laurence...boy or girl? french or english?

[mamaesi]

I heard this name the other day but am confused. Is it a boy or a girl?

what is the french spelling? what is the english spelling?

what do you think of when you hear it...

[fraktious]

Girl in French - boy is Laurent

Technically unisex in English and spelt Lawrence/Laurence but more common for boys.

[wigglesrock]

Oh and to really confuse you, I was told Laurence for first name, Lawrence for surname I like it, but dislike Larry so it put me off.

[mayanna123]

Definately a girls name.

Laurence is the female version of Laurent. Just like Florence is the female version of Florent.

[tammytoby]

Girl.

Lawrence is male name.

[Thissideofchannel]

Female name, like Florence.

Laurent is the male version. Or Lawrence in the UK.

[SloganLogan]

I prefer the spelling Lawrence.

[LeMousquetaireAnonyme]

French girl: laurence

english boy: lawrence

[BBNElea]

It's both.

In Britain it's male and has been popularly used as such since the middle ages (sometimes found in records latinised as Laurentius) . St Laurence (a male), martyred in Rome in 258, was a popular medieval saint. Its use in the UK sparked many patronymic surnames and variations including Lawrence, Lawrenson, Laurie, Lawson, Larry and Larkin.

In France it's a girls name, the feminine form of Laurent.

[bigbluebump]

Looks very feminine to me. Like Florence. I also find the nickname Laurie very feminine.

Laurent is lovely for a boy. Lawrence is a little surnamey.

[orienteerer]

I'd assume it was a boy

[meditrina]

Boy (unless you are Francophone).

Has been a boys name in Uk since the 6th century (check the saints!) and is a boys name also in US and Aus.

[Ephiny]

I've never heard Laurence used for a girl in any language, though I appreciate that it's feminine in French. Would go for Laura/Lauren/Laurel for a girl, especially in English-speaking countries. Or indeed Florence if you like!

Not sure why Laurence becomes a boys name in English and Florence is for girls, but that seems to be the way it is!

[Trinaluce]

Laurence Olivier
Laurence Fishburne
Lawrence Oates

No matter how you spell it, to me it's a boy's name.

[cakeforbrains]

My female friend is named Laurence. She's french with an english DH. She gets really fed up of getting calls and letters asking for Mr Laurence Surname - the assumption in the UK seems to be that its a male name.

[bigbluebump]

I know a female (french) Laurence, I like it pronounced the french way. Actually Florence also sounds nicer in French imo.

[hellokitty123]

Feminine form of Laurent in French speaking world.

Think Lawrence works better for a male imo.

[sharbie]

my lawrence has never been called larry btw

[DodgyTodger]

I find the nickname Laurie very feminine

Really? Even though it sounds like Lorry? :o

[lisianthus]

I'd assume it was a boy.

[lazylula]

I would definitely think boy, no matter how it was spelt. I have only ever met male Lawrence/Laurences.

[ggirl]

My brother is Laurence.
He is scottish/canadian

[hellokitty123]

I'd pronounce Laurie as Laur (like Laura) - ee, not Lorry.

[pranma]

Girl in Antonia Forrest's books about the Marlowe sisters-twins Laurece [Laurie] and Nicola.They also had Rowan and Karen[Kay],Virginia[Ginny] and poor Ann who seems to draw the short straw in more ways than one.
Their boys were Giles and Peter.

[hulabula]

I know a lovely Laurence in her 30s. Sounds feminine to me, like Florence, Cadence or Clemence.