seven reflections
Login
Lorraine Name Meaning, Origins & History

Lorraine

Pronunciation: luh-RAYN / lor-AYN

Meaning From Lorraine Origin place names Gender Girl
GIRLS RANK
#1,044
TREND
373
Peak Years
1928, 1927, 1929
Lowest Years
1885, 1882, 1887
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 girls named Lorraine in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Lorraine

  • An established favorite: Lorraine held a place in the U.S. top 100 for 31 consecutive years, from 1918 through 1948.
  • More than 210 thousand babies named Lorraine: U.S. records list 210,841 babies given the name Lorraine from 1880 through 2025. Even 935 boys received the name Lorraine - about 1 boy for every 224 girls.

What Does the Name Lorraine Mean?

Lorraine is a feminine given name transferred from the French regional name Lorraine. The regional name comes from Medieval Latin Lotharingia, meaning "territory of Lothair," named for Lothair II, the ninth-century Frankish king whose lands were called Lotharingia. The personal name behind it is Germanic Lothair (also Chlothar), formed from elements usually explained as "famous" (or "loud") and "army"; the compound is literally "famous army," though it is sometimes interpreted as "famous warrior." In name books, the given name is often described simply as "from Lorraine" or "from France," which is a customary way of identifying its place-name origin rather than a separate word meaning. It is not related to Laura or Lauren, which come from Latin laurus, "laurel."

Lorraine Name History & Origins

The given name Lorraine comes from the French regional name Lorraine, whose earlier form is Medieval Latin Lotharingia. That Latin name was formed from the Germanic personal name Lothair (also Chlothar) and referred to the kingdom of Lothair II, a son of Emperor Lothair I. When Lothair I divided his territories in 855, Lothair II received the northern portion, which became known as Lotharingia. After Lothair II died in 869, the Treaty of Meerssen in 870 divided the territory, but the regional name continued. The French form Lorraine developed from the Latin name; German uses Lothringen. The region became a duchy and later a French province.

As an English feminine given name, Lorraine was in use by the nineteenth century, when place names were increasingly adopted as first names. French also uses Lorraine as a given name. The name is not biblical and did not originate as a saint's name; its history is geographic and political. The given name's development is separate from the later history of the Lorraine region as a contested borderland between France and Germany.

How Popular is the Name Lorraine?

Lorraine remained among the top 100 girl names in the U.S. from 1918 to 1948. Its highest annual birth count was in 1928, and people born that year turn 98 in 2026.

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.

Explore Name Lists Featuring Lorraine

Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.

Established Favorite Girl Names

Established Girl Names: Favorites Through the Years

Explore More Lists with Name Lorraine

Most Popular Girl Names That Start with L

See List of Most Popular Girl Names Starting with L

How the Name Lorraine Shapes Your Personality and Life?

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 frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.

You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.

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

Name Search