Laurel as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Laurel

What is the meaning of the name Laurel ?

The baby name Laurel is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈlɔːrəl/ (LOR-əl).

Laurel is English in Origin.

Laurel stems from Latin laurus, the bay laurel tree whose leaves crowned victors and poets in classical Greece and Rome. The name carries meanings of “laurel,” “victory,” and “honor,” reflected in words like laureate. Adopted in English in the 19th century alongside other botanical names, Laurel has been used for both sexes but trends feminine today. It saw steady mid-20th‑century use in the U.S. and other Anglophone countries, with recent revival thanks to the rise of nature names.

Variants and cognates include Laura (Italian/Spanish/English), Laure (French), and the modern English Lauren; related masculine forms are Lauro (Italian/Spanish/Portuguese) and, by association, Laurence/Lawrence. Diminutives and short forms include Laurie and Lori. Rare elaborations such as Laurelle also appear. The image of evergreen resilience and earned achievement gives Laurel a quietly classic, aspirational tone.