Lorel
A feminine name of unknown origin, possibly inspired by the laurel plant.
Name Census estimates that about 224 living Americans carry the first name Lorel. It is a predominantly female name (98.3% of registrations). The average person named Lorel today is around 51 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Lorel births was 1956 (15 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Lorel. 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
224
~ 1 in 1,530,153 Americans
Peak year
1956
15 babies that year
Average age
51
years old
1938 SSA rank
#3,829
Tracked since 1938
Gender
Gender distribution for Lorel
Lorel leans heavily female at 98.3% of total registrations, but 5 boys have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Lorel as a male name
- Ranked #3,829 in 1938
- 5 male births in 1938
- Peak: 1938 (5 births)
Lorel as a female name
- Ranked #16,617 in 2023
- 5 female births in 2023
- Peak: 1956 (15 births)
Popularity
Lorel: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Lorel from the 1930s through to the 2020s, spanning 10 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1950s, with 95 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1950s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Lorel 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 Lorel during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Lorels live
Origin
Meaning and history of Lorel
The name Lorel is a feminine given name with origins that can be traced back to the Latin language. It is believed to be derived from the Latin word "laurus," which means "laurel" or "bay laurel." The laurel was a symbol of victory, honor, and triumph in ancient Roman culture, and it was often used to crown victors and heroes.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lorel can be found in medieval European texts, where it was sometimes spelled as "Laurel" or "Laurelle." During this period, the name was likely associated with the laurel wreath, which was a symbol of academic achievement and poetic excellence.
In the 16th century, the name Lorel gained popularity in France, where it was sometimes used as a diminutive form of the name Laurence. It was during this time that the spelling "Lorel" became more commonly used.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Lorel. One of the earliest recorded examples is Lorel de Montferrat, a 12th-century French noblewoman who was known for her patronage of the arts and literature.
Another significant figure was Lorel de Sully, a 13th-century French architect and master mason who oversaw the construction of several important Gothic cathedrals, including the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.
In the 16th century, Lorel de Médicis, an Italian noblewoman and member of the influential Medici family, played a significant role in the cultural and political life of Renaissance Italy.
During the 18th century, Lorel Pichler was an Austrian writer and poet who gained recognition for her lyrical works and contributions to the Romantic movement.
In the 20th century, Lorel Arnaud was a French artist and sculptor known for her unique style and innovative use of materials, particularly in her abstract works.
While the name Lorel has historically been more common in European cultures, it has also been used in other parts of the world, though its origins and meanings may have evolved or been adapted over time.
People
Lorel + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Lorel 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
Lorel: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Lorel?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 224 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Lorel 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 1,530,153 US residents.
Is Lorel a common name?
We classify Lorel as "Very Rare". It ranks above 75.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 293 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Lorel most popular?
The single biggest year for Lorel was 1956, when 15 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Lorel is about 51 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Lorel a female name?
Yes, 98.3% of people registered as Lorel in the SSA data are female. 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.