The name Loreley is of German origin and has a rich history behind it. It is derived from the old German words 'Lur' which means 'muddy marsh' or 'quagmire', and 'Ley' which translates to 'meadow'. Therefore, the meaning of Loreley can be interpreted as 'marshy meadow'.
The name Loreley is also associated with a legendary figure in German folklore. According to the legend, Loreley was a beautiful maiden who lived near the Rhine river in Germany. She would sit on a rock by the river and comb her golden hair while singing enchanting songs that would lure sailors to their doom. The rocks where she sat became known as the "Loreley Felsen" or Loreley Rock.
The story of Loreley has been popularized through various works of literature and music, including Goethe's poem "Das Rheinegold" and the opera "Der Rhein gold" by Richard Wagner. Today, the name Loreley is still associated with beauty, mystery, and danger due to its legendary origins.
In terms of popularity, the name Loreley is not very common outside of Germany. However, it has gained some international recognition through pop culture references such as the video game "Final Fantasy" where a character named Lorelei appears. Overall, the name Loreley carries a unique and captivating history that sets it apart from other names with German origins.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Loreley has seen a varying number of births in the United States over the past two decades. The highest peak was in 2010 with 16 babies named Loreley, followed by several years with 9 births each between 2012 and 2015. However, since 2016, the number of births for this name has steadily decreased, averaging around 6 to 7 births per year up until the most recent data from 2023.
In total, there have been 114 babies named Loreley born in the United States between 2006 and 2023. This data suggests that while Loreley was once a popular choice for parents, its popularity has since declined. Despite this trend, it is still a unique name with a notable history of use in recent years.