Lawrence
/ˈlɔɹ.əns/
Lawrence is the English form of the Latin Laurentius, meaning “man from Laurentum,” a town near Rome whose name may derive from laurus (“laurel”).
Saint Lawrence of Rome, martyred in 258 AD, was one of the most venerated early Christian martyrs. His feast day on August 10 made the name a staple of Catholic naming across Europe.
Lawrence peaked at No. 30 in 1942 with 7,639 births. In 2024 it sits at No. 509 with 596 births, a classic name holding quietly at the lower ranks.
What the name Lawrence means
The name has been carried by figures across every field: Saint Lawrence, philosopher and politician T.E. Lawrence, actor Lawrence Fishburne, and physicist Ernest Orlando Lawrence, who won the Nobel Prize in 1939.
Three syllables—LOR-ents—in British English, two in American usage (LAW-rents). The variation reflects the name’s deep absorption into English-speaking culture.
Short forms Larry and Laurie were among the most common American nicknames of the mid-20th century. Lawrence itself now reads as more formal, which some parents prefer for the full register.
As Larry and Laurie fade, Lawrence is beginning to attract renewed interest as a dignified formal name with solid historical roots—following the pattern of names like Walter and Arthur.
US popularity over time
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Lawrence
Lawrence - similar names
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