Laura

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Laura

Gender: Feminine
Language: English and Latin
Etymology:
Laura is the feminine form of the name Laurus, which means “Laurel Tree” (Bay tree). An alternate theory claims it comes from French l’aura, or “the air.”

History:
The first recorded mention of Lauretta rings in in 1203. Laura came along in 1210.

Pronunciation: Lore-Ah

Alternates: Laraine, Larraine, Laureen, Lauretta, Laurette, Lauri, Laurie, Laurinda, Laurissa, Loreen, Lorella, Lorelle, Loretta, Lorette, Lori, Lorinda, Lorita, Lorraine, Lorrie, Lura.
Catalan: Llora.
French: Laure.
German: Lore, Lora.
Hawaiian: Lala, Lali, Laulena, Loki, Loleka.
Slavic: Lara.
Spanish: Larita, Laurita.
Ukrainian: Lavra.
Welsh: Lowri.

Masculine: Laurus.

See also: Lara, Laurie, Lori, Loretta (Lauretta), Lorraine.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Laura Elizabeth Ignalls Wilder (1867-1957)
American writer. Wrote the “Little House” books about growing up in pioneer America.
Laura Gilpin (1891-1971)
American photographer. Concentrated on the Southwest.
Laura Z. Hobson (1900-1986)
American writer. Wrote Gentleman’s Agreement.
Laura Riding (1901-1991)
American poet and critic.

Educators, Scholars, and Social Workers:
Laura Maria Sheldon Wright (1809-1886)
American missionary who worked with the Seneca on education.
Laura Matilda Towne (1825-1901)
American educator who concentrated on teaching former slaves.
Laura Drake Gill (1860-1926)
American educator.

Feminists:
Laura de Force Gordon (1838-1907)
American lawyer, editor, and reformer.

Miscellaneous:
Laura (?-1348)
The lost love of the poet Petrarch. Sometimes identified as the married Laura de Noves of Avignon.
Laura Dewey Bridgeman (1829-1889)
One of the first deaf-mute to be educated. American.

Singers and Entertainers:
Laura Keene (1826-1873)
British-American actress. Originally named Mary Moss.
Laura Nyro (Laura Nigro) (1947-1997)
American singer/songwriter.

Popularity:
Percentage of the U.S. Census:
0.510 % named Laura
0.248 % named Lori
0.135 % named Lorraine
0.115 % named Loretta
0.114 % named Laurie
0.036 % named Lora
0.016 % named Lara
0.012 % named Lorrie
0.009 % named Lauri
0.006 % named Lauretta
0.006 % named Lura
0.004 % named Laurette
0.003 % named Lorinda
0.002 % named Laure
0.002 % named Lore
0.001 % named Larita
0.001 % named Laurinda
0.001 % named Lorita

Popularity of Laura
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1800: 62nd most popular.
1850: 33rd most popular.
1875: 19th most popular.
1900-1910: 50th most popular.
1910-1920: 61st most popular.
1920-1930: 75th most popular.
1930-1940: 99th most popular.
1940-1950: 89th most popular.
1950-1960: 39th most popular.
1960-1970: 15th most popular.
1970-1980: 19th most popular.
1980-1990: 23rd most popular.
1990: 27th most popular.
1991: 33rd most popular.
1992: 37th most popular.
1993: 42nd most popular.
1994: 45th most popular.
1995: 53rd most popular.
1996: 62nd most popular.
1997: 64th most popular.
1998: 78th most popular.
1999: 79th most popular.
2000: 101st most popular.
2001: 83rd most popular.
2002: 104th most popular.
2003: 122nd most popular.

In France...
1900-1970: N/A
1975: 181st most popular.
1980: 125th most popular.
1990: 2nd most popular.
2000: 12th most popular.

In Ireland...
1998: 11th most popular.
1999: 12th most popular.
2000: 13th most popular.
2001: 13th most popular.
2002: 16th most popular.
2003: 21st most popular.

Popularity of Lora:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 262nd most popular.
1910-1920: 309th most popular.
1920-1930: 384th most popular.
1930-1940: 413th most popular.
1940-1950: 460th most popular.
1950-1960: 342nd most popular.
1960-1970: 232nd most popular.
1970-1980: 325th most popular.
1980-1990: 551st most popular.
1990-2000: N/A
1990: 791st most popular.
1991: 979th most popular.
1992: 917th most popular.
1993: N/A

Popularity of Lorrie:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1950: N/A
1940-1950: 427th most popular.
1960-1970: 326th most popular.
1970-1980: 551st most popular.
1980-2000: N/A

Popularity of Lauri:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1950: N/A
1950-1960: 599th most popular.
1960-1970: 423rd most popular.
1970-1980: 719th most popular.
1980-2000: N/A

Popularity of Lura:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 388th most popular.
1910-1920: 478th most popular.
1920-1930: 575th most popular.
1930-1940: 775th most popular.
1940-2000: N/A