NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Loralei

Of Germanic origin meaning "murmuring rock" or "alluring enchantress".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2013. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Loralei is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Loralei popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2013 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4739, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2013, with 4 births.

This profile covers 4 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2013 to 2013. 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.

Loralei is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 4 living people in the UK are called Loralei. 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 2014 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Loralei ranked #4739 for girls in England and Wales in 2013, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2013, when 4 girls were registered as Loralei.
  • About 4 living people in the UK are estimated to have Loralei as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4739

2013

Births in 2013

4

Latest year

Peak year

2013

4 births

Estimated living

4

2026

Meaning

What does Loralei mean?

The name Loralei is a variation of the German name Lorelei, which is derived from the name of a rock formation on the Rhine River near St. Goarshausen, Germany. The Lorelei rock is known for its dangerous currents and has been associated with a legendary siren who lured sailors to their deaths with her enchanting singing.

The earliest known written record of the Lorelei legend dates back to the 19th century, when it was popularized by the German writer Clemens Brentano in his ballad "Zu Bacharach am Rheine" (1801). The name Lorelei is thought to be a combination of the German words "Lure" (murmuring) and "Lay" (rock), referring to the murmuring sounds of the river currents around the rock.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Loralei was Loralei Kessler (1880-1962), an American actress and singer who performed in vaudeville and on Broadway in the early 20th century. Another notable Loralei was Loralei Piper (1926-2018), an American artist and sculptor known for her large-scale public artworks.

In literature, the name Loralei appears in the novel "The Lorelei" by German author Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, published in 1801. The novel explores the legend of the siren and her impact on the lives of those who encountered her.

Other notable individuals with the name Loralei include Loralei Jeffries (1887-1967), an American actress and dancer; Loralei Hill (1905-1996), an American actress and singer; and Loralei Moncus (1927-2015), an American politician who served as the first female Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana from 1972 to 1980.

Throughout history, the name Loralei has been associated with the themes of enchantment, danger, and the power of nature, drawing from its origins in the legendary siren of the Rhine River. While not a widely popular name, it has been embraced by those drawn to its unique and evocative sound and cultural significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Decades

Loralei by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Loralei 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 #4739 4 1

Related

Names similar to Loralei

FAQ

Loralei: questions and answers

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

In 2013, Loralei was ranked #4739 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Loralei most popular?

The peak year on record was 2013, with 4 babies registered as Loralei in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Loralei?

Of Germanic origin meaning "murmuring rock" or "alluring enchantress".

How many people are called Loralei in the UK?

A total of 4 babies have been registered as Loralei across the 1 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.