Laurel
Meaninglaurel tree · English
- US rank
- #734
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #241 in 1956
372 babies were named Laurel in the US in 2025. It has dropped 49 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million girls, 1883–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Laurel you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Laurel
Laurel Holloman
American painter and actress
Choose Laurel and your child shares a first name with Laurel Holloman, an American painter and actress. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Laurel, like who?” Laurel Holloman's Wikipedia article is available in 21 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Laurel Holloman on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)- How commonAbout 1 in every 4,322 baby girls born in the US in 2025 was named Laurel, 372 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Laurel would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryLaurel first shows up in US birth records in 1883, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 142 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1956, when it ranked #241. Today it's #734, so it could be due a comeback.
- TrendLaurel has slipped 49 places over the last five years and now sits at #734. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- Where it's lovedLaurel is most popular in New Hampshire, where it ranks #236, followed by Pennsylvania (#303) and Wisconsin (#391). It's in the top 1,000 in 24 states.
- MeaningIn English, Laurel means “laurel tree”. Our records link it to English and Latin roots.
About the name Laurel
Laurel is a girl name of English and Latin origin meaning “laurel tree”. It has 6 letters and 2 syllables, starting with L and ending in “-rel”. US birth records list Laurel for girls from 1883 to 2025, in 141 of those 143 years. Its best year was 1956, when it ranked #241 among girl names. In 2025 it ranked #734, with 372 babies.
Origin:English namesLatin names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 45 | 22,293 girls |
| 1890s | 44 | 22,578 girls |
| 1900s | 37 | 27,174 girls |
| 1910s | 43 | 23,020 girls |
| 1920s | 121 | 8,296 girls |
| 1930s | 142 | 7,059 girls |
| 1940s | 328 | 3,052 girls |
| 1950s | 490 | 2,042 girls |
| 1960s | 348 | 2,874 girls |
| 1970s | 261 | 3,831 girls |
| 1980s | 285 | 3,504 girls |
| 1990s | 243 | 4,120 girls |
| 2000s | 187 | 5,346 girls |
| 2010s | 207 | 4,824 girls |
| 2020s | 251 | 3,976 girls |
Other spellings of Laurel
More English girl names
- Girl name: Olivia · olive tree
- Girl name: Charlotte · free
- Unisex name: Harper · harp player
- Girl name: Elizabeth · God is my oath
- Girl name: Lily · lily flower
- Girl name: Lucy · light
- Girl name: Lainey · possibly light
- Girl name: Scarlett · scarlet red
Questions about the name Laurel
What does the name Laurel mean?
Laurel means “laurel tree” in English.
What is the origin of the name Laurel?
Laurel has English, Latin roots in our records. Other English names include Olivia, Charlotte, Harper.
Is Laurel a boy or girl name?
Laurel is a girl name.
How popular is the name Laurel?
Laurel ranked #734 for US girls in 2025, given to 372 babies. Its best year was 1956 (#241).