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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Whatever happened to Laura?

91 replies

SharpieHarpie · 06/10/2021 22:11

I am a mid 30s Laura, and I never hear the name used for children, babies or even anyone under 30. It was SO popular when I was at school, I hated it! There were at least 2-3 Lauras in every class from reception to 6th form, all differentiated by our surname initials. However as I got older it seemed to die out super abruptly in a way that Charlotte, Claire etc (probably as popular in the mid 80s?) never did. And as I’ve got older I like it more and more as it’s kind of unusual now.

So, would you consider Laura as a name for your daughter? If so why/why not? Are you a Laura, do you have a Laura, or know a baby Laura? I’d love to hear.

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SingingSands · 06/10/2021 22:37

I love the name Laura and so very nearly called DD Laura.

When I was a little girl I told my parents I wanted to change my name to Laura.

I know 3 IRL : aged 42, 30 and 23.

littlemisslozza · 06/10/2021 22:34

I'm a 40 year old Laura and was the only one in my year at school. Think it took off a few years later! I know a 6 year old Laura.

Original poster
SharpieHarpie · 06/10/2021 22:31

@Sarah2384 love the name Lara, always wished that was me as slightly more exotic

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Original poster
SharpieHarpie · 06/10/2021 22:31

@mum2jakie actually good point. Charlotte and Catherine from the same age group have definitely endured but maybe Claire and Laura have gone the same way for now.

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Sarah2384 · 06/10/2021 22:29

I know a few young girls named Lara but not Laura. I like it, makes me think of Laura Ingalls Wilder (Little House on the Prairie)

mum2jakie · 06/10/2021 22:29

I think Claire has died out as well though. I don't know any Claires under 35?

Original poster
SharpieHarpie · 06/10/2021 22:29

@Flufferty LOVE the name Catherine. And enduring popularity unlike us Lauras

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Original poster
SharpieHarpie · 06/10/2021 22:26

@UsedUpUsername haha yes I’m sure there are tons of us middle aged Lauras about

@Wowcherarestalkingme wouldn’t it be so funny to see a huge trend of Lauras. When I was little and drove past a Laura Ashley shop I genuinely thought I would end up owning it one day Blush

@NannyR so glad you’ve met a toddler Laura!

@scarby9 I get Lorelei as a nickname sometimes

@Babyfg true, Lauren was equally popular. Maybe we will see a resurgence

@TheBestSpoon sorry you won’t get to use Laura but you clearly have excellent taste for your boys Wink

OP posts:
BakingOfTheFoodCats · 06/10/2021 22:22

I wouldn’t because I don’t like it

Scarby9 · 06/10/2021 22:20

I really like Laura.
Also Lauren, Lora and Lorelei.

UsedUpUsername · 06/10/2021 22:20

It’s now the name of middle-aged women, so no one wants to saddle their kid with it. It’s like the Debbie/Nancy/Sally names before

Babyfg · 06/10/2021 22:19

I was thinking this about the name Lauren a couple of weeks ago!
I know a few children called Lara but no Lauras (or Laurens). I think it's what Isla and Ava are now, like super popular so will be a name very much of their generation

Flufferty · 06/10/2021 22:17

I love the name Laura. My mum wanted to call me Laura and my dad wanted Catherine. I ended up as Catherine, but would have preferred Laura

TheBestSpoon · 06/10/2021 22:17

I am the same age and have always planned to call any daughter I had Laura. Yes, there were a lot at school at the same time as me, but I think it's a lovely name - simple, elegant, only one spelling and pronunciation and translates easily into most European languages. But just found out DC2, who will be our final child, is a boy, so it wasn't to be! I think I do have (unfashionably) retro tastes though, as DS1 also has a name that was top 10 in the 80s and is much less common now...

Wowcherarestalkingme · 06/10/2021 22:17

I’m a Laura and like you I hated it because of the popularity. In my reception class there was only four girls and three of us were called Laura.
I have seen it crop up on quite a few of the baby name boards though so maybe it is inching it’s way back in

NannyR · 06/10/2021 22:15

I met a toddler Laura the other day and thought it sounded lovely, really refreshing to hear it in a sea of Ava/Ada/Evie type names. It's a timeless name that suits all ages - I love it!

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