The first name Lawrence
A boy’s name from Latin.
Pronounced /ˈlɔɹəns/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Latin origin
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 71 boys were named Lawrence, making it the 549th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 1996, with 226 births (#152).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Lawrence with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Lawrence at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 578 boys born in the United States were named Lawrence, the 520th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1952, when 10,302 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Nicknames and spellings
Famous people named Lawrence
218 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- William Lawrence BraggAustralian-born British physicist and X-ray crystallographer, 1890–1971
- Lawrence LessigAmerican academic, political activist, born 1961
- Lawrence KleinAmerican economist (1920-2013)
- Lawrence DurrellBritish novelist, poet, dramatist, and travel writer (1912–1990)
- Lawrence Alma-TademaDutch-born British painter (1836–1912)
- Lawrence KohlbergAmerican psychologist, 1927–1987
- Lawrence FerlinghettiAmerican artist, writer and activist (1919–2021)
- Lawrence M. KraussAmerican particle physicist and cosmologist, born 1954
- Lawrence EagleburgerAmerican statesman and diplomat (1930-2011)
- Lawrence O'DonnellAmerican television presenter, born 1951
- Fred Lawrence WhippleAmerican astronomer, 1906–2004
- Lawrence SummersAmerican economist and government official (born 1954)
More Latin boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Lawrence mean?
- See Laurence.
- What is the origin of the name Lawrence?
- See Laurence.
- How popular is the name Lawrence?
- In 2025, 71 boys born in England and Wales were named Lawrence, ranking 549th. Its peak was 1996, with 226 births.
- What are nicknames for Lawrence?
- Common nicknames for Lawrence include Larry, Law, Laurie, Lawrie, Laws, Loz.
- Is Lawrence a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 463,357 US babies named Lawrence since 1880 were boys.
- When was Lawrence most popular?
- 1952 in the United States, when 10,302 babies were named Lawrence, its highest rank at 35th.
- How do you pronounce Lawrence?
- Lawrence is /ˈlɔɹəns/, 2 syllables.
- What name is Lawrence a form of?
- Lawrence is a form of Laurence and Lauren.
- What are other spellings of Lawrence?
- Lieurance and Lauren.
- Is Lawrence also a surname?
- Yes. Lawrence is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.