Laurence
Boy name · #1743 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Laurence? In official American birth records, Laurence has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
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. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Laurence against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Laurence in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Laurence is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Laurence will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Laurence is most common
State-level data for Laurence is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
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
How old is the name Laurence?
In official American birth records, the name Laurence first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 25 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
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. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.