Laurence
From the name of a third century Roman martyr, Latin Laurentius, "a person from Laurentum", the place name possibly derived from laurus (“laurel”).
Every Laurence since 1880 — 40,215 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Laurence
Laurence is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #1,747 in 2025 with 93 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 40,215 American babies have been named Laurence. Its peak came in 1952, when 856 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1950s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Laurence stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Laurence year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | #16,263 | 93 | #1,747 |
| 2024 | — | — | 67 | #2,182 |
| 2023 | — | — | 68 | #2,140 |
| 2022 | 5 | #16,657 | 54 | #2,543 |
| 2021 | 5 | #16,640 | 62 | #2,265 |
| 2020 | 7 | #12,890 | 72 | #1,990 |
| 2019 | 5 | #16,946 | 61 | #2,278 |
| 2018 | 6 | #14,865 | 61 | #2,250 |
| 2017 | — | — | 72 | #1,991 |
| 2016 | — | — | 56 | #2,355 |
| 2015 | — | — | 60 | #2,249 |
| 2014 | — | — | 59 | #2,264 |
| 2013 | — | — | 45 | #2,648 |
| 2012 | — | — | 51 | #2,470 |
| 2011 | — | — | 48 | #2,572 |
| 2010 | — | — | 41 | #2,901 |
| 2009 | — | — | 56 | #2,337 |
| 2008 | — | — | 53 | #2,419 |
| 2007 | — | — | 55 | #2,357 |
| 2006 | 5 | #18,816 | 71 | #1,905 |
| 2005 | — | — | 61 | #2,051 |
| 2004 | — | — | 71 | #1,774 |
| 2003 | — | — | 81 | #1,575 |
| 2002 | 5 | #16,971 | 74 | #1,627 |
| 2001 | — | — | 68 | #1,704 |
| 2000 | 6 | #14,186 | 71 | #1,649 |
| 1995 | — | — | 124 | #998 |
| 1990 | 11 | #7,626 | 122 | #936 |
| 1985 | 5 | #11,634 | 138 | #759 |
| 1980 | — | — | 161 | #683 |
| 1975 | — | — | 179 | #608 |
| 1970 | — | — | 303 | #466 |
| 1965 | 6 | #6,178 | 364 | #411 |
| 1960 | — | — | 513 | #344 |
| 1955 | — | — | 641 | #284 |
| 1950 | — | — | 807 | #227 |
| 1945 | — | — | 591 | #227 |
| 1940 | — | — | 604 | #211 |
| 1935 | — | — | 427 | #261 |
| 1930 | 7 | #3,870 | 562 | #226 |
| 1925 | 18 | #2,155 | 551 | #239 |
| 1920 | 11 | #3,004 | 550 | #228 |
| 1915 | 9 | #3,010 | 462 | #222 |
| 1910 | 9 | #1,699 | 114 | #219 |
| 1905 | 5 | #2,088 | 77 | #218 |
| 1900 | 5 | #2,079 | 81 | #220 |
| 1895 | — | — | 58 | #232 |
| 1890 | 5 | #1,426 | 42 | #268 |
| 1885 | — | — | 33 | #293 |
| 1880 | — | — | 25 | #347 |
Famous people named Laurence
- Laurence Olivier Actor · 1907–1989
- Laurence Sterne Writer · 1713–1768
- Laurence Fishburne Actor · b. 1961
- Laurence Harvey Actor · 1928–1973
- Laurence Doherty Tennis player · 1875–1919
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Laurence mean?
From the name of a third century Roman martyr, Latin Laurentius, "a person from Laurentum", the place name possibly derived from laurus (“laurel”).
How popular is the name Laurence in 2025?
Laurence ranked #1,747 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 93 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Laurence?
40,215 babies have been named Laurence in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Laurence most popular?
Laurence peaked in 1952, when 856 newborns received the name.
Is Laurence a boy or girl name?
Laurence is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 99% of babies with the name.
Is the name Laurence rising or falling?
Laurence is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Laurence?
Well-known people named Laurence include Laurence Olivier (actor), Laurence Sterne (writer), Laurence Fishburne (actor).