Larenz
Variant of Lawrence, from the Latin Laurentius meaning "from Laurentum".
Name Census estimates that about 529 living Americans carry the first name Larenz. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Larenz today is around 20 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Larenz births was 1998 (40 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Larenz. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
529
~ 1 in 647,929 Americans
Peak year
1998
40 babies that year
Average age
20
years old
2024 SSA rank
#8,045
Tracked since 1994
Popularity
Larenz: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Larenz from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 184 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Larenz by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Larenz during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Larenz' live
The SSA's state-level files cover 4 states and territories. California, Michigan, Louisiana recorded the most babies named Larenz, while New York, Louisiana, Michigan recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 8 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Larenz
The name Larenz is believed to have its origins in the ancient Germanic languages, with roots that can be traced back to the 6th century CE. It is derived from the Germanic word "laudr," which means "fame" or "renown," combined with the suffix "-enz," which signifies "belonging to" or "descending from."
During the Middle Ages, variations of the name, such as Laurentius and Lorentz, were commonly used in various regions of Europe, including Germany, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia. These names were often associated with the Christian martyr Saint Lawrence, whose name in Latin was Laurentius.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Larenz can be found in the Codex Augiensis, a 9th-century manuscript containing a collection of religious texts and historical records from the Abbey of Reichenau in present-day Germany. The name appears in several entries, suggesting its use among the local population at that time.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Larenz. One such person was Larenz Fries (1490-1550), a German theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation. Another was Larenz Grimmer (1638-1708), a German-Dutch architect and urban planner who designed many notable buildings in Amsterdam.
In the 19th century, Larenz Tønder (1827-1901) was a Norwegian businessman and ship owner who made significant contributions to the development of the shipping industry in his country. Around the same time, Larenz Johnson (1848-1921) was an American politician who served as the 14th Governor of Minnesota.
More recently, Larenz Tate (born 1975) is an American actor known for his roles in films such as "Menace II Society" and "Love Jones." He has received critical acclaim for his performances and continues to work in the entertainment industry.
These examples showcase the rich history and diverse cultural backgrounds associated with the name Larenz, which has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including religious figures, architects, businessmen, politicians, and artists.
Notable bearers
Famous people named Larenz
People
Larenz + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Larenz as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with L
Other first names starting with L with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Larenz: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Larenz?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 529 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Larenz going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 647,929 US residents.
Is Larenz a common name?
We classify Larenz as "Very Rare". It ranks above 85.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 536 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Larenz most popular?
The single biggest year for Larenz was 1998, when 40 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Larenz is about 20 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Larenz a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Larenz in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.