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Lawrence Name Meaning, Origins & History

Lawrence

Pronunciation: LAWR-uhns / LAR-uhns

Meaning From Laurentium Origin Latin Gender Boy
BOYS RANK
#520
TREND
11
GIRLS RANK
#12,616
TREND
3,362
Peak Years
1952, 1951, 1949
Lowest Years
1881, 1880, 1884
Energy Archetype
Wise & Balanced

Rank shows the name’s position among U.S. baby names for each gender in 2025. Trend shows how many places it rose or fell since 2024. Rank 1 is the most popular. Based on U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) data. Peak and lowest years are based on the number of boys named Lawrence in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Lawrence

  • An all-time favorite: U.S. records show 461,163 boys named Lawrence from 1880 through 2025.
  • A favorite of earlier generations: Lawrence appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 2 separate runs, totaling 93 years. Its last run lasted 1 consecutive years, from 1974 through 1974.
  • More than 463 thousand babies named Lawrence: U.S. records list 463,350 babies given the name Lawrence from 1880 through 2025. Even 2,187 girls received the name Lawrence - about 1 girl for every 211 boys.

What Does the Name Lawrence Mean?

Lawrence is the English form of the Latin name Laurentius, meaning 'from Laurentum.' Laurentum was an ancient town in Latium, the region around Rome. The town's name is often connected with Latin laurus, 'laurel,' so Laurentius can also be understood as 'of the laurel' or 'laurel-crowned.' That sense is a customary interpretation of the place name, not a separate origin: the personal name derives from the place. The derivation of Laurentum from laurus is traditional and plausible, but it is not certain. In Christian use, the laurel was sometimes read as a symbol of victory or martyrdom, especially in connection with Saint Lawrence, but that is later devotional symbolism rather than the literal meaning.

Lawrence Name History & Origins

The Latin Laurentius was a Roman cognomen, and its most influential early bearer was Saint Lawrence, a deacon of the church in Rome. According to tradition, he was martyred in 258 during the persecution under the emperor Valerian. His feast day, August 10, became widely observed in the Christian West, and churches were dedicated to him, including San Lorenzo in Rome. Through his veneration, the name spread across Christian Europe in forms such as Laurentius in Latin, Laurent in French, Lorenzo in Italian, Lorenz in German, and Lars in Scandinavian languages. In England, the name was used before the Norman Conquest; Laurence of Canterbury, a seventh-century archbishop, is an early bearer in England. Old French Laurence, from Latin Laurentius, became a standard medieval English form, and the spelling Lawrence later became common. The two spellings have coexisted, with Laurence more usual in Britain and Lawrence more usual in the United States. In literature, Friar Laurence in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is a famous later use of the name, not part of its origin. The feminine name Lauren comes from the same Latin root.

How Popular is the Name Lawrence?

Lawrence ranked among the top 100 U.S. names from 1880 through 1971, then returned in 1974 and remained through 1974.

U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.

Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.

Famous People Named Lawrence

Lawrence Ferlinghetti
Lawrence Ferlinghetti

Explore Name Lists Featuring Lawrence

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How the Name Lawrence Shapes Your Personality and Life?

Lawrence name, ancient Italy city Laurentum, man wears ancient Rome clothes with laurel wreath (victory, honor)

You always bring to completion anything you start. You are generous but like to see returns from your giving. You have an executive ability, you are a leader. You are moral, balanced, honest and intellectual, and you may attain spirituality. You are wise and practical with an appreciation of beauty. You always think before you act. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.

You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.

✦ Lawrence's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Lawrence's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.
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