Lura
Primarily a girl's name of Latin origin with 9,550 recorded births. Also given to 5 boys.
Meaning & Origin
definite nominative singular of Lurë
Lura is a girl's and boy's baby name of Latin origin, possibly a short form of Laura (from the Latin laurus, meaning 'laurel') or a variant of Lola/Lora. The laurel wreath was the symbol of victory in ancient Rome, given to triumphant generals and celebrated poets.
With nearly 10,000 recorded U.S. births, Lura was a genuine American classic of the late 19th and early 20th centuries — a name with the breezy, natural elegance of a flower meadow.
EtymologyShow more
Though Lura dates back to 1880 in U.S. records, its etymological path is not always straightforward. Names that predate modern naming databases sometimes resist easy classification — they may have been oral traditions, regional family names, or adaptations that were never systematically recorded. The Latin classification provides a starting point, but the full derivation likely involves more nuance than a single label can capture.
Lura’s 9,550 recorded births provide enough of a footprint to establish it as a real, chosen name in American culture — not a typo or a one-off, but a deliberate selection by hundreds of families.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Lura climbed 2900 spots in the last 20 years — from #13620 to #10720.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 46 | #11339 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 93 | #10577 | — |
| 2000s | 98 | #10931 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 154 | #7200 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 252 | #3699 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 283 | #2834 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 470 | #1722 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 626 | #1289 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 789 | #913 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 962 | #698 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 1,629 | #561 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 1,553 | #450 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 920 | #352 | — |
| 1890s | 948 | #288 | ▲ |
| 1880s | 727 | #228 | — |
The Story of Lura
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1917, Lura is a name steeped in history. Girls named Lura are most likely born between 1907 and 1927.
How rare is Lura?
Only about 1 in every 400,000 babies born in 2024 was named Lura — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1880, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1920s with 1,629 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Lura by the numbers
- Would fill 199 school buses
- Meeting one Lura per day would take 26.2 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(143 years, 1880–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 9 | #10720 |
| 2023 | 5 | #16642 |
| 2022 | 13 | #8317 |
| 2021 | 11 | #9304 |
| 2020 | 8 | #11711 |
| 2019 | 9 | #11016 |
| 2018 | 13 | #8416 |
| 2017 | 14 | #8117 |
| 2016 | 8 | #12433 |
| 2015 | 9 | #11484 |
| 2014 | 12 | #9315 |
| 2013 | 10 | #10706 |
| 2012 | 9 | #11855 |
| 2010 | 9 | #11852 |
| 2009 | 10 | #11161 |
| 2008 | 17 | #7607 |
| 2007 | 5 | #19351 |
| 2005 | 9 | #11464 |
| 2004 | 7 | #13620 |
| 2003 | 12 | #8837 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Lura as a Boy's Name
While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Lura has also been given to 5 boys in the U.S. since 1919.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lura a boy's or girl's name?
When was Lura most popular?
How popular is the name Lura?
Can Lura be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1880–2024