Lauren is a feminine given name of Latin origin that means "laurel". In ancient Rome, laurel was a sacred tree associated with the god Apollo and his oracle at Delphi. The leaves of the laurel tree were used to create wreaths or crowns for victorious athletes and poets, symbolizing triumph and success. Therefore, the name Lauren is often associated with these positive qualities.
The name Lauren has been popular in English-speaking countries since the mid-20th century. It gained popularity in part due to its use by celebrities such as Lauren Bacall, a renowned American actress known for her distinctive husky voice and glamorous film roles during Hollywood's golden age.
Lauren was also used by the author Lauren Child, who created the popular children's book series "Charlie and Lola". The series features illustrations of Lauren herself as a young girl, which helped to further popularize the name among parents looking for unique and creative names for their daughters.
In some cases, Lauren may be considered a unisex name, as it has also been used occasionally for boys. However, its primary association is with females, particularly in English-speaking countries where it has consistently ranked among the top 1000 most popular girl names since the 1940s.
Overall, the name Lauren carries a positive connotation due to its Latin origins and associations with success, triumph, and creativity. Its popularity in recent decades can be attributed to several notable figures who have borne the name, as well as its ease of pronunciation and memorability.
The name Lauren experienced significant growth in popularity over time, with a notable surge beginning in the late 1970s and peaking in the early to mid-1980s. Between 1975 and 1986, the number of births named Lauren increased from around 2,000 to nearly 20,000 per year. However, since then, its popularity has steadily declined, with only about 1,000 babies named Lauren in recent years (2021-2023). Overall, Lauren was given as a birth name over 473,898 times during the period from 1924 to 2023.