Laura | Oh Baby! Names

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Laura

Etymology & Historical Origin of the Baby Name Laura

Laura is the feminine version of the Late Latin male name “Laurus” meaning ‘laurel’ – which is a symbol of wisdom, honor and accomplishment. In fact, it was the leaves from laurel trees that were used to make the garlands worn by victors in the days of ancient Rome. The name was borne by a 9th century Spanish nun who was martyred as Saint Laura of Cordoba. During the occupation of the Iberian peninsula by the Moors (mainly Northern Africans, Arabs and Muslims), Laura was scalded to death for her Christian beliefs in a cauldron of boiling lead. Like many famous early saints, her name spread throughout Europe in medieval times. However, what really impacted the usage of the name Laura was the 14th century Italian poet Petrarch. Laura was the object of his desire and the reason he abandoned the priesthood. He haunted her in many sonnets. She apparently aroused all his passionate love which he was unable to reconcile with his religious expectations. Since Laura was a married woman, Petrarch’s love would remain unrequited. Therefore, Laura is often associated with a beautiful woman loved, but one who is out of reach.

All About the Baby Name – Laura

Personality

OF THE GIRL NAME LAURA

The number Eight personality has everything to do with power, wealth and abundance. Somehow, this personality has been blessed on the material plane, but their authoritative and problem-solving traits provide evidence that their good fortunes are not just the luck of the lottery. They are well earned. This is the personality of CEOs and high-ranking military personnel. Eights are intensely active, hard-driving individuals. Success is only meaningful to them after a job well-done.  They are remarkable in their ability to see the larger picture right down to the smallest details, and organize a strategy around success. They then have the ability to direct a group around them toward any goal, and realize individual potential to get the most out of their team.

Popularity

OF THE GIRL NAME LAURA

This timeless beauty has existed on the American popularity charts since the government first began tracking naming trends in 1880. In fact, back then, Laura was a favorite name – ranking within the Top 50 of most commonly used girl names. The pinnacle of this name’s popularity came in the 1960s, 70s and 80s when she maintained a spot on the Top 25. Laura’s highest achievement came in 1969 when she ranked #10 most popular. Overall, Laura managed to maintain a position on the Top 100 list for over 100 years. However, today Laura is experiencing the low-point of her long and rather illustrious career on the charts. The name fell off the Top 100 list in 2002 and has declined by almost 200 positions on the charts since then. Right now, this lovely gal is barely hanging onto a spot on the Top 300 list. A consistent favorite for so long, poor Laura is retreating to the shadows. Naming trends of today favor more old-fashioned girl names, surnames as first names and other more modern monikers. Apparently many American parents consider Laura too plain or boring; we couldn’t disagree more. Laura is a refined name with understated sophistication and ‘victorious’ confidence. It’s been around forever, and yet it’s not old-fashioned or dated. Laurel, Lauren, Lori, Laurie, Lara and Loretta are all names associated with Laura. This is a name of victory so we’re certain she’ll see a victorious return to the top of the charts someday soon!

Quick Facts

ON LAURA

GENDER:

Girl

ORIGIN:

Latin

NUMBER OF SYLLABLES:

2

RANKING POPULARITY:

322

PRONUNCIATION:

LOR-ah or LAW-ra

SIMPLE MEANING:

Laurel

Characteristics

OF LAURA

Authoritative

Powerful

Tough

Tenacious

Wealthy

Problem-solver

Achiever

Cultural References to the Baby Name – Laura

Literary Characters

OF THE BABY NAME LAURA

Laura Fairlie is the heroine of Wendell Wilkie’s early mystery novel, The Woman in White, published in book form in 1860. Laura, good Victorian daughter that she is, has promised her father on his deathbed that she will wed Lord Percival Glyde, even though she is in love with the impoverished artist, Walter Hartright. There is a mysterious woman in white who appears and warns against her upcoming marriage, but Laura is reluctant to go back on her word. Naturally, her husband is evil incarnate; naturally, there is danger and deceit enough to go around; naturally, there is a secret of birth at the center of all which will serve to release our heroine and set things right on the course to true love. In the meantime, however, we are tempted to exhort the lovely Laura to be more like her half-sister, Marian, who has the good sense to exclaim in exasperation: "No man under heaven deserves these sacrifices from us women." Ah well, perfection is not always attainable, especially for 19th century women – but she does have a great name, does our Laura.Laura is the title character of Vera Caspary’s 1943 novel, Laura, which found its true fame and longevity through the 1944 Otto Preminger noir classic movie, starring the beauteous Gene Tierney in the title role. The movie begins with a police detective investigating the murder of the beautiful Laura, during the course of which he interviews her friends, family, household help and colleagues, and pieces together a picture of Laura and the story of her rise to success. He also happens to fall in love with her along the way – or the idea of her. Needless to say, there is a case of mistaken identity at the core of this murder mystery, and our intrepid detective solves it – thus clearing the way for him to truly love Laura in the flesh. And she is just a good and true and beautiful as everyone had said. The lilting air, “Laura”, haunts us throughout the movie, promising a vision of loveliness that does, in fact, come to pass. (The song became a popular standard, which has been performed by no fewer than four hundred recording artists.)Laura Ingalls Wilder is the author of the beloved and wildly popular “Little House” series of books, written in the 1930s and 40s, with some being published post-humously. They have been continually in print since then. They are the tales of her life in the Ingalls family in the 19th century frontier. Beloved by children of several generations, they gained new audiences with the television series produced by and starring Michael Landon in the 1970s and 80s. The books are a vivid and charming evocation of a time in American history and culture that is long gone and that is eternally fascinating, as seen through the eyes of an intelligent and curious little girl from a loving, if struggling, family of the prairie .

