Lars Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: Lars /lɑːrz/
Origin: Scandinavian; Dutch
Meaning: Scandinavian: 'laurel'; Dutch: 'from Laurentum'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Lars is of Scandinavian origin, derived from the Latin name Laurentius, which means "from Laurentum" or "laurelled." The Latin term "laurus" refers to the laurel tree, a symbol of victory and honor in ancient Rome. The name Laurentius was adopted into various languages, evolving through forms such as Laurens in Dutch and Laurent in French before reaching Scandinavian languages as Lars.
This transition reflects the broader influence of Latin on European languages following the Roman Empire's expansion and the subsequent Christianization of Northern Europe during the early Middle Ages. Historically, the name Lars can be traced back to the Viking Age, where it became popular in Scandinavia.
It is often associated with Saint Lawrence, a Christian martyr from the 3rd century, whose feast day is celebrated on August 10. The name gained further traction in the region through the spread of Christianity and the establishment of various saints' cults.
By the 12th century, Lars had become a common name in Sweden and Denmark, often used in conjunction with other names or as a diminutive form of Laurentius. Culturally, Lars has been embraced in various forms of literature and art, symbolizing strength and resilience.
The laurel's association with victory has contributed to the name's enduring significance in Scandinavian culture, where it is often linked to themes of honor and achievement. Additionally, the name has been borne by notable figures throughout history, including Lars Magnus Ericsson, a pioneer in telecommunications in the late 19th century.
The name's historical roots and cultural associations have solidified its place in Scandinavian heritage, making it a name of considerable significance.
Famous people named Lars
In this section, you will find notable people named Lars. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Lars who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Lars who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Lars Ulrich is a musician best known for being the drummer and co-founder of Metallica.
Lars von Trier is a filmmaker best known for films such as Breaking the Waves, Dancer in the Dark, and Melancholia.
Lars Mikkelsen is an actor best known for his roles in House of Cards, The Witcher, and Sherlock.
Lars Riedel is a former discus thrower best known for winning multiple World Championships and Olympic medals.
Fictional characters named Lars
The following list of fictional characters named Lars is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Lars is a fictional character from the video game series The Last of Us. He is a survivor who plays a significant role in the game's narrative, showcasing the struggles of humanity in a post-apocalyptic world.
Lars is a fictional character from the animated series Lars and the Real Girl. He is a socially awkward man who forms a unique relationship with a life-sized doll, leading to personal growth and community engagement.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Lars, 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 Lars. 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 Lars was first seen in the United States in 1883.
Lars has ranked as high as #1156 nationally, which occurred in 2000, and has been most popular in California, New York, Minnesota, Washington, and Illinois.
In the past 5 years the name Lars has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Lars 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 Lars was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Lars (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 12 | |
| MN | 7 | |
| UT | 5 |
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 Lars.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 64 |
| 2023 | 67 |
| 2022 | 95 |
| 2021 | 59 |
| 2020 | 83 |
| 2019 | 69 |
| 2018 | 87 |
| 2017 | 88 |
| 2016 | 109 |
| 2015 | 91 |
| 2014 | 83 |
| 2013 | 95 |
| 2012 | 84 |
| 2011 | 74 |
| 2010 | 89 |
| 2009 | 95 |
| 2008 | 102 |
| 2007 | 125 |
| 2006 | 101 |
| 2005 | 116 |
| 2004 | 111 |
| 2003 | 117 |
| 2002 | 127 |
| 2001 | 114 |
| 2000 | 127 |
| 1999 | 103 |
| 1998 | 109 |
| 1997 | 95 |
| 1996 | 97 |
| 1995 | 91 |
| 1994 | 89 |
| 1993 | 88 |
| 1992 | 88 |
| 1991 | 74 |
| 1990 | 84 |
| 1989 | 80 |
| 1988 | 84 |
| 1987 | 68 |
| 1986 | 75 |
| 1985 | 70 |
| 1984 | 81 |
| 1983 | 100 |
| 1982 | 82 |
| 1981 | 77 |
| 1980 | 99 |
| 1979 | 105 |
| 1978 | 65 |
| 1977 | 68 |
| 1976 | 78 |
| 1975 | 75 |
| 1974 | 79 |
| 1973 | 76 |
| 1972 | 87 |
| 1971 | 89 |
| 1970 | 104 |
| 1969 | 93 |
| 1968 | 88 |
| 1967 | 96 |
| 1966 | 82 |
| 1965 | 82 |
| 1964 | 90 |
| 1963 | 79 |
| 1962 | 95 |
| 1961 | 110 |
| 1960 | 61 |
| 1959 | 94 |
| 1958 | 74 |
| 1957 | 54 |
| 1956 | 54 |
| 1955 | 41 |
| 1954 | 44 |
| 1953 | 36 |
| 1952 | 40 |
| 1951 | 29 |
| 1950 | 34 |
| 1949 | 29 |
| 1948 | 34 |
| 1947 | 15 |
| 1946 | 16 |
| 1945 | 20 |
| 1944 | 21 |
| 1943 | 18 |
| 1942 | 25 |
| 1941 | 15 |
| 1940 | 22 |
| 1939 | 19 |
| 1938 | 15 |
| 1937 | 27 |
| 1936 | 16 |
| 1935 | 15 |
| 1934 | 12 |
| 1933 | 14 |
| 1932 | 10 |
| 1931 | 12 |
| 1930 | 13 |
| 1929 | 14 |
| 1928 | 15 |
| 1927 | 14 |
| 1926 | 14 |
| 1925 | 11 |
| 1924 | 9 |
| 1923 | 17 |
| 1922 | 10 |
| 1921 | 21 |
| 1920 | 14 |
| 1919 | 8 |
| 1918 | 12 |
| 1917 | 24 |
| 1916 | 10 |
| 1915 | 17 |
| 1914 | 16 |
| 1913 | 6 |
| 1912 | 6 |
| 1901 | 8 |
| 1897 | 5 |
| 1887 | 5 |
| 1886 | 5 |
| 1884 | 5 |
| 1883 | 7 |