Lauren is a unisex name of French and Latin origin meaning ‘bay tree’ and ‘wisdom’. Derived from the name Laurentius, which means ‘from Laurentum’, the name was more frequently given to baby boys as the masculine French name, Laurence, and has come to signify qualities of victory and honor.
Laurence comes 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’.
In addition, 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.
The name Lauren is not only a given name but a surname as well. Most notably, it is used as a surname by fashion designer Ralph Lauren.
- Name Origin: French/Latin
- Meaning: Wisdom and victory
- Pronunciation: Lor-en
- Gender: Unisex — used for both boys and girls, but 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 named Lauren, according to Social Security Administration statistics. Although the name was traditionally masculine, there were only 134 baby boys were given the name in the same year.
Name 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 French Unisex Names
| 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’
| 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
- Lauren Graham – American actress
- Lauren Conrad – American TV personality
- Lauren Cohan – British-American actress
- Lauren Jauregui – American singer-songwriter