Laura
Girl name · #379 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Laura? In official American birth records, Laura has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Laura is currently the #379 girl name in the United States — 805 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #320, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 2,236 girls born in 2025 was named Laura.
Babies named Laura per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Laura first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 1,012 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1964, when 18,967 girls were named Laura — good for #14 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Laura against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Laura in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Laura is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Laura is most common
Geography matters for names, and Laura is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Laura is most common in MA (1.3 per 1,000), KY (1 per 1,000), PA (0.9 per 1,000), IA (0.8 per 1,000), FL (0.8 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.6 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Laura is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Laura
Statistically, parents drawn to Laura tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Lara, Regina, Angela, Diana, and Tara.
LaraReginaAngelaDianaTaraHeidiMelissaLisa
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Laura | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 805 | #379 |
| 2024 | 872 | #357 |
| 2023 | 846 | #362 |
| 2022 | 874 | #363 |
| 2021 | 807 | #389 |
| 2020 | 871 | #356 |
| 2019 | 951 | #337 |
| 2018 | 947 | #339 |
| 2017 | 948 | #339 |
| 2016 | 968 | #345 |
| 2015 | 1,016 | #320 |
| 2014 | 1,052 | #315 |
| 2013 | 1,029 | #314 |
| 2012 | 1,146 | #279 |
| 2011 | 1,171 | #273 |
| 2010 | 1,214 | #271 |
| 2009 | 1,414 | #234 |
| 2008 | 1,595 | #215 |
| 2007 | 1,844 | #183 |
| 2006 | 2,066 | #172 |
| 2005 | 2,356 | #146 |
| 2004 | 2,555 | #129 |
| 2003 | 2,750 | #124 |
| 2002 | 3,159 | #105 |
| 2001 | 3,563 | #86 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Laura?
In official American birth records, the name Laura first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 1,012 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Laura a popular girl name?
Laura ranked #379 among girls in 2025 with 805 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #320.
When was the name Laura most popular?
Laura peaked in 1964, when 18,967 American girls received the name (ranked #14 that year). Since 1964 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Laura?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 2,236 newborn American girls was named Laura. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.