Originating from the Hawaiian islands, 'Lorilei' is a unique and melodic female given name that translates to 'joyful music.' It is derived from two Hawaiian words: 'lorike' meaning song, and 'lei,' signifying both garland and music. This name was popularized by the 1965 film 'The Sound of Music,' where it was used as one of the aliases of the main character, Maria von Trapp.
The name Lorilei experienced varied popularity over the years, with a total of 264 births recorded between 1954 and 2023. The name's peak occurred in the late 1950s to early 1960s, with consistently high numbers ranging from 6 to 12 births per year during this period. However, its popularity waned significantly after the mid-1970s, with fewer than 10 births per year from 1983 onwards. The name saw a slight resurgence in the late 2000s and early 2010s but has since maintained modest popularity, with around 6 to 12 births per year up until 2023.