Find out how popular the first name Lorne has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Lorne by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Lorne is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 99% of people named Lorne being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 7 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Lorne.

The history of the first name Lorne

The name Lorne is believed to have its origins in the Scottish Gaelic language, where it is derived from the word "lorn," meaning a basin or a meadow. This name is thought to have emerged in the Middle Ages, likely in the 12th or 13th century, in the Scottish Highlands and surrounding areas.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lorne can be found in the 14th century, when it was used as a territorial designation for the region of Lorn in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. This area was once part of the ancient Kingdom of Dalriada, a Gaelic overkingdom that spanned parts of western Scotland and northeastern Ireland.

In the 16th century, the name Lorne gained prominence through its association with John Stewart, Lord of Lorne, who later became the Earl of Atholl. This noble lineage helped to establish Lorne as a given name among the Scottish aristocracy and gentry.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Lorne. One of the earliest was Lorne Campbell, a Scottish nobleman who lived in the 15th century and served as the Lord of Argyll. Another notable figure was Lorne Michaels, born in 1944, who is a Canadian-American television producer and screenwriter, best known as the creator and executive producer of the long-running sketch comedy show "Saturday Night Live."

In the literary world, Lorne Pierce (1890-1961) was a Canadian editor, poet, and anthologist, who played a significant role in promoting Canadian literature during the early 20th century. Lorne Greene (1915-1987) was a Canadian actor and singer, best known for his portrayal of Ben Cartwright in the iconic Western television series "Bonanza."

Lorne Michaels Lipowitz (1928-2009), better known as Lorne Lipowitz, was a South African-born American academic and author, who made significant contributions to the field of criminology and criminal justice.

While the name Lorne has its roots in Scottish Gaelic culture, it has transcended geographical boundaries and gained popularity in various parts of the world, particularly in English-speaking countries with historical ties to the British Isles.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Lorne was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Lorne, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!