Lurline is a unique and melodic given name of uncertain origin, often believed to have been coined by Scottish poet William Morris for his epic romance poem "The Earthly Paradise" published in 1868-1870. The character Lurline appears as the fairy queen who takes away the magical golden fruit that causes eternal youth on the island of Avalon.
The name Lurline has gained popularity beyond its literary roots, with some sources suggesting it may have been inspired by the Cornish word 'lur' meaning 'sea' and the Irish suffix '-line', which can denote a 'meadow'. This interpretation could suggest that Lurline means 'meadow near the sea'.
In literature and popular culture, Lurline has made appearances beyond Morris's work. It is the name of a mermaid in the 1937 Disney animated film "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," and it was also used as the title of a weekly radio program broadcast from Australia between 1942 and 1956.
While not extensively documented, Lurline remains an intriguing and uncommon name choice that evokes images of enchantment, nature, and literary history.
The name Lurline experienced significant popularity fluctuations over the years, with a total of 1885 births recorded between 1887 and 1970. The name's highest point was reached during World War I, with peaks of 69 births in 1915 and 54 births in 1919. However, popularity declined steadily after the war, dropping to just 5 births by 1970. This mirrors a broader trend seen in many once-popular names that have since fallen out of favor.