Lawrence

Lawrence meaning

Lawrence is a Christian boy's name of Latin origin.

Laurentius, 'of Laurentum', a town in Latium

Also used to mean: crowned with laurel, from Laurentum

Lawrence comes through Old French from Latin Laurentius. Lewis & Short explain Laurentius as "Laurentian", belonging to Laurentum, a coastal town of Latium near Ostia, and the Online Etymology Dictionary takes Laurentum as "town of bay trees", from laurus, "laurel"; that is why name lists say "crowned with laurel". Its great bearer is Saint Lawrence, a deacon of Rome martyred in 258, remembered for presenting the poor as the treasures of the Church. In India the name is beloved among Catholics in Tamil Nadu, Goa and coastal Karnataka, where the shrine of Saint Lawrence at Attur, Karkala draws large crowds. Lorenzo is the Italian form.

Source: Lewis & Short, A Latin Dictionary (1879), s.v. Laurentum (Laurentius) · entry Laurentum; Laurentius · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026

References: Lewis & Short, Laurentum (Perseus) · Online Etymology Dictionary, Lawrence

Famous namesakes

• Saint Lawrence of Rome, deacon and martyr

Popularity abroad

• #520 United States, boys 2025 (down 12 from 508 in 2024)
  US Social Security Administration
• #549 England and Wales, boys 2025
  Office for National Statistics

Official birth registrations. India publishes no national name statistics.

Spellings

Lawrence · Laurence · Lawrance

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Also meaning victory

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