UK girl's name
Lorna
A feminine name of uncertain origin, perhaps derived from a Gaelic word meaning "fox".
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.
Lorna is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Lorna popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2115, with 13 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 274 births.
This profile covers 2,124 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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 5% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 5,708 living people in the UK are called Lorna. 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
- • Lorna ranked #2115 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 13 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 274 girls were registered as Lorna.
- • Lorna ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #318 in 2005.
- • About 5,708 living people in the UK are estimated to have Lorna as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2115
2024
Births in 2024
13
Latest year
Peak year
1996
274 births
Estimated living
5,708
2026
Meaning
What does Lorna mean?
The name Lorna originated in Scotland, deriving from a Scots Gaelic word meaning "fortune" or "prosperous." It is believed to have first appeared in written records during the medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Lorna was a Scottish noblewoman named Lorna of Argyll, who lived in the late 15th century. She was a prominent figure in the court of King James IV of Scotland.
In literature, the name gained popularity after the publication of the novel "Lorna Doone" by Richard Doddridge Blackmore in 1869. The book's titular character, Lorna Doone, was a strong and virtuous heroine, which likely contributed to the name's appeal.
Another notable Lorna in history was Lorna Hodgkinson, a British journalist and author born in 1957. She wrote extensively on food, travel, and environmental issues, and her works included "Hearth and Home" and "The Complete Homebrew Beer Book."
In the world of entertainment, Lorna Luft, born in 1952, is a prominent figure. She is an American actress, singer, and author, best known for being the daughter of legendary entertainers Judy Garland and Sid Luft. Lorna has appeared in numerous stage productions and television shows throughout her career.
Lorna Sass, born in 1938, is a renowned American cookbook author and expert on plant-based cooking. Her influential works, such as "Lorna Sass' Complete Vegetarian Kitchen," have helped popularize vegetarian cuisine and promote healthy eating habits.
While the name Lorna has roots in Scotland, it has gained worldwide recognition and has been used across various cultures and regions. Its meaning of "fortune" or "prosperity" has likely contributed to its enduring appeal throughout history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Lorna over time
The chart below shows babies named Lorna 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 Lorna, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 13 births in 2024, compared with 274 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Lorna by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Lorna 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 | #1768 | 85 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1116 | 315 | 10 |
| 2000s | #501 | 843 | 10 |
| 1990s | #196 | 881 | 4 |
Geography
Where Lorna is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Lorna. 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.
Lorna ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #318 in 2005.
Across the UK
Lorna in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#749 in 2023
41 years of NRS records, 3,635 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#318 in 2005
7 years of NISRA records, 36 total registered
Related
Names similar to Lorna
- Lily 72,956
- Lucy 70,663
- Lauren 50,664
- Leah 33,185
- Lola 24,525
- Layla 24,520
- Laura 23,471
- Lilly 21,714
- Lydia 18,353
- Libby 14,515
- Lara 13,415
- Lacey 13,406
FAQ
Lorna: questions and answers
How popular is the name Lorna in the UK right now?
In 2024, Lorna was ranked #2115 for girls in England and Wales, with 13 births registered.
When was Lorna most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 274 babies registered as Lorna in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Lorna?
A feminine name of uncertain origin, perhaps derived from a Gaelic word meaning "fox".
How many people are called Lorna in the UK?
A total of 2,124 babies have been registered as Lorna across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 3,635 more in Scotland and 36 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Lorna most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Lorna ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #318 in 2005. 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.