Laurence
Boy name · #1743 in 2025 · Uniqueness 61/100
Laurence is currently the #1743 boy name in the United States — 93 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #2234, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 19,355 boys born in 2025 was named Laurence.
The 145-year story
Laurence first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 25 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1952, when 845 boys were named Laurence — good for #231 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.
Babies named Laurence per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Laurence against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Laurence in class?
Laurence scores 61 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Laurence is most common
Geography matters for names, and Laurence is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Laurences were CA (9), TX (8), NY (5), WA (5). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Laurence
Statistically, parents drawn to Laurence tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Terrence, Lawrence, Terence, Lonnie, and Lance.
TerrenceLawrenceTerenceLonnieLanceVinceDonnieFreddie
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Laurence | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 93 | #1743 |
| 2024 | 67 | #2169 |
| 2023 | 68 | #2129 |
| 2022 | 54 | #2517 |
| 2021 | 62 | #2253 |
| 2020 | 72 | #1977 |
| 2019 | 61 | #2265 |
| 2018 | 61 | #2230 |
| 2017 | 72 | #1977 |
| 2016 | 56 | #2335 |
| 2015 | 60 | #2234 |
| 2014 | 59 | #2256 |
| 2013 | 45 | #2623 |
| 2012 | 51 | #2448 |
| 2011 | 48 | #2547 |
| 2010 | 41 | #2874 |
| 2009 | 56 | #2320 |
| 2008 | 53 | #2405 |
| 2007 | 55 | #2337 |
| 2006 | 71 | #1893 |
| 2005 | 61 | #2035 |
| 2004 | 71 | #1763 |
| 2003 | 81 | #1561 |
| 2002 | 74 | #1620 |
| 2001 | 68 | #1699 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Laurence a popular boy name?
Laurence ranked #1743 among boys in 2025 with 93 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2234.
When was the name Laurence most popular?
Laurence peaked in 1952, when 845 American boys received the name (ranked #231 that year). Since 1952 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Laurence?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 19,355 newborn American boys was named Laurence. It scores 61/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.