Lorelei Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Lorelei is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Lorelei?
Lorelei is spelled L-O-R-E-L-E-I. The name has 7 letters.
Lorelei at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Lorelei may derive from the Old High German elements “lura”, meaning “murmuring”, and “lei”, meaning “rock” or “cliff.”
- Origin
- Lorelei is commonly associated with a rock on the Rhine River and folklore surrounding a siren or maiden linked to that location in German tradition.
- Pronunciation
- LOHR-uh-lie · 3 syllables
Lorelei Popularity in 2025
Rank#441
Recorded Births699
- Girls usage rose 13 places to #441 and recorded 9 more 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 Lorelei Mean?
Lorelei may derive from the Old High German elements “lura”, meaning “murmuring”, and “lei”, meaning “rock” or “cliff.”
Origin: Lorelei is commonly associated with a rock on the Rhine River and folklore surrounding a siren or maiden linked to that location in German tradition.
How Do You Pronounce Lorelei?
PronunciationLOHR-uh-lie
Syllables3
What Is the History of the Name Lorelei?
- History
- Lorelei is mentioned in 19th-century German folklore and poetry that reference the rock on the Rhine and the legend of a siren named Lorelei.
Lorelei Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2002 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 699 | #441 |
| 2024 | Girls | 690 | #454 |
| 2023 | Girls | 631 | #485 |
| 2022 | Girls | 715 | #441 |
| 2021 | Girls | 701 | #446 |
| 2020 | Girls | 601 | #504 |
| 2019 | Girls | 682 | #456 |
| 2018 | Girls | 659 | #472 |
| 2017 | Girls | 683 | #462 |
| 2016 | Girls | 716 | #450 |
| 2015 | Girls | 704 | #449 |
| 2014 | Girls | 653 | #482 |
| 2013 | Girls | 604 | #496 |
| 2012 | Girls | 573 | #528 |
| 2011 | Girls | 585 | #502 |
| 2010 | Girls | 548 | #535 |
| 2009 | Girls | 504 | #597 |
| 2008 | Girls | 446 | #681 |
| 2007 | Girls | 431 | #681 |
| 2006 | Girls | 380 | #734 |
| 2005 | Girls | 320 | #809 |
| 2004 | Girls | 248 | #965 |
| 2003 | Girls | 226 | #1,020 |
| 2002 | Girls | 202 | #1,056 |
When Was Lorelei 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.
2016 · Girls
716 recorded births
National rank #450
2022 · Girls
715 recorded births
National rank #441
2015 · Girls
704 recorded births
National rank #449
2021 · Girls
701 recorded births
National rank #446
Where Lorelei 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 |
|---|---|---|
| OR | #223 | 16 |
| WV | #230 | 7 |
| MN | #241 | 23 |
| TN | #244 | 32 |
| MO | #265 | 23 |
| NE | #267 | 8 |
| OH | #268 | 41 |
| KY | #275 | 16 |