Laura
Meaning: Its source is laurus, a Latin name meaning "The bay, or laurel, plant."
Languages: This girl's name is used in German, Dutch, English, Italian, French, Spanish, Finnish, Polish and Czech.
Variant Forms: Lari, Laur, Lauralee, Laureen, Laurel, Laurena, Laurenda, Laurene, Lauressa, Lauretta, Laurette, Lauri, Laurica, Laurice, Lauricia, Laurinda, Laurine, Lorette, Lorey, Lorie, Lorien, Lorinda, Lorraine, Loura, Laurina and Laurana
Non-English Forms: Laure
Popularity: The name Laura ranked 93rd in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics, 22nd in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census and 63rd in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1994 US Census.
This name is highly rated both on the 1990 U.S. Census list and in state data recording the most popular baby names.
Narrative: In the ancient world, laurel leaves were used to fashion the crowns of victorious athletes, poets and soldiers.
As the Roman poet Ovid explains, this practice had its origins in the story of the god Apollo's pursuit of the beautiful nymph Daphne. Scorning his advances, she ran from him until he overcame her. She called on Peneus the river god for help, and he transformed her into a laurel tree.
Apollo still loved her, and took her leaves as his special symbol. As he was the god of poetry, music, science and just about every other human accomplishment, laurel crowns came to be used to adorn Apollo's champions.
Arts and Music
- Laura Branigan (born 1957)
American singer.
- Musical guest on ''''Saturday Night Live'''' (see list of Musical Guests on ''Saturday Night Live'')
- ''Laura''
- Words by Johnny Mercer, music by David Raksin (see list of Names in Song titles)
- Laura Lynch
Member of the Dixie Chicks vocal group
- Entertainer Of The Year 2000, with Emily Erwin, Natalie Maines, Martie Seidel, and Robin Macy members of the Dixie Chicks (see list of Country Music Association Award Winners)
Miscellaneous
- Laura Arrigo
- Spanish model (see list of Fashion Models)
- Laura Welch Bush (born 1946)
- Wife of George W. Bush, 43rd President (see list of United States First Ladies)
- Laura
- Variety of rose (see list of Rose Names)
- Laura Nyro (born 1947, died 1997)
American singer and songwriter.
- 1969 Mademoiselle Award winner (see list of Mademoiselle Award Winners)
- Laura Roth (born 1930)
American physicist.
- 1961 Mademoiselle Award winner (see list of Mademoiselle Award Winners)
- Laura Collins Wolcott
- Wife of Oliver Wolcott (see list of Wives of Signers of the Declaration of Independence)
Science and Philosophy
- Laura Martinez de Carvajales y Camino
Cuban physician.
- First licensed female physician in Cuba (see list of Medical Practitioners)
Sports
- Laura Davies
- 1987 U.S. Women''s Open golf tournament winner (see list of U.S. Open Golf Champions)
- 1994 Ladies'' Professional Golf Association champion (see list of LPGA Champions)
Stage and Screen
- Laura Bryan Birn
American actress.
- Actress on the soap opera ''''The Young and the Restless'''' (see list of Performers on ''The Young and the Restless'')
- Laura Bonarrigo
American actress.
- Actress on soap opera ''''One Life to Live'''' (see list of Performers on ''One Life to Live'')
- Laura Hope Crews (born 1879, died 1942)
American actress best known for the role of Aunt Pittypat in Gone with the Wind (1939).
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Picture (see list of Movie Personalities with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
- Laura Horton
Fictional character.
- Character on the soap opera ''''Days of Our Lives'''' (see list of Characters on ''Days of Our Lives'')
- Laura Innes (born 1960)
American actress.
- Portrays Dr. Kerry Weaver (see list of Actors on ''ER'')
- Laura Kelly
Fictional character.
- Portrayed by Sherry Stringfield (see list of Characters on ''NYPD Blue'')
- Laura Kightlinger
Comedienne.
- A cast member on ''''Saturday Night Live,'''' from 1994-1995 (see list of Saturday Night Live)
- Laura
Fictional character.
- Character on soap opera ''''All My Children'''' (see list of Characters on ''All My Children'')
- Laura
- Played by Theresa Randle (see list of Character from Spike Lee's Malcolm X)
- Laura
Characters with this name appeared in films directed by Woody Allen.
- Portrayed by Martha Plimpton (see list of Characters in the film Another Woman)
- Portrayed by Natalie Portman (see list of Characters in the film Everyone Says I Love You)
- Laura Leighton
American actress.
- Portrayed Sydney Adrews (see list of Actors on ''Melrose Place'')
- Laura Palmer
Fictional character.
- Portrayed by Sheryl Lee (see list of Characters on ''Twin Peaks'')
- Laura Petrie
Fictional character.
- Portrayed by Mary Tyler Moore (see list of Characters on ''The Dick Van Dyke Show'')
- Laura La Plante
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Picture (see list of Movie Personalities with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
- Laura Sisk
- Actress on soap opera ''''Loving'''' (see list of Performers on the Soap Opera ''Loving'')
- Laura Spencer
Fictional character.
- Character on the soap opera ''''General Hospital'''' (see list of Characters on ''General Hospital'')
- Laura Ingalls Wilder (born 1867, died 1957)
American children's author who wrote the autobiographical novels on which the popular television series ''Little House on the Prairie'' was based.
- Portrayed by Melissa Gilbert (see list of Characters on ''Little House on the Prairie'')
The Literary World
- Laura Adams Armer
- 1932 Newbery Medal winner, for Waterless Mountain (see list of Newbery Medal Winners)
- Laura Riding Jackson (born 1901, died 1991)
American poet.
- 1991 Bollingen Prize winner (see list of Winners of the Bollingen Prize for Poetry)
- Laura E. Richards
- 1917 Pulitzer Prize winner for Biography/Autobiography, for Julia Ward Howe (see list of Winners of the Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography)
- Laura Ingalls Wilder (born 1867, died 1957)
American children's author who wrote the autobiographical novels on which the popular television series ''Little House on the Prairie'' was based.
- Wrote The Little House in the Big Woods (see list of Prose Writers of the 20th Century)
- Laura Wingfield
Fictional character.
- Character in ''''The Glass Menagerie,'''' by Tennessee Williams (see list of Characters in Literature of the American South)
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Teasing Nicknames:
- Loopy
- Lu
- Lolita
- LouLa
- LouLou
- Laura are you poor?
- BoraBora
- Bore-ah
- Hora
- Lollipop
- Lala
- Laura Baura
- Larva
- Lore the Bore
- Lore the Spore
- No More Lore
- Lore the Sore
- Laura Spoon
- Laura Laura Bo Baura
- Lauralee
- Lawhorea
- Laura-bara-bing-bang
- Loopage
- Layra
- Lollapop
- Bora Monster
- Louie
- Loresy-Boresy
- Laura Borealis
