Lorelei
LAW-rih-leye
Lorelei comes from German, combining lureln (an old Rhine dialect word for “murmuring”) and Lei (“rock” or “cliff”), describing the famous slate rock on the Rhine river in Germany.
The name was popularised by Clemens Brentano’s 1801 poem about a siren sitting on the Lorelei rock who lures fishermen to their deaths with her song. Heinrich Heine’s 1824 poem on the same legend spread it further across Europe.
Lorelei peaked at No. 441 in 2022 with 715 births. In 2024 it holds at No. 456 with 684 births, confirming sustained modern interest.
What the name Lorelei means
American pop culture embraced the name with Lorelei Lee, Marilyn Monroe’s character in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953). More recently, Lorelai Gilmore from Gilmore Girls (2000-2007) kept it in the cultural conversation.
Four syllables — LOR-uh-ly — with a soft open, rising middle, and falling close. The name has a lyrical quality that reflects its connection to song and water.
Parents drawn to Lorelei often seek a romantic, literary name with European heritage that remains uncommon enough to stand out on a class register.
Variant spellings include Lorelai (popularised by Gilmore Girls) and the German Loreley. All three forms share the same mythology and pronunciation.
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 Lorelei
Lorelei - similar names
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