Laurence

Laurence is an English variant of Laurentius for boys and a French variant of Laurentia for girls. The name refers to the ancient Roman city of Laurentum and means "the man/woman from Laurentum" or "the one descended from Laurentum."

What does the name Laurence mean?

Laurence is used as both a male and female first name. The English form for boys comes from Laurentius, while the French form for girls is derived from Laurentia. The name can be translated as "the man/woman from Laurentum" or "the laurel-crowned," with the latter referencing the Latin word laurus for "laurel." In the English-speaking world, Laurence is common as a male first name, with the spelling Lawrence being more popular today. The short form Lauren is frequently used in English-speaking areas and is predominantly for girls. In French, Laurence mainly appears as a girl's name, often in the shortened form Laure. The name has its roots in the Middle Ages, with the most notable bearer being the Scottish bishop Laurence de Erganis, also known as Lawrence of Argyll, in the 13th century.

Where does the name Laurence come from?

The name Laurence has Latin origins and is used as both a male and female first name. Meanings include "the man/woman from Laurentum" or "the laurel-crowned." The Latin term Laurentum refers to an ancient Roman city in Latium, while laurus stands for "laurel."

How do you pronounce Laurence?

The pronunciation of Laurence is two syllables and fluid. In the German variant, it is usually pronounced as "Lau-rens" [ˈlɔːʁəns], creating a harmonious sound structure. The part "rens" provides a gentle and lasting finish, making the name elegant and balanced. Laurence exudes a calm, sonorous, and classically English note.

When is the name day of Laurence?

The name days for Laurence fall on January 8, February 3, July 21, August 10, September 5, September 28, and November 14.

Popularity

In Germany, Laurence is a common first name. In 2022, it ranked 3,813th on the list of the most common male first names. The name achieved its best ranking in 2005 at 827th. Over the last ten years, Laurence has been given as a first name approximately 70 times, placing it 2,921st in the ten-year statistics. Between 2010 and 2024, it ranks 2,705th.

Nicknames & pet names

Lau / Laui / Laure / Lauren / Lauri / Lo / Loli / Lolo / Loro / Low / Rence

Similar first names

Famous people

• J. Laurence Kulp (American chemist)
• Laurence Alma-Tadema (American writer)
• Laurence Ambrose Brown (British bishop)
• Laurence Arcadias (French artist)
• Laurence Archer (musician from the UK)
• Laurence Badie (French actress)
• Laurence Bertrand Dorleac (French art historian)
• Laurence Bidaud (curler)
• Laurence Bily (French athlete)
• Laurence Cook (American jazz musician)
• Laurence Cote (French actress)
• Laurence Courtois (Belgian tennis player)
• Laurence de Cambronne (French writer)
• Laurence de Ergadia (bishop from America)
• Laurence de Erganis (after October 29, 1299, bishop of Argyll)
• Laurence Equilbey (conductor from France)
• Laurence Eusden (British poet)
• Laurence Gartel (American artist)
• Laurence Gibson (American footballer)
• Laurence Grivot (French singer)