Laura Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Laura is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Laura?
Laura is spelled L-A-U-R-A. The name has 5 letters.
Laura at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Laura is commonly derived from the Latin word “laurus,” meaning “laurel,” which is a type of tree or shrub.
- Origin
- Laura may derive from Latin origins connected to the word for laurel.
- Pronunciation
- LAW-ruh · 2 syllables
Laura Popularity in 2025
Rank#379
Recorded Births805
- Girls usage fell 22 places to #379 and recorded 67 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Laura Mean?
Laura is commonly derived from the Latin word “laurus,” meaning “laurel,” which is a type of tree or shrub.
Origin: Laura may derive from Latin origins connected to the word for laurel.
How Do You Pronounce Laura?
PronunciationLAW-ruh
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Laura?
- History
- The name Laura is recorded in various historical texts and has been used in multiple European cultures.
Laura Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2004 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 805 | #379 |
| 2024 | Girls | 872 | #357 |
| 2023 | Girls | 846 | #362 |
| 2022 | Girls | 874 | #363 |
| 2021 | Girls | 807 | #389 |
| 2020 | Girls | 871 | #356 |
| 2019 | Girls | 951 | #337 |
| 2018 | Girls | 947 | #339 |
| 2017 | Girls | 948 | #339 |
| 2016 | Girls | 968 | #345 |
| 2015 | Girls | 1,016 | #320 |
| 2014 | Girls | 1,052 | #315 |
| 2013 | Girls | 1,029 | #314 |
| 2012 | Girls | 1,146 | #279 |
| 2011 | Girls | 1,171 | #273 |
| 2011 | Boys | 5 | #12,287 |
| 2010 | Girls | 1,214 | #271 |
| 2009 | Girls | 1,414 | #234 |
| 2008 | Girls | 1,595 | #215 |
| 2007 | Girls | 1,844 | #183 |
| 2006 | Girls | 2,066 | #172 |
| 2005 | Girls | 2,356 | #146 |
| 2005 | Boys | 6 | #10,151 |
| 2004 | Girls | 2,555 | #129 |
When Was Laura Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1964 · Girls
18,967 recorded births
National rank #14
1968 · Girls
18,741 recorded births
National rank #11
1963 · Girls
18,514 recorded births
National rank #16
1969 · Girls
17,922 recorded births
National rank #10
Where Laura Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| MA | #179 | 31 |
| MT | #208 | 5 |
| PA | #259 | 42 |
| KY | #259 | 17 |
| FL | #279 | 68 |
| MS | #301 | 9 |
| WV | #308 | 5 |
| IA | #323 | 10 |