Laura
Say it: LOR-a/ˈlɔːɹə/
GirlMeans laurel5 letters2 syllables
#112
in Ireland (2025)
#114 with spellings combined
41
babies in 2025
#2
best rank (1985)
19,105
babies since 1964
Down 66
10-year rank change
Laura through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 41 | #114 |
| 2024 | 46 | #105 |
| 2023 | 49 | #103 |
| 2022 | 59 | #93 |
| 2021 | 74 | #77 |
| 2020 | 60 | #91 |
| 2019 | 68 | #85 |
| 2018 | 99 | #62 |
| 2017 | 97 | #63 |
| 2016 | 112 | #54 |
| 2015 | 133 | #48 |
| 2014 | 132 | #49 |
| 2013 | 169 | #39 |
| 2012 | 191 | #36 |
| 2011 | 212 | #36 |
| 2010 | 198 | #38 |
| 2009 | 243 | #30 |
| 2008 | 245 | #30 |
| 2007 | 224 | #32 |
| 2006 | 248 | #24 |
| 2005 | 231 | #28 |
| 2004 | 261 | #24 |
| 2003 | 268 | #21 |
| 2002 | 349 | #16 |
| 2001 | 361 | #13 |
| 2000 | 315 | #13 |
| 1999 | 397 | #12 |
| 1998 | 357 | #11 |
| 1997 | 501 | #10 |
| 1996 | 577 | #6 |
| 1995 | 607 | #4 |
| 1994 | 659 | #3 |
| 1993 | 605 | #4 |
| 1992 | 685 | #2 |
| 1991 | 666 | #3 |
| 1990 | 616 | #3 |
| 1989 | 716 | #2 |
| 1988 | 771 | #2 |
| 1987 | 752 | #2 |
| 1986 | 783 | #2 |
| 1985 | 782 | #2 |
| 1984 | 665 | #4 |
| 1983 | 714 | #3 |
| 1982 | 531 | #11 |
| 1981 | 488 | #14 |
| 1980 | 446 | #17 |
| 1979 | 395 | #18 |
| 1978 | 311 | #27 |
| 1977 | 263 | #35 |
| 1976 | 209 | #42 |
| 1975 | 195 | #44 |
| 1974 | 117 | #79 |
| 1973 | 117 | #77 |
| 1972 | 103 | #81 |
| 1971 | 97 | #86 |
| 1970 | 90 | #90 |
| 1969 | 94 | #82 |
| 1968 | 70 | #98 |
| 1967 | 79 | #88 |
| 1966 | 78 | #81 |
| 1965 | 47 | #122 |
| 1964 | 37 | #131 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Laura mean?
Laurel
Latin, from laurus (laurel tree).
Say it right
LORa
The story of Laura
Laura is a Late Latin name taken from laurus, the laurel tree. Laurel wreaths crowned winners in the ancient world, so the name has long carried a sense of victory. It became famous through Petrarch, the fourteenth-century Italian poet, whose sonnets were addressed to a woman he called Laura. It is sometimes used as a feminine form of Laurence too.
In Ireland Laura was already in use when the CSO records begin, and it rose fast through the 1970s. It was in the top four every year from 1983 to 1995, and reached number 2 in 1985. Its busiest year was 1986, with 783 girls. It has fallen a long way since, and 41 girls were named Laura in 2025.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Laura (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Laura (given name)
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Laura | 41 | 19,105 |
In Northern Ireland
#334 in 2025 with 4 babies. Best rank #13 (1997); 1,347 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.