Lauren is a unisex name of French and Latin origin. Traditionally, Lauren was more frequently given to baby boys and the name derives from the masculine French name, Laurence.
Laurence is derived from the Roman surname Laurentius, and this is thought to have come from the name of an ancient Italian City, Laurentum. The name Laurence means ‘crowned with laurel,’ and the city name of Laurentum comes from the word Laurus – meaning ‘bay laurel’.
It can be difficult to pin just one word to Lauren’s name meaning. Some argue that the name Lauren means Laurel Plant, whereas others insist the name means ‘wisdom’ or ‘victory’.
However, the Laurel plant was given to winners of Olympic sports in ancient Greece, and the word ‘laureate’ is given to people who have had significant achievements in a certain area – such as poetry.
Lauren is also a surname and is most famously used in this way by the fashion designer Ralph Lauren.
- Lauren Name Origin: French/Latin
- Meanig of Lauren: Wisdom and victory
- Pronunciation: Lor-en
- Gender: Unisex. Traditionally used for both boys and girls, the name became more associated with girls during the 1900s.
How Popular is the Name Lauren?
The name Lauren was most popular during the 1980s and 1990s. During this time it was most frequently used for girls. The name peaked in 1989, as the ninth most popular girl’s name in the USA.
In 1989, 21065 baby girls were called Lauren according to Social Security Administration statistics. Although Lauren was traditionally a masculine name, there were only 134 baby boys named Lauren in the same year.
Variations of the Name Lauren
If you like the name Lauren but don’t love it enough to use it for your baby, have look at these variations:
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
| Laura | Bay laurel | Italian |
| Lorens | From Laurentum | Latin |
| Laurentia | Victory | Ancient Rome |
| Lorrin | The man from Lorraine | Normandy |
| Laurena | Laurel tree | Latin |
| Laryn | Victory | Scottish |
| Lorin | Laurel plant | English |
Other Amazing French Unisex Names
If your heart is set on a French name for your baby, why not try one of these alternatives:
| Name | Meaning |
| Andrea | Force/courage |
| Camille | Serving at the altar |
| Clarence | Bright and clear |
| Etienne | Crowned |
| Gene | Well born |
| Matiese | Gift of God |
| Nikola | Victory of the people |
Alternative Unisex Names Starting with ‘L’
Maybe you want a name that starts with L but Lauren just isn’t the one. If so, why not choose one of the following for your baby?
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
| Lennon | Dear one | Irish |
| Lincoln | Lake or pool colony | Old English |
| London | From the great river | English |
| Lyric | Words of a song | English |
| Lux | Light | Latin |
| Lior | I have a light | Hebrew |
| Larkin | Rough or fierce | Irish |
Famous People Named Lauren
The name Lauren has been around for centuries and there are several famous people with this unisex name. Here is a list of some of the most famous Laurens:
- Lauren Graham – American actress.
- Lauren Bacall – American actress.
- Lauren Conrad – American TV personality.
- Lauren Cohan – British-American actress.
- Lauren Jauregui – American singer-songwriter .