Laura is a traditionally feminine given name in Europe and the Americas, of Latin origin, whose meaning ("bay laurel") is a metonym for a victor, and an early hypocorism from Laurel and Lauren.
Origin and usage The name Laura is the feminized form of laurus, Latin for "bay laurel plant", which in the Greco-Roman era was used as a symbol of victory, honor or fame. The name represents the embodiment of victory and strength. The name Daphne, derived from Ancient Greek, carries the same meaning.
Popularity
In British North America, the name Laura reached 17th most popular in 1880 and 1882, but dropped to #43 in 1899. It was among the top 50 names for female newborns for much of the early 20th century in the United States, but dropped to 100–120 between 1930 and 1950; reached No.10 in 1969, and has since steadily decreased in popularity.
In Europe, Laura remains popular. In 2009 it ranked within the top 10 in Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Greenland, Luxembourg, Spain, and Switzerland.
Laura is occasionally conflated with Lara, which has different origins and is listed separately on name popularity lists.
Variants Lára: Icelandic Lara: Turkish Laoura (Λάουρα): Greek Laura: Catalan, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, Galician, German, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Slovene, Spanish, Swedish, Albanian Laure: French Lavra: Slovene Lora: English, Indonesian, Bulgarian Lowri: Welsh
Notable people with the name
Religion Saint Laura, Spanish martyr
Academics Laura Bennet, New Zealand academic Laura Hezner (1862–1916), German geologist, first female lecturer at ETH Zurich Laura Linnan, American public health researcher Laura Poantă (born 1971), Romanian physician, medical scientist, author, translator, and painter Laura Pyrak-Nolte, American geophysicist Laura Schulz, American cognitive scientist Laura Waller (born 1979), American computer scientist Laura Wright, academic of English literature
Artists Laure Mathilde Gouin (1829–1916), French painter and photographer, also known as Mme. M. Gouin. Laura Pérez Granel (born 1983), Spanish cartoonist and illustrator Laura Leroux-Revault (1872–1936) French artist and painter, trained at the Académie Julian art school in Paris. Laura Lyttelton (1862–1886), English Pre-Raphaelite artists model Laura Martin (born 1975), Colombian-American colorist Laura Mas, Spanish artist Laura Jean McLaughlin (born 1965), American ceramic sculptor, print maker, and mosaic artist Laura Peery (born 1952), American ceramic artist Laura Pérez Vernetti (born 1958), Spanish Catalan cartoonist and illustrator Laura Rodig (1901–1972), Chilean painter, sculptor, illustrator, and educator Laura Zuccheri (born 1971), Italian comic artist, illustrator, and painter
Businesspeople Laura Weidman Powers, American woman in business
Celebrities Laura Anderson (born 1989), Scottish television personality , better known as Jennifer Diana (2000–2021), Indonesian actress and internet celebrity Laura Ashley (1925–1985), British fashion designer Laura Biagiotti (1943–2017), Italian fashion designer Laura Calder (born 1970), Canadian chef and host of program French Food at Home, from Food Network Canada Laura Deming (born 1994), American businesswoman Laura Lang, American businesswoman Laura Mercier (born 1960), French make-up artist in the cosmetics business Laura Schlessinger (born 1947), American radio talk show host known as Dr. Laura Laura Schwartz (born 1973), American political commentator Laura Secord (1775–1868), Canadian heroine in the War of 1812
Entertainers L'Aura (born 1984), Italian singer Laura Aikman (born 1985), British actress Laura Alho, Finnish travel blogger, writer, and photographer Laura Allen (born 1974), American actress Laura Andon, Australian actress, model, charity ambassador, and television presenter Laura Bailey (model) (born 1972), English model Laura Bailey (born 1981), American voice actress Laura Basuki (born 1988), Indonesian model and actress Laura Benanti (born 1979), American actress and singer Laura Bertram (born 1978), Canadian actress Laura Birn (born 1981), Finnish actress
Laura Branigan (1952–2004), American singer Laura Breckenridge (born 1983), American actress Laura Bryan Birn (born 1965), American actress Laura Bryna (born 1980), American singer Laura Bell Bundy (born 1981), American actress Laura Cardoso (1927–2026), Brazilian actress Laura Carmichael (born 1986), English actress Laura Christensen (born 1984), Danish actress Laura Connor, British ballet dancer Laura Dern (born 1967), American actress Laura Devon (1931–2007), American actress and singer Laura Elsie Dickinson, American actress Laura Donnelly (born 1982), British actress Laura Esterman (born 1945), American actress Laura Fraser (born 1975), Scottish actress Laura Fygi (born 1955), Dutch singer Laura Gemser (born 1950), Indonesian–Dutch retired actress, model and costume designer Laura Gómez (actress), Dominican actress Laura Haddock (born 1985), English actress Laura Harrier (born 1990), American actress and model Laura Harring (born 1964), Mexican–American actress Laura Honey (1816–1843), British actress, dancer, and singer Laura Hope Crews (1879–1942), American actress Laura Illeborg (1969–2024), Danish musician Laura Innes (born 1957), American actress Laura Izibor (born 1987), Irish musician Laura Jane Grace (born 1980), American singer Laura Johnson (born 1957), American actress Laura Kampf (born 1983), German YouTuber, designer, and craftswoman Laura Kightlinger (born 1969), American actress Laura Kobayashi, American violinist and teacher Laura Linney (born 1964), American actress Laura Longauerová (born 1995), Slovak model Laura MacFarlane, Scottish musician, singer, and songwriter Laura Main (born 1977), Scottish actress Laura Malmivaara (born 1973), Finnish actress