How to say it
LAU · ra
ˈlɔːr.ə
Feminine
Laura
Laurel
What it means
Latin, from laurus, the laurel tree whose wreath crowned victors and poets.
Laura comes from the Latin laurus, the laurel, whose leaves were woven into crowns for champions and poets. Petrarch immortalized an idealized Laura across his sonnets in the 14th century, fixing the name in European literature. A steady classic ever since, it carried Laura Ingalls Wilder of the Little House books. It belongs to the same laurel root as Laurel and Lauren. Plain, graceful, and timeless.
How to spell Laura
The standard spelling is Laura. Common variants include Lara, Laure, Laurel, but Laura is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #10 in 1969, currently #379 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
Shares the laurel root with Lauren and Laurel.
- Pop culture
Petrarch's Laura inspired his sonnets; Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote the Little House books.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Laura Ingalls Wilder author of the Little House on the Prairie books
Spelling variants
- Lara
- Laure
- Laurel
Names with the same feeling
See Laura from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Laura mean?
- Latin, from laurus, the laurel tree whose wreath crowned victors and poets.
- What does Laura mean in Latin?
- In Latin, Laura means "Laurel." Laura comes from the Latin laurus, the laurel, whose leaves were woven into crowns for champions and poets. Petrarch immortalized an idealized Laura across his sonnets in the 14th century, fixing the name in European literature. A steady classic ever since, it carried Laura Ingalls Wilder of the Little House books. It belongs to the same laurel root as Laurel and Lauren. Plain, graceful, and timeless.
- How do you pronounce Laura?
- Laura is pronounced ˈlɔːr.ə. Say it as LAU-ra, with the stress on the "lau" syllable.
- How do you spell Laura?
- The standard spelling is Laura. Common spelling variants include Lara, Laure, Laurel.
- Is Laura a boy or girl name?
- Laura is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Laura?
- Laura ranked #379 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.