Laura is a distinctive choice, ranked #258 in 2024. Your child is likely to be the only Laura in their class.
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UK Rank 2024
#258
US Rank #359
About the Name Laura
Laura has seen a notable decline in recent years, dropping 80 places in five years. It was most popular in 1996 at #17 β parents choosing it today are making a deliberately counter-trend decision. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996. It has featured in the UK top 100 for 10 years, demonstrating solid mainstream recognition.
Laura is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school β standing out on every register.
In the US it sits at #359 β notably more popular in the UK than across the Atlantic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Laura
Unlikely. With around 188 UK babies named Laura per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Laura in her class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Laura has been declining in UK popularity, dropping 80 places in the last five years. Its peak was #17 in 1996. Choosing it now means she is likely to be among the last of her generation with this name.
Laura is more popular in the UK (#258) than in the US (#359). Names with strong rankings in both countries tend to have broad cross-cultural appeal, working well for international families or those with ties to both nations.
Notable people named Laura include: Laura Kuenssberg β Laura Juliet Kuenssberg is a British journalist who presents the BBC's Sunday morning politics show.; Laura Kirk β Laura Ellen Kirk is an American actress and university professor.; Laura Bush β Laura Lane Welch Bush is an American educator who was the first lady of the United States from 2001 to 2009 as the wife of George W..
Laura appears in the US top 500 at #359 in 2024 β moderately popular in America, though less so than in the UK.
188
UK babies named Laura (2024)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.1
In a school of 600
↓ 80 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Laura
Likely around 1 other Laura in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2024)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Laura
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Laura Juliet Kuenssberg is a British journalist who presents the BBC's Sunday morning politics show. She was political editor of BBC News from July 2015 to May 2022, and was the first woman to hold the position.
Laura Lane Welch Bush is an American educator who was the first lady of the United States from 2001 to 2009 as the wife of George W. Bush, the 43rd president of the United States.
Laura Ilene Benanti is an American actress and singer. Benanti made her Broadway debut as an ensemble member and later as Maria von Trapp in the 1998 revival of The Sound of Music.
Laura Mancini, Duchess of MercΕur was a niece of Cardinal Mazarin. She was the eldest of the five famous Mancini sisters, who along with two of their female Martinozzi cousins, were known at the French court of Louis XIV as the Mazarinettes.