Laura Marano (born 1995), American actress and singer Laura Marling (born 1990), English singer Laura Mennell (born 1980), Canadian actress Laura Morante (born 1956), Italian actress Laura Neiva (born 1993), Brazilian actress Laura Niles (born 1978), American model, actress, comedian, martial artist, and boxer Laura Nyro (1947–1997), American singer and songwriter Laura O'Toole (born 1985), Irish actress Laura Okmin, American sportscaster Laura Omloop (born 1999), Belgian singer and yodeler Laura Osnes (born 1985), American actress Laura Pausini (born 1974), Italian singer and songwriter Laura Põldvere (born 1988), Estonian singer Laura Prepon (born 1980), American actress Laura Ramsey (born 1982), American actress Laura Regan (born 1977), Canadian actress Laura Andrews Rhodes (1854–1909), American operatic soprano Laura Rutledge (born 1988), American beauty pageant titleholder and sportscaster Laura San Giacomo (born 1962), American actress Laura Sánchez (model) (born 1981), Spanish model Laura Shigihara, American singer and songwriter Laura Silverman (born 1966), American actress Laura Smet (born 1983), French actress Laura Spencer (actress) (born 1986), American actress Laura Stoica (1967–2006), Romanian singer and actress Laura Thorn (born 2000), Luxembourgish singer Laura Valente (born 1963), Italian singer and musician Laura Vandervoort (born 1984), Canadian actress Laura van Dolron (born 1976), Dutch stage director Laura Veirs (born 1973), American singer and songwriter Laura White (born 1995), British actress Laura Whitmore (born 1985), Irish presenter Laura Witherspoon or Reese Witherspoon (born 1976), American actress Laura Wright (born 1970), American actress
Law Laura Caller (1915–1988), Peruvian union lawyer Laura Codruţa Kövesi (born 1973), former Prosecutor-General of Romania Laura E. Gómez (born 1964), Mexican-American law professor, University of New Mexico Laura Londén (born 1961), Finnish Swede diplomat Laura Wasser (born 1968), American attorney
Nobility Laura Margherita Mazzarini (1608–1685), Italian noblewoman Laura de Noves (–1348), 14th-century French noblewoman, perhaps the subject of love poetry by Petrarch
Politics Laura Baird (born 1952), American politician Laura Balbo (1933–2026), Italian sociologist and politician Laura Boldrini (born 1961), Italian politician Laura Borràs (born 1970), Catalan politician Laura Bromet (born 1970), Dutch politician Laura Bush (born 1946), First Lady of the United States from January 20, 2001 to January 20, 2009 Laura Carneiro (born 1963), Brazilian lawyer and politician Laura Wakim Chapman, American politician Laura Chinchilla (born 1959), 49th President of Costa Rica Laura Clay (1849–1941), American suffragist Laura Rajnović Evetović (born 1975), Serbian politician and administrator Laura Garza, American politician Laura Garza Galindo (1947–2019), Mexican politician Laura Grimond (1918–1994), British politician Laura Gutiérrez (born 1973), American politician Laura Hopmann (born 1989), German politician Laura Kelly (born 1950), 48th governor of Kansas Laura Kyrke-Smith (born 1983), British politician, academic and charity worker Laura Loomer (born 1993), American activist Laura Miller (politician) (born 1958), American politician, 58th Mayor of Dallas (2002–2007) Laura Moffatt (born 1954), British politician Laura Negley (1890–1973), American politician, member of the Texas House of Representatives Laura Pidcock (born 1987), British politician Laura Pollán (1948–2011), Cuban dissident Laura Sabino (born 1999), Brazilian politician and YouTuber Laura Sandys (born 1964), British politician Laura Smith (British politician) (born 1985), British politician Laura Stellbrink (born 1990), German politician Laura Supica, American politician Laura Trott (born 1984), British politician Laura Vilagrà (born 1976), Catalan politician
Science and technology Laura Ahtime, American scientist, statistician from the Seychelles Laura Bassi (1711–1778), Italian physicist Laura Berman (born 1969), American sex therapist Laura Bottomley (born 1964), American electrical engineer Laura S. Boylan, American neurologist Laura Bridgewater, American molecular biologist Laura J. Esserman, American surgeon and oncologist Laura Fabris, Italian scientist Laura Huenneke, American ecologist Laura Irasuegi Otal (1923–2016), Basque Niños de Rusia, civil engineer Laura Kray, American psychologist Laura Kubzansky, American sociologist Laura Mersini-Houghton, Albanian-American physicist and cosmologist Laura Robinson (scientist) (born 1976), British scientist Laura Iglesias Romero (1926–2022), Spanish chemist Laura Silberstein, American psychologist, psychotherapist and author Laura Tach, American sociologist
Sports Laura Benkarth (born 1992), German footballer and goalkeeper Laura Berg (born 1975), American head college softball coach Laura Brown (cyclist) (born 1986), Canadian cyclist Laura Brown (golfer) (born 1970), American golfer Laura Comeau (born 1983), Canadian rower Laura Dahlmeier (1993–2025), German biathlete Laura Davies (born 1963), English golfer Laura Davies (bodybuilder) (born 1960), Canadian bodybuilder Laura Davis (swimmer) (born 1984), American female medley swimmer Laura Davis (volleyball) (born 1973), American volleyball player Laura del Colle (born 1983), Argentine floor hockey player Laura Douglas (athlete) (born 1983), Welsh hammer thrower
Laura Dwyer (born 1977), American wheelchair curler
Laura Freigang (born 1998), German footballer Laura Frličková (born 2007), Slovak track and field athlete Laura Gil (born 1992), Spanish basketball player Laura Gómez (judoka) (born 1984), Spanish judoka Laura Greenhalgh (born 1985), British rower Laura Heyrman (born 1983), Belgian volleyball player Laura Hodges (born 1983), Australian professional basketball player Laura Kenny (born 1992), British cyclist