Lorimer
An English masculine name derived from the Old French laurier, meaning "laurel tree".
Name Census estimates that about 3 living Americans carry the first name Lorimer. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Lorimer today is around 108 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Lorimer births was 1924 (9 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Lorimer. 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.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Lorimer with official rankings and popularity over time.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Lorimer is about 108 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Lorimers were born before 1928.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Lorimer. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
3
~ 1 in 114,251,446 Americans
Peak year
1924
9 babies that year
Average age
108
years old
1935 SSA rank
#3,953
Tracked since 1914
Popularity
Lorimer: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Lorimer from the 1910s through to the 1930s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1910s, with 28 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1910s peak, Lorimer remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Lorimer 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 Lorimer during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Lorimer
The name Lorimer has its origins in the Old French language, and it can be traced back to the 11th century. It is derived from the words "lormier" or "lormerie," which referred to the craft of making horse bits, bridles, and other equestrian equipment. The name was likely given to individuals who worked as bridle makers or had some association with this trade.
During the Middle Ages, the name Lorimer was prevalent in various parts of France, particularly in regions where the equestrian industry was thriving. It was also found in neighboring areas, such as modern-day Belgium and parts of Germany, where the influence of French language and culture was significant.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lorimer can be found in the 12th-century text "The Life of Edward the Confessor" by the English chronicler Aelred of Rievaulx. In this work, Aelred mentions a character named Lorimer, who was a member of the court of King Edward the Confessor (1003-1066).
Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the name Lorimer. One of the most famous was Sir Robert Lorimer (1864-1929), a renowned Scottish architect who designed numerous buildings, including the Thistle Chapel in St. Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh.
Another prominent figure with the name Lorimer was Winslow Homer Lorimer (1885-1937), an American painter and illustrator known for his depictions of everyday life in the early 20th century. His works are celebrated for their realism and attention to detail.
In the literary world, George Horace Lorimer (1867-1937) was an influential American editor and publisher. He served as the editor-in-chief of The Saturday Evening Post for nearly four decades, during which time he helped shape the magazine into a cultural icon.
The name Lorimer also holds historical significance in the field of science. John Gordon Lorimer (1870-1914) was a Scottish-born Canadian geologist and explorer who made significant contributions to the understanding of the geology of Western Canada.
Lastly, Norma Lorimer (1927-2013) was a Canadian author and educator who wrote several children's books and young adult novels. Her works explored themes of family, friendship, and growing up, resonating with readers across generations.
People
Lorimer + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Lorimer 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
Lorimer: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Lorimer?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 3 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Lorimer 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 114,251,446 US residents.
Is Lorimer a common name?
We classify Lorimer as "Very Rare". It ranks above 4.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 66 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Lorimer most popular?
The single biggest year for Lorimer was 1924, when 9 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Lorimer is about 108 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Lorimer in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Lorimer a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Lorimer 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.
Is Lorimer still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Lorimer in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Lorimer can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Lorimer?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.