Laray Unisex

Popularity: #930 · Trend: → Stable

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: luh-RAY /ləˈreɪ/

Origin: English; French

Meaning: English: derived from 'Lara'; French: 'the laurel'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Laray is believed to have roots in the Latin name "Laurus," which means "laurel" or "bay tree." The laurel tree has historically been associated with victory and honor, as laurel wreaths were awarded to victors in ancient Greece and Rome. The transition from Latin to the modern form of Laray likely involved influences from Old French and Middle English, where variations of the name began to emerge, adapting the phonetics and spelling to fit the linguistic patterns of those languages.

In terms of historical milestones, the use of laurel as a symbol can be traced back to ancient civilizations, where it was often linked to the gods and used in various religious and cultural ceremonies. The name itself, while not widely documented in historical texts, can be associated with the broader cultural significance of the laurel in literature and art, particularly during the Renaissance when classical themes were revived.

The laurel has also been referenced in various literary works, including those of poets and playwrights who sought to evoke themes of triumph and achievement. Culturally, the name Laray may carry connotations of honor and success, reflecting the attributes associated with the laurel.

This symbolic resonance has allowed names derived from laurel to endure through centuries, as they evoke a sense of nobility and accomplishment. While diminutive forms or variations may exist, such as "Lara" or "Lary," the essence of the name remains tied to its origins in the natural world and its historical significance in celebrating victory and achievement.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Laray, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Laray. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Laray was first seen in the United States in 1924.

Laray has ranked as high as #7600 nationally, which occurred in 1991, and has been most popular in .

In the past 5 years the name Laray has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Laray is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Laray was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Laray.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 8 8 0
2024 12 7 5
2022 7 7 0
2021 17 11 6
2019 5 5 0
2018 5 5 0
2017 7 7 0
2015 13 8 5
2014 8 0 8
2013 7 7 0
2011 6 0 6
2010 15 5 10
2009 19 14 5
2008 7 0 7
2007 10 5 5
2006 7 0 7
2005 6 6 0
2004 8 0 8
2003 6 6 0
2001 16 10 6
1999 15 6 9
1997 7 7 0
1996 6 0 6
1995 16 5 11
1994 12 6 6
1993 17 5 12
1992 16 11 5
1991 20 13 7
1990 13 13 0
1989 9 9 0
1988 16 11 5
1987 15 5 10
1986 20 13 7
1985 6 6 0
1984 20 12 8
1983 9 9 0
1982 17 11 6
1981 13 5 8
1980 19 11 8
1979 17 10 7
1978 15 6 9
1977 5 0 5
1976 14 8 6
1975 7 7 0
1974 11 6 5
1973 10 10 0
1972 15 8 7
1971 16 7 9
1970 11 0 11
1969 12 5 7
1968 10 5 5
1967 17 10 7
1966 8 0 8
1965 17 10 7
1964 11 5 6
1963 16 6 10
1962 6 0 6
1961 7 0 7
1960 11 5 6
1959 9 9 0
1958 9 0 9
1956 7 0 7
1952 7 7 0
1951 5 5 0
1950 12 7 5
1949 7 7 0
1948 6 0 6
1947 8 0 8
1946 5 5 0
1945 5 0 5
1942 6 0 6
1939 6 0 6
1930 5 5 0
1928 6 0 6
1924 5 0 5

Top States for Laray

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

No state data available for this year.