Given name & surname · also Basque
Lore
“man from Laurentum; crowned with laurel”·“crowned with laurel; from the laurel tree”
Lore is a form of Lawrence. One Latin interpretation is “man from Laurentum; crowned with laurel.” Lore is a form of Lora. In Latin use, Lora carries the interpretation “crowned with laurel; from the laurel tree.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Lore is a form of Lawrence. One Latin interpretation is “man from Laurentum; crowned with laurel.” Lore is a form of Lora. In Latin use, Lora carries the interpretation “crowned with laurel; from the laurel tree.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
This spelling has been associated with Basque and English naming traditions.
How it developed
In German usage, Lore is a diminutive of Hannelore. In Dutch usage, Lore is a diminutive of Eleonore.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1915. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Lore through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,118
- 0 boys · 1,118 girls
- Most popular year
- 1961
- 56 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +100%
- Rising fast
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 10 in 2024. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for girls was 56 in 1961. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,658 as a first name in 2020; 2,635 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.
Lore’s family of names
In German usage, Lore is a diminutive of Hannelore. Lore shares a linguistic root with Laura. Lore is a form of Lawrence.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Lore has relatives in 5 languages. Lines run from its English roots to each of them.
8 related names in 5 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 7
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 3
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 3
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Lore
- Lore FrischGerman actress (1925–1962)
- Lore SegalAmerican novelist, translator, teacher, children's author (1928–2024)
- Lore BergerSwiss writer (1921-1943)
- Lore Agnespolitician (1876-1953)
- Lore De Scheppercyclist from Belgiumborn 2005
- Lore GillisBelgian volleyball playerborn 1988
- Lore FischerGerman altos (1911–1991)
- Lore LorentzGerman cabaret artist (1920–1994)
- Lore KrügerGerman translator (1914–2009)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Lore, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Lori
“crowned with laurel; from the laurel tree”
>99% girls
Shelley
“from the bank's meadow” · “from the meadow's ledge”
>99% girls
Meryl
“resembling a blackbird” · “of the shining sea”
>99% girls
Toni
“a flourishing man; from an ancient Roman family”
8% boys · 92% girls
Marni
“woman of the sea”
>99% girls
Tina
Tina is used as a given name and a surname. One English interpretation is “from the river; also shortened torm of names ending in -tina.”
>99% girls
Lorette
“crowned with laurel; from the laurel tree”
>99% girls
Lorra
“crowned with laurel; from the laurel tree”
>99% girls