Meaning & Origin
A town and commune of Hautes-Pyrénées department, Occitania, site of a large Catholic pilgrimage.
Lourdes is a girl's and boy's baby name of French origin, derived from the town of Lourdes in the Hautes-Pyrénées department of southern France — one of the world's most significant Catholic pilgrimage sites. In 1858, the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to a young girl named Bernadette Soubirous there, making Lourdes a place of healing and devotion.
With over 14,000 recorded births in U.S. SSA data, Lourdes has meaningful roots in American Catholic naming. Madonna named her daughter Lourdes Maria in 1996, bringing the name global celebrity attention. It carries a depth of religious meaning and a romantically French sound that makes it one of the most evocative place-names used for people.