NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Lora

A feminine name of Latin origin meaning "bay laurel tree".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Lora is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Lora popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3015, with 8 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2021, with 17 births.

This profile covers 253 England and Wales registrations across 28 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 47% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 279 living people in the UK are called Lora. 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 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Lora ranked #3015 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 8 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2021, when 17 girls were registered as Lora.
  • Lora ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #641 in 1992.
  • About 279 living people in the UK are estimated to have Lora as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3015

2024

Births in 2024

8

Latest year

Peak year

2021

17 births

Estimated living

279

2026

Meaning

What does Lora mean?

The name Lora has its origins in the Latin language, with roots dating back to ancient Roman times. It is a feminine form of the masculine name Laurus, which means "laurel" in Latin. The laurel was a symbol of honor, victory, and poetic excellence in ancient Roman culture.

In the early centuries of the Christian era, Lora emerged as a given name, particularly in regions where Latin was spoken and Roman influence was strong. It was popular among families with ties to the Roman Empire or those who embraced the cultural traditions and symbolism associated with the laurel.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lora can be found in the writings of the Roman historian Livy, who mentioned a woman named Lora in his historical accounts from the 1st century BC. The name also appeared in various inscriptions and records from that era, indicating its use among the Roman populace.

During the Middle Ages, the name Lora gained popularity in parts of Europe, particularly in regions with strong Latin cultural influences. It was often associated with literary and artistic pursuits, as the laurel symbolized poetic achievement and creative expression.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Lora. One of the earliest recorded figures was Lora Beatrix, a 10th-century Italian noblewoman and patron of the arts, known for her support of literary and artistic endeavors.

In the 16th century, Lora Pallavicino was an Italian poet and writer who gained recognition for her poetic works and her contributions to the literary circles of her time. She lived from 1525 to 1588.

Another prominent figure was Lora Fontanges, a 17th-century French courtier and mistress to King Louis XIV. She was born in 1652 and is remembered for her influential role in French high society and fashion trends during the reign of the Sun King.

In the 19th century, Lora Delano Roosevelt, born in 1805 and died in 1888, was an American philanthropist and the great-aunt of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. She was known for her charitable works and her support of various social causes.

More recently, Lora Leigh, born in 1965, is an American author of contemporary and erotic romance novels. She has gained popularity for her bestselling series and contributions to the romance genre.

While these are just a few examples, the name Lora has been carried by individuals from various backgrounds and time periods, often reflecting the cultural and literary traditions associated with its Latin origins and the symbolism of the laurel.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Lora over time

The chart below shows babies named Lora registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Lora, the clearest high point is 2021. The latest England and Wales figure is 8 births in 2024, compared with 17 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Lora
0491317199620102024

Decades

Lora by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Lora 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
2020s #2277 62 5
2010s #2598 102 10
2000s #3201 54 9
1990s #1999 35 4

Geography

Where Lora is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Lora. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Lora ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #641 in 1992.

Scotland
3

Across the UK

Lora in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#641 in 1992

7 years of NRS records, 28 total registered

Notable bearers

Famous people named Lora

  • Lora Turnham

    sport cyclist

    British cyclist

    1988-

  • Lora Fairclough

    golfer

    professional golfer

    1970-

  • Lora Logic

    saxophonist; singer

    British saxophonist and singer

    1960-

  • Lora Verner

    visual artist

    1929-

Related

Names similar to Lora

FAQ

Lora: questions and answers

How popular is the name Lora in the UK right now?

In 2024, Lora was ranked #3015 for girls in England and Wales, with 8 births registered.

When was Lora most popular?

The peak year on record was 2021, with 17 babies registered as Lora in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Lora?

A feminine name of Latin origin meaning "bay laurel tree".

How many people are called Lora in the UK?

A total of 253 babies have been registered as Lora across the 28 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 28 more in Scotland.

Where is Lora most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Lora ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #641 in 1992. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

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.