Lurene
A girl's name of French origin with 890 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
definite plural of lur
Lurene is a girl's baby name of French origin, possibly a variant of Lorene or Lurline, connected to the Loreley — the German river nymph of the Rhine — or alternatively from the French leurre (lure, attraction). The -ene suffix gives it a melodic, lyrical quality.
Lurene was most popular in the American South between 1910 and 1940, when names ending in -ene were fashionable. It has an almost mythological, atmospheric quality — the name of someone who draws others in without quite trying, carrying the river-siren associations of its possible Loreley connection.
EtymologyShow more
Lurene first shows up in U.S. Social Security records in 1898. Names present in the earliest SSA data (which begins in 1880) were typically carried by immigrants from Europe, handed down through families, or drawn from biblical and classical sources.
Its French classification suggests a path from french linguistic traditions into American usage, though the specific route — whether through immigration, literature, or cultural exchange — would require deeper historical research.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Lurene has 66+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1898.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 46 | #6283 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 115 | #3715 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 109 | #3179 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 147 | #2279 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 227 | #1869 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 189 | #1592 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 49 | #1835 | ▲ |
| 1890s | 8 | #1331 | — |
The Story of Lurene
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1922, Lurene is a name steeped in history. Girls named Lurene are most likely born between 1912 and 1932.
How rare is Lurene?
With 890 total births on record, Lurene remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1898, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1920s with 227 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Lurene by the numbers
- Would fill 19 school buses
- Meeting one Lurene per day would take 2.4 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(66 years, 1898–1968)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 5 | #7684 |
| 1967 | 5 | #7403 |
| 1964 | 6 | #6457 |
| 1963 | 7 | #5652 |
| 1962 | 5 | #7157 |
| 1961 | 11 | #4144 |
| 1960 | 7 | #5481 |
| 1959 | 12 | #3735 |
| 1958 | 9 | #4372 |
| 1957 | 10 | #4090 |
| 1956 | 12 | #3603 |
| 1955 | 20 | #2512 |
| 1954 | 14 | #3103 |
| 1953 | 11 | #3595 |
| 1952 | 7 | #4748 |
| 1951 | 12 | #3218 |
| 1950 | 8 | #4174 |
| 1949 | 11 | #3306 |
| 1948 | 17 | #2457 |
| 1947 | 10 | #3600 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lurene a boy's or girl's name?
When was Lurene most popular?
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Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1898–1968