How to say it
LAU · ren
ˈlɔːr.ən
Feminine
Lauren
Laurel
What it means
The feminine of Laurence, from the Latin laurel of Laurentum, the victor's crown.
Lauren is the feminine of Laurence, sharing the laurel root with Laura and Lawrence, the leaves once woven into crowns for champions. Actress Lauren Bacall, who took the name for the screen, made it a star, and it became a defining girls' name in the 1980s and 90s. It reads sleek and classic. Lo and Ren are the shorts; Lauryn and Loren are the variants.
How to spell Lauren
The standard spelling is Lauren. Common variants include Loren, Lauryn, Laurin, but Lauren is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #9 in 1989, currently #401 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 Laura and Lawrence; Lauryn and Loren are variants.
- Pop culture
Lauren Bacall and, later, designer Ralph Lauren keep it in the air.
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.
- Lauren Bacall American actress of Hollywood's golden age
Spelling variants
- Loren
- Lauryn
- Laurin
Names with the same feeling
See Lauren from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Lauren mean?
- The feminine of Laurence, from the Latin laurel of Laurentum, the victor's crown.
- What does Lauren mean in Latin?
- In Latin, Lauren means "Laurel." Lauren is the feminine of Laurence, sharing the laurel root with Laura and Lawrence, the leaves once woven into crowns for champions. Actress Lauren Bacall, who took the name for the screen, made it a star, and it became a defining girls' name in the 1980s and 90s. It reads sleek and classic. Lo and Ren are the shorts; Lauryn and Loren are the variants.
- How do you pronounce Lauren?
- Lauren is pronounced ˈlɔːr.ən. Say it as LAU-ren, with the stress on the "lau" syllable.
- How do you spell Lauren?
- The standard spelling is Lauren. Common spelling variants include Loren, Lauryn, Laurin.
- Is Lauren a boy or girl name?
- Lauren is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Lauren?
- Lauren ranked #401 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.