Lorraine
Girl name · #1043 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Lorraine? In official American birth records, Lorraine has been tracked continuously since 1882, giving it 143 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 238 baby girls were named Lorraine, placing it at #1043 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1719, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 7,563 girls born in 2025 was named Lorraine.
The 143-year story
Lorraine first appears in the Social Security records in 1882, when 6 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1928, when 5,982 girls were named Lorraine — good for #39 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 Lorraine per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Lorraine against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Lorraine in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Lorraine is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Lorraine will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Lorraine is most common
Geography matters for names, and Lorraine is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Lorraine is most common in IL (0.3 per 1,000), TX (0.2 per 1,000), NY (0.2 per 1,000), FL (0.1 per 1,000), CA (0.1 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.2 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Lorraine is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Lorraine
Statistically, parents drawn to Lorraine tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Geraldine, Pauline, Marjorie, Arlene, and Marlene.
GeraldinePaulineMarjorieArleneMarleneLenoreRosemarieLoretta
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Lorraine | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 238 | #1043 |
| 2024 | 157 | #1420 |
| 2023 | 166 | #1356 |
| 2022 | 182 | #1295 |
| 2021 | 161 | #1370 |
| 2020 | 157 | #1389 |
| 2019 | 158 | #1415 |
| 2018 | 137 | #1577 |
| 2017 | 138 | #1580 |
| 2016 | 144 | #1550 |
| 2015 | 122 | #1719 |
| 2014 | 115 | #1781 |
| 2013 | 123 | #1695 |
| 2012 | 88 | #2145 |
| 2011 | 108 | #1857 |
| 2010 | 82 | #2313 |
| 2009 | 100 | #2041 |
| 2008 | 122 | #1789 |
| 2007 | 158 | #1475 |
| 2006 | 110 | #1846 |
| 2005 | 97 | #1969 |
| 2004 | 128 | #1546 |
| 2003 | 130 | #1498 |
| 2002 | 118 | #1573 |
| 2001 | 126 | #1489 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Lorraine?
In official American birth records, the name Lorraine first appeared in 1882 (over 143 years ago), when 6 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Lorraine a popular girl name?
Lorraine ranked #1043 among girls in 2025 with 238 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1719.
When was the name Lorraine most popular?
Lorraine peaked in 1928, when 5,982 American girls received the name (ranked #39 that year). Since 1928 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Lorraine?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 7,563 newborn American girls was named Lorraine. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.