Laural Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: LAWR-al //ˈlɔːr.əl//
Origin: Latin; English
Meaning: Latin: laurel; English: variant of Laura
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Laural is derived from the Latin word "laurus," meaning "bay laurel," which is a symbol of victory and honor in ancient cultures. The bay laurel tree was significant in ancient Rome and Greece, where it was associated with the god Apollo and used to create laurel wreaths for victors in athletic competitions and military commanders.
The transition of the name into English likely occurred through the Old French form "laurier," which also referred to the laurel tree, before being adapted into Middle English as "laurel." This etymological journey highlights the name's deep-rooted connections to themes of triumph and achievement. Historically, the laurel has been a powerful symbol since antiquity, appearing in various literary and artistic works.
In the context of Christianity, the laurel is often associated with martyrdom and resurrection, as seen in various religious texts and iconography. The name Laural, while less common than its variants, can be linked to notable historical figures and literary references, including the use of laurel in the works of poets and playwrights throughout the Renaissance.
The name may also evoke the image of the laurel wreath, which has been a significant cultural emblem since the classical era. In addition to its historical significance, the name Laural carries connotations of beauty and resilience, much like the laurel tree itself, which is known for its evergreen nature.
The name's association with victory and honor has allowed it to endure in various cultures, often symbolizing achievement and success. Related forms, such as Laura, have been widely used in different cultures, further emphasizing the name's enduring legacy and cultural resonance.
Famous people named Laural
In this section, you will find notable people named Laural. 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 Laural who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Laural 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.
Laural Merlington is a voice actress best known for her work in video games and animated series.
Laural O'Connor is a writer best known for her novels and contributions to literary magazines.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Laural, 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 Laural. 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 Laural was first seen in the United States in 1918.
Laural has ranked as high as #1057 nationally, which occurred in 1957, and has been most popular in California, Washington, Illinois, Michigan, and New York.
In the past 5 years the name Laural has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Laural 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 Laural was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Laural (1966)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| IL | 6 |
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 Laural.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2006 | 10 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2003 | 10 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2000 | 10 |
| 1999 | 12 |
| 1998 | 13 |
| 1997 | 9 |
| 1996 | 10 |
| 1995 | 7 |
| 1994 | 12 |
| 1993 | 5 |
| 1991 | 8 |
| 1990 | 6 |
| 1989 | 10 |
| 1988 | 6 |
| 1987 | 8 |
| 1986 | 7 |
| 1985 | 14 |
| 1984 | 16 |
| 1983 | 5 |
| 1982 | 11 |
| 1981 | 11 |
| 1980 | 7 |
| 1979 | 12 |
| 1978 | 7 |
| 1977 | 6 |
| 1976 | 15 |
| 1975 | 13 |
| 1974 | 14 |
| 1973 | 8 |
| 1972 | 12 |
| 1971 | 16 |
| 1970 | 25 |
| 1969 | 19 |
| 1968 | 22 |
| 1967 | 18 |
| 1966 | 20 |
| 1965 | 22 |
| 1964 | 22 |
| 1963 | 25 |
| 1962 | 26 |
| 1961 | 34 |
| 1960 | 31 |
| 1959 | 20 |
| 1958 | 32 |
| 1957 | 52 |
| 1956 | 30 |
| 1955 | 25 |
| 1954 | 20 |
| 1953 | 24 |
| 1952 | 6 |
| 1951 | 25 |
| 1950 | 19 |
| 1949 | 21 |
| 1948 | 18 |
| 1947 | 20 |
| 1946 | 19 |
| 1945 | 17 |
| 1944 | 10 |
| 1943 | 14 |
| 1942 | 7 |
| 1941 | 7 |
| 1940 | 7 |
| 1939 | 17 |
| 1938 | 5 |
| 1932 | 5 |
| 1929 | 5 |
| 1928 | 8 |
| 1927 | 7 |
| 1926 | 5 |
| 1925 | 6 |
| 1918 | 5 |