Laura (given name)

{{Infobox given name

| name = Laura

| image = LaurelwreathDK.JPG

| image_size = 200px

| caption = Laurel wreaths are traditionally a symbol of honor and victory.

| pronunciation = {{IPAc-en|lang|ˈ|l|ɔːr|ə}} {{Respell|LOR|ə}}
{{IPA|de|ˈlaʊʁa|lang}}
{{IPA|it|ˈlaura|lang}}
{{IPA|es|ˈlawɾa|lang}}
{{IPA|fr|lɔʁa, loʁa|lang}}

| gender = Female

| meaning = Laurus nobilis

| region = Latin Europe

| origin = Italy

| name day = April 18, October 19

| related names =

Lauraina, Lauraine, Laure, Lauren, Lauranna, Lauriana (or Laurianna), Laurie, Lori, Laurel, Laurielle, Lara, Lora, Larissa, Laurissa, Laureen

Laurentius

| footnotes = File:Francesco Petrarca01.jpg Laura de Noves, the subject of love poetry by Petrarch

}}

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.{{cite book

| last1 = Albaigès

| first1 = Josep M.

| last2 = Olivart

| first2 = J. M. A.

| title = Diccionario de nombres de personas

| publisher = Universitat de Barcelona

| year =

| isbn = 84-475-0264-3

| url = {{GBurl|id=A_KHaYiixzwC|p=156}}

| language = es

| access-date = 15 September 2018

| page = 156

}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/|title=Popular Baby Names|website=www.ssa.gov}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.behindthename.com/name/laura|title=Meaning, origin and history of the name Laura|first=Mike|last=Campbell|website=Behind the Name}}

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 {{abbr|No.|number}}{{sp}}100–120 between 1930 and 1950; reached No.{{sp}}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, 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{{cite web|title=Welsh Government: Popular Welsh names for girls|url=https://cymraeg.gov.wales/learning/CymraegiBlant./04.Welsh-Names-for-Children/?lang=en|access-date=13 June 2019}}

Notable people with the name

=Religion=

Saint Laura, Spanish martyr

=Academics=

Laura Bennet, New Zealand academic
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 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 Melahn, American economist
Laura Weidman Powers, American woman in business

=Celebrities=

Laura Anderson, Scottish television personality
{{ill|Laura Anna|ms}}, 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, American businesswoman
Laura Lang, American businesswoman
Laura Mercier (born 1960), French make-up artist in the cosmetics business
Laura Neri, Italian-Greek director
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 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 (voice actress), American voice actress
Laura Basuki (born 1988), Indonesian model and actress
Laura Benanti (born 1979), American actress
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 Carmichael (born 1986), English actress
Laura Christensen (born 1984), Danish actress
Laura Connor, British ballet dancer
Laura Dern (born 1967), American actress
Laura 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, Indonesian–Dutch actress
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 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 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, 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, 14th-century French noblewoman, perhaps the subject of love poetry by Petrarch

=Politics=

Laura Baird (born 1952), American politician
Laura Balbo (born 1933), 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 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 Kelly (born 1950), 48th governor of Kansas
Laura Kyrke-Smith, British MP (2024–present)
Laura Loomer (born 1993), American activist
Laura Miller, 58th Mayor of Dallas (2002–2007)
Laura Moffatt (born 1954), British MP (1997–2010)
Laura Pidcock (born 1987), British MP (2017–2019)
Laura Pollán (1948–2011), Cuban dissident
Laura Sandys (born 1964), British MP (2010–2015)
Laura Smith (born 1985), British MP (2017–2019)
Laura Supica, American politician
Laura Trott (born 1984), British MP (2019–present)
Laura Vilagrà (born 1976), Catalan politician

=Science and technology=

Laura Ahtime, statistician from the Seychelles
Laura Bassi (1711–1778), Italian physicist
Laura Berman (born 1969), American sex therapist
Laura Bottomley, American electrical engineer
Laura Bridgewater, 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, 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), American golfer
Laura Comeau (born 1983), Canadian rower
Laura Dahlmeier (born 1993), 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 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 Heyrman (born 1983), Belgian volleyball player
Laura Hodges (born 1983), Australian professional basketball player
Laura Kenny (born 1992), British cyclist
Laura Malcolm (born 1991), English netball player
Laura Nicholls (basketball) (born 1989), Spanish basketball player
Laura Nicholls (swimmer) (born 1978), Canadian former competition swimmer
Laura Rhoney, Scottish ten-pin bowler
Laura Robson, British tennis player
Laura Sánchez (diver) (born 1985), Mexican diver
Laura Sánchez (swimmer) (born 1972), Mexican swimmer
Laura Siegemund (born 1988), German tennis player
Laura Škvorc (born 1997), Slovenian footballer
Laura Sondore (born 1999), Latvian footballer
Laura Taylor (born 1999), Australian swimmer
Laura Walker (born 1990), Canadian curler
Laura Zeng (born 1999), American rhythmic gymnast

