UK boy's name
Laurens
A masculine name derived from the Latin name Laurentius, meaning "from Laurentum".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2012. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Laurens is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Laurens popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2012 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4805, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 4 births.
This profile covers 10 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 1996 to 2012. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 10 living people in the UK are called Laurens. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2013 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Laurens ranked #4805 for boys in England and Wales in 2012, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 4 boys were registered as Laurens.
- • About 10 living people in the UK are estimated to have Laurens as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4805
2012
Births in 2012
3
Latest year
Peak year
1996
4 births
Estimated living
10
2026
Meaning
What does Laurens mean?
The name Laurens has its origins in the Latin language and was derived from the word "laurus" which means "laurel". The laurel was a plant that was sacred to the ancient Romans and was used to make crowns or wreaths that were awarded to victors, poets, and scholars.
The name first appeared in ancient Rome and was initially used as a surname or family name. It is believed that the name was first adopted as a given name during the Middle Ages, particularly in regions where Latin was widely used, such as Italy, France, and parts of Spain.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Laurens can be found in the writings of the Roman historian Tacitus, who mentioned a Roman soldier named Laurens Tullius Geminus in his work "Annals" from around 109 AD. The name also appears in several medieval records and documents from various parts of Europe.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Laurens. One of the most famous was Laurens Janszoon Coster (c. 1370-1440), a Dutch inventor who is credited with the invention of the printing press before Johannes Gutenberg. Another notable figure was Laurens Reael (1583-1637), a Dutch army officer and colonial administrator who played a significant role in the Dutch colonization of the Americas.
In the literary world, Laurens Janszoon Koster (1589-1647), a Dutch poet and playwright, is remembered for his contributions to the Dutch Golden Age. The French philosopher and mathematician René Descartes (1596-1650) also had the given name Laurens, although he is more commonly known by his Latinized name Renatus.
One of the most prominent figures in American history with the name Laurens was Henry Laurens (1724-1792), a merchant, politician, and Revolutionary War leader who served as the President of the Continental Congress from 1777 to 1778.
While the name Laurens has its roots in ancient Rome and was more commonly used in Europe during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, it has also been adopted in various other cultures and languages over time, sometimes with slight variations in spelling or pronunciation.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Laurens over time
The chart below shows babies named Laurens registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2012. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Laurens, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2012, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Laurens by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Laurens was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4805 | 3 | 1 |
| 1990s | #2650 | 7 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Laurens
- Luke 72,247
- Lewis 69,555
- Leo 63,249
- Liam 60,482
- Lucas 49,061
- Logan 40,771
- Louis 35,898
- Luca 30,323
- Louie 24,242
- Leon 22,308
- Levi 9,931
- Lee 7,861
FAQ
Laurens: questions and answers
How popular is the name Laurens in the UK right now?
In 2012, Laurens was ranked #4805 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Laurens most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 4 babies registered as Laurens in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Laurens?
A masculine name derived from the Latin name Laurentius, meaning "from Laurentum".
How many people are called Laurens in the UK?
A total of 10 babies have been registered as Laurens across the 3 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.