Childrens Books

ON THE BABY NAME LAURA

We cannot find any childrens books with the first name Laura

Popular Songs

ON LAURA

Willie and Laura Mae Jonesa song by Waylon JenningsLaura Laurenta song by Bright EyesDear Lauraa song by The Loved OnesLauraa song by Billy JoelLaura (what He's Got That I Ain't Got)Kenny RogersLaura's Themea song by Craig ArmstrongLove Theme From Eyes Of Laura MarsBarbra StreisandTell Laura I Love Hera song by Dickey Lee

Famous People

NAMED LAURA

Laura Ingalls Wilder (pioneer/author) Laura Bush (U.S. First Lady) Laura Esquivel (author) Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon (birth name of actress Reese Witherspoon) Laura Ashley (fashion designer) Laura Prepon (actress) Laura Hawkins (model for Twain’s character Becky Thatcher) Laura Elena Harring (actress) Laura Linney (actress) Laura Schlessinger (radio talk-show host) Laura Branigan (musician) Laura Davies (golfer) Laura Dern (actress) Laura Hillenbrand (author) Laura San Giacomo (actress)Laura Ingalls Wilder (pioneer/author) Laura Bush (U.S. First Lady) Laura Esquivel (author) Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon (birth name of actress Reese Witherspoon) Laura Ashley (fashion designer) Laura Prepon (actress) Laura Hawkins (model for Twain’s character Becky Thatcher) Laura Elena Harring (actress) Laura Linney (actress) Laura Schlessinger (radio talk-show host) Laura Branigan (musician) Laura Davies (golfer) Laura Dern (actress) Laura Hillenbrand (author) Laura San Giacomo (actress)Laura Ingalls Wilder (pioneer/author) Laura Bush (U.S. First Lady) Laura Esquivel (author) Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon (birth name of actress Reese Witherspoon) Laura Ashley (fashion designer) Laura Prepon (actress) Laura Hawkins (model for Twain’s character Becky Thatcher) Laura Elena Harring (actress) Laura Linney (actress) Laura Schlessinger (radio talk-show host) Laura Branigan (musician) Laura Davies (golfer) Laura Dern (actress) Laura Hillenbrand (author) Laura San Giacomo (actress)

Children of Famous People

NAMED LAURA

We cannot find any children of famous people with the first name Laura

Historic Figures

WITH THE NAME LAURA

Laura de Noves was the name of the young woman generally conceded to be the muse of Italian poet, Francesco Petracco (“Petrarch”), who wrote in the 14th century. In a grand gesture so typical of its time, Petrarch immediately fell in love with Laura on Good Friday, 1327, upon seeing her in church. Petrarch had been a clergyman; nonetheless, the possibility of a union was still stymied by the fact that the lady in question was already married (to an ancestor of the Marquis de Sade, no less!). Petrarch poured all his sentiments into his poetry, perfecting the sonnet form, and grieved her despairingly when she died in 1348 at the age of 38, on another fateful Good Friday. Although the cause of her youthful death was unrecorded, perhaps the endurance of eleven pregnancies just may have contributed to her demise. At any rate, Petrarch believed that her soul ascended to heaven, being separated from her “chaste and lovely body”. He went on to honor her memory all of his life, and he perfected the sonnet form in the service of singing her praises, most notably in the Canzonieri. He alluded in later years to his “…overwhelming but pure love affair, my only one…”. Well, not exactly. He did father two children outside the holy bonds of matrimony. Laura’s virtue remained intact, however, and Petrarch’s paeans to her have been a gift to us for centuries.

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