How Many People Are Named Laurel?

Complete statistics for the name Laurel: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.

Laurel
Very Rare
Latin

Laurel comes from the Latin word for the laurel tree, a symbol of victory and honor in ancient Rome. It's a rare name today, with about 39,290 living Americans carrying it, which works out to just 1 in 8,399 people. What's striking is that despite being on the rise right now, nearly half of all Laurels alive today are over 60.

~1,890
Living in US
1 in 175,370
Americans
1956
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
Laurel tree, victory symbol
🌐
Origin
Latin
🌟
Lucky Day
Sunday
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 6
Personality Traits
Graceful Determined Classic Poised
6
Life Path Number

Life path number 6 is traditionally associated with nurturing, responsibility, and a deep sense of care for others. People connected to the number 6 are often seen as harmonious and devoted, with a natural instinct to support the people around them.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

39,290
Worldwide Bearers
#13,531
Global Rank
🇳🇬 Nigeria
236
🇬🇭 Ghana
225
🇲🇽 Mexico
140
🇨🇲 Cameroon
106
🇨🇳 China
105
🇳🇱 Netherlands
61
🇧🇷 Brazil
50
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Wales
43
🇮🇩 Indonesia
42
🇲🇾 Malaysia
42

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
479 (1%)
♀ Female
38,810 (99%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 55
10,559
Would be under 30 (22%)
14,404
Would be 30–60 (30%)
23,636
Would be over 60 (49%)

All 48,599 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).

📈 Popularity Over Time

Peak: 1956

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Rising

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
99
Classic Feel
75
Modern Appeal
35
International
5

Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency

📜 Laurel Through the Generations

Laurel peaked back in 1956 with 1,197 births in a single year, and that mid-century boom is written all over its age profile today. A full 49% of living Laurels are over 60, meaning the name is heavily tied to the older generation. Only 10,559 are under 30, compared to 23,636 who are past 60, so younger Laurels are genuinely rare to meet. The average age of 39,290 living bearers sits at 55, which tells you where the name's center of gravity really is. All-time US births total 48,599, so the gap between that and the living count is relatively modest, suggesting most Laurels born at the peak are still with us. The rising trend is the real surprise here. After decades of quiet, parents are rediscovering this classic, old-school name, and the next generation of Laurels is slowly starting to grow.

📍 State Distribution (Top 10)

California 5,613
New York 3,203
Illinois 2,689
Ohio 2,343
Pennsylvania 2,261
Texas 2,062
Michigan 2,025
Minnesota 1,717
Massachusetts 1,630
Washington 1,613

⭐ Famous People Named Laurel

Laurel is a unisex given name. The name is of English origin from the Latin Lauras, referring to the laurel tree. Various names related to Laurel are Laura, Lauren, Lori, and Lorraine. Another related name would be the Germanic mythology name Lorelie which means "luring rock" and is mentioned in a German legend saying that a maiden named Lorelei, who lives upon a rock in the Rhine River, lures fishermen to death with her songs.…

Full list on Wikipedia →

✨ Similar Names to Laurel

🌿 Related Names by Origin

Other names sharing Laurel's Latin roots

📄 About the Name Laurel

How Many People Have the Name Laurel?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 1,890 people in the United States currently share the name Laurel. That works out to roughly 1 in every 175,370 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.

Is Laurel a Common or Rare Name?

Laurel is classified as Very Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.

What Does the Name Laurel Mean?

Laurel means "laurel tree, victory symbol" and comes from Latin origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 6.

Gender Breakdown

Of all recorded bearers of Laurel in SSA data, approximately 1% are male and 99% are female.

When Was Laurel Most Popular?

The name Laurel reached peak popularity in 1956, with 1,197 babies registered that year. Current trend: Rising.

How Is This Data Calculated?

All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many people are named Laurel?

Approximately 1,890 people named Laurel live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 1,890. That works out to roughly 1 in 175,370 Americans.

Is Laurel a rare name?

Laurel is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 175,370 Americans has this name.

What does the name Laurel mean?

Laurel means "laurel tree, victory symbol" and comes from Latin origins.

Is Laurel more male or female?

Based on SSA records, 1% of people named Laurel are male and 99% are female.

When was Laurel most popular?

Laurel peaked in 1956 with 1,197 births that year. Current trend: Rising.

How accurate are these statistics?

All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.

Disclaimer: All results are statistical estimates based on aggregated SSA birth records and modeling. Not exact counts of individuals. Data source: SSA National Baby Names dataset.
Quick Stats
Living in US1,890
All-Time Births1,890
1 in X1 in 175,370
RarityVery Rare
GenderFemale
Avg Age55
Peak Year1956
World Rank#13,531
Male %1%
Female %99%

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Data Source

Powered by the SSA National Baby Names dataset, birth registrations from 1880 to present.

All counts are statistical estimates. See the methodology page.