=Writers and journalists=

Laura Brown (fashion journalist) (born 1974), American fashion journalist
Laura J. Burns, American author
Laura Hill Chapman (1935–2021), American author and educator
Laura Eldridge (born 1965), American women's health writer and activist
Laura Dayton Fessenden (1852–1924), American author
LauraMaery Gold, American author
Laura Goode (born 1983), American novelist
Laura Mestre Hevia (1867–1944), Cuban translator, humanist and writer
Laura Hillman (1923–2020), German-born American memoirist, Holocaust survivor and "Schindler Jew"
Laura Lee Huttenbach, American author and athlete
Laura M. Johns (1849–1935), American suffragist and journalist
Laura Karasek (born 1982), German author, television moderator, lawyer, columnist and actor
Laura Kuenssberg (born 1976), British journalist, BBC political correspondent
Laura Ling (born 1976), American journalist
Laura Meschede, German freelance journalist
Laura Miller (journalist) (born 1980), Scottish broadcast journalist
Laura Miller (writer) (born 1960), American author
Laura A. Sunderlin Nourse (1836–1899), American poet
Laura Pritchett (born 1971), American writer
Laura Resnick (born 1962), American writer
Laura Villanueva Rocabado (pseudonym, Hilda Mundy; 1912–1980), Bolivian writer, poet, journalist
Laura Tingle (born 1961), Australian journalist and author, ABC chief political correspondent
Laura Rosamond White (1844–1922), American author
Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867–1957), American author of Little House on the Prairie
Laura Vanderkam (born 1978), American author, speaker and blogger

=Others=

Laura Attrux (1909–1987), Canadian nurse
Laura Escanes (born 1996), Catalan model and influencer
Laura Guido-Clark, American textile designer
Laura Law (1914–1940), Finnish-American murder victim
Laura Russello (born 1978), American community organizer, activist, and textile designer
Laura Matilda Towne (1825-1901), American educator
Laura Wooten (1920–2019), American poll worker
Laura Davis Worley (1849–1937), American dairy farmer
Laura Zúñiga Cáceres, Honduran human rights and indigenous rights activist

Fictional characters

Main character in Florante at Laura
Laura, a main character in the Sheridan Le Fanu 1871 novel Carmilla and its adaptations, including the webseries of the same name
Laura, a lead character in the 2005 film Brick
Laura, an anesthesiologist from the television series In Treatment
Laura, a young girl in the Silent Hill video game franchise
Laura, a character in the American television series The Walking Dead
Laura, a character in Tropical-Rouge! Pretty Cure
Laura Alden, a character in the 1994 film Wolf
Laura Bristow, an alias for Irina Derevko, the mother of Sydney Bristow on the television series Alias
Laura Carrot, a character in VeggieTales
Laura Diamond, protagonist of the television series The Mysteries of Laura
Laura Fukuoji, a character from Jewelpet: Magical Change
Laura Gauthier, a recurring character from the incomplete French TV series, Code Lyoko: Evolution
Laura Hardy (Hardy Boys), mother from the Hardy Boys series of books
Laura Harris, the protagonist of the video game D
Laura Haruna (aka Hiroko), a character from the anime series Hamtaro
Laura Horton, a former character on the soap opera Days of Our Lives
Laura Hunt, the protagonist of Otto Preminger's 1944 film Laura
Laura Kinney, also known as X-23, a Marvel Comics character
Laura Lewis, the protagonist of the video game Enemy Zero
Laura Matsuda, a character from the Street Fighter V
Laura Palmer, from the television series Twin Peaks
Laura Parker, an English model in Sarra Manning's Fashionistas book series
Laura Parton, the protagonist of the video game D2
Laura Petrie, a character from the American sitcom The Dick Van Dyke Show, played by Mary Tyler Moore
Laura Roslin, from the reimagined television series Battlestar Galactica
Laura Sorkin, a scientist from the video game Jurassic Park: The Game
Laura Spencer, a character on the soap opera General Hospital
Laura Tucker, a character from the American animated sitcom South Park
Laura Wingfield, one of three central characters in The Glass Menagerie, a mid-century American play by Tennessee Williams
Laura Winslow, a character from the American sitcom Family Matters
Laure Berthaud, main character of French crime series Engrenages (Spiral)