Lau: meaning, origin & popularity

Meaning & origin

Where it comes from

Lau comes from Cantonese, and ultimately from Teochew.

Lau’s family of names

In English usage, Lau as a surname shares an earlier linguistic root with Liu. In Danish usage, Lau has a related form in LAUGE. In English usage, Lau as a surname shares an earlier linguistic root with LUU.

Walk Lau’s family in the name graph

Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.

Hover or tab through the constellation to see how each name is related. Bigger dots are names more people in the U.S. share.

Around the world

Lau has relatives in 3 languages. Lines run from its Chinese roots to each of them.

7 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.

Each dot marks where a language is rooted, not where people with the name live today. Bigger dots hold more names. Dots on the border stand for languages further away. Language locations from Glottolog (CC BY 4.0); map from Natural Earth.

Nicknames & forms 3

Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.

Across languages 8

Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.

People named Lau

Lau Lauritzen Jr.actor, Director, Studio Head (1910-1977)

Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.

Similar names

If you love Lau, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.

German

Sibling ideas

Names that share Lau’s feel without repeating its first letter or rhyming with it.

A brother for Lau

Bo
Jin

A sister for Lau

Your shortlist

Lau