Given name & surname
Lawrence
“man from Laurentum; crowned with laurel”
Lawrence is used as a given name and a surname. One Latin interpretation is “man from Laurentum; crowned with laurel.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Latin interpretation is “man from Laurentum; crowned with laurel.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Latin.
How it developed
In English use, Lawrence is used as a spelling variant of Laurence.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Lawrence is a variant of Laurence. The history of Laurence gives this family its wider story. Laurence was in use during the Middle Ages.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Lawrence through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 463,357
- 461,170 boys · 2,187 girls
- Most popular year
- 1952
- 10,336 babies
- 2025
- 585
- #520 for boys · #12,616 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −2%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 578 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 520 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 3.0% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 10,302 in 1952. It also appeared in 7 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (57). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 240,687 as a first name in 2020; 124,450 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Lawrence’s family of names
In English usage, Lawrence has a diminutive in Larry. Lawrence has a surname derivative in Lawson. Lawrence has a related form in Lauren.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Lawrence has relatives in 7 languages. Lines run from its Latin roots to each of them.
27 related names in 7 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 73
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Lorenzovariant
- Laurenvariant
- Larrydiminutive · English
- Laurencevariant · English
- Lorenvariant
- Larsvariant
- Larsonpet form · English
- Lauriediminutive · English
Show 52 moreShow fewer
- Larenzovariant
- Laurentvariant · French
- Lawclipped form · English
- Lorinvariant
- Lorenzvariant · German
- Lorencevariant
- Larenzvariant
- Lonnyvariant
- Lawrancevariant · English
- Lowreypet form · English
- Lowpet form · English
- Lawriediminutive · English
- Loranvariant
- Laurinvariant
- Larenvariant
- Lorrinvariant
- Lorrenvariant
- Loronvariant
- Larzvariant
- Laureanovariant
- Larrievariant
- Larrivariant
- Lorryvariant
- Lorentzvariant
- Lorencvariant
- Lorancevariant
- Lonvariant
- Lencivariant
- Lauritzvariant
- Laurenzvariant
- Laurensvariant
- Laurancevariant
- Larreyvariant
- Larancevariant
- Lozzadiminutive · English
- Lozdiminutive · English
- Lawrypet form · English
- Lawsdiminutive · English
- Loldiminutive · English
- Lırincvariant
- Lorandvariant
- Laurentiuvariant
- Laurentzivariant
- Laurentyvariant
- Laurentijvariant
- Laurinsvariant
- Lowrancevariant
- Lorrenzvariant
- Lorrencevariant
- Loritzvariant
- Lorenzenvariant
- Lorensvariant
And 13 more.
Across languages 25
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- Lawson“son of” surname · English
- Lauriequivalent
- Lornerelated form
- Lorerelated form
- Lasseequivalent
- Llorençequivalent
- Lőrincequivalent
- Lorientequivalent
Show 17 moreShow fewer
- Wawrzyniecequivalent
- लोर्सोequivalent
- Лаврентійequivalent
- Лаўрэнційequivalent
- Labhrásequivalent
- Lawrenson“son of” surname · English
- ЛорансRussian
- ЛоренсRussian
- ЛаврентийRussian
- Лоуренсborrowing · Russian
- ΛαυρέντιοςGreek
- LaurêncioPortuguese
- LourençoPortuguese
- VavřinecCzech
- Vavrinecrelated form
- Labhrasrelated form
- Laurencjuszequivalent
People named Lawrence
- Larry SangerAmerican former professor, co-founder of Wikipedia, founder of Citizendium and other projects (born 1968)
- Larry DavidAmerican comedian, writer and actor (born 1947)
- Larry EllisonAmerican internet entrepreneur and businessman (born 1944)
- Lawrence LessigAmerican academic, political activistborn 1961
- Lawrence DurrellBritish novelist, poet, dramatist, and travel writer (1912–1990)
- Lawrence KleinAmerican economist (1920-2013)
- Lawrence Alma-TademaDutch-born British painter (1836–1912)
- Mr. TAmerican actor and professional wrestlerborn 1952
- Lawrence WongPrime Minister of Singapore since 2024born 1972
Characters named Lawrence: Lawrence Kutner (House), Sportsmaster (DC Comics).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
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