How popular is the name Lorraine?

In 2025, 7 girls born in England and Wales were named Lorraine, ranking 3,333rd. Its peak was 1996, with 36 births.

Is Lorraine a boy's or a girl's name?

Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 210,845 US babies named Lorraine since 1880 were girls.

When was Lorraine most popular?

1928 in the United States, when 5,982 babies were named Lorraine, its highest rank at 39th.

How do you pronounce Lorraine?

Lorraine is /ləˈɹeɪn/, 2 syllables.

Is Lorraine also a surname?

Yes. Lorraine is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.

The first name Lorraine

A girl’s name meaning “lotharingian”.

Pronounced /ləˈɹeɪn/ 2 syllables Female Also a surname

Meaning and origin

Lorraine means “lotharingian”.

Inherited from Middle English Loreyne, from Old French Loherraine, from loherenc (“Lotharingian”); compare Early Medieval Latin Lotharingia (ultimately named for Lothair II, who ruled it); compare Lotharingia, German Lothringen.

From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Popularity

Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

In 2025, 7 girls were named Lorraine, making it the 3,333rd most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 1996, with 36 births (#661).

341

babies named Lorraine, 1996–2025

#3,333

rank in 2025

1996

peak year

Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Lorraine with other names.

Popularity in the United States

Babies named Lorraine at birth, 1880–2025

In 2025, 238 girls born in the United States were named Lorraine, the 1,044th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1928, when 5,982 were.

210,845

babies named Lorraine since 1880

#1,044

rank in 2025

1928

peak year

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.

Famous people named Lorraine

23 on Wikidata, most written-about first

Lorraine Bracco
American actress, born 1954
Lorraine Hansberry
African-American playwright and author (1930-1965)
Lorraine Gary
American actress, born 1937
Lorraine Crapp
Australian swimmer, Olympic gold medallist, former world record-holder, born 1938
Lorraine Nicholson
American actress, born 1990
Lorraine Daston
American historian of science, born 1951
Lorraine Ashbourne
British actress, born 1961
Lorraine Ugen
British long jumper, born 1991
Lorraine O'Grady
African American conceptual artist (1934–2024)
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson
American mezzo-soprano (1954-2006)
Lorraine Hillas
Australian field hockey player, born 1961
Lorraine Coghlan
Australian tennis player, born 1937

Questions

What does the name Lorraine mean?: Lorraine means “lotharingian”.
How popular is the name Lorraine?: In 2025, 7 girls born in England and Wales were named Lorraine, ranking 3,333rd. Its peak was 1996, with 36 births.
Is Lorraine a boy's or a girl's name?: Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 210,845 US babies named Lorraine since 1880 were girls.
When was Lorraine most popular?: 1928 in the United States, when 5,982 babies were named Lorraine, its highest rank at 39th.
How do you pronounce Lorraine?: Lorraine is /ləˈɹeɪn/, 2 syllables.
Is Lorraine also a surname?: Yes. Lorraine is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.