with a median age of 65; half are between 49 and 75. That makes Laurence a name most people associate with older generations.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Laurence by state
How common Laurence was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. In 40 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Laurence: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Laurence, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Laurence
What does Laurence mean?
Laurence is a spelling of Lawrence, which means “from Laurentum; associated with laurel” (Latin origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Laurence?
Laurence was the 1747th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 93 babies. Its best year was 1898, when it ranked 201st; the most babies were born in 1952 (845). Over the last ten years it has moved up 502 places. More babies were named Laurence in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Is Laurence a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Laurence in the US.
Where is Laurence most popular?
In 2021–2025, Laurence was most common in Minnesota (0.07 per 1,000 boys), followed by Virginia and Illinois.