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Baby names

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

Original poster

Laurence

41 replies

wishing3 · 06/10/2022 14:55

Any names with a similar vibe to Laurence please?

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MerryHen · 14/10/2022 10:14

midsomermurderess · 13/10/2022 12:15

Go Scandinavian: Lars, nn Lasse.

We'll have Lar as a nickname if we go for Laurence (Irish nn 😁)

EstellaRijnveld · 14/10/2022 06:08

Has Stephen been suggested?
Robert
Philip
Richard
Jonathan
Nathaniel
Christopher
Julian
Maxmillian
Miles
Hugo
Alexander
Sebastian

midsomermurderess · 13/10/2022 12:15

Go Scandinavian: Lars, nn Lasse.

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 12/10/2022 12:36

Lilacsunflowers · 12/10/2022 12:10

Lawrence is the anglicised version of Laurent.

The feminine version of Laurent is Laurence. Just like Florence is for Florent.

Absolutely true in France but Laurence has long been used as a masculine given name in English.

Even in French -ence isn't always feminine, e.g. Maxence.

GlassOuijan · 12/10/2022 12:12

Oops, sorry @ZoyaTheDestroyer cross post!

GlassOuijan · 12/10/2022 12:11

St Lawrence is the anglicised version of the saint's name.

In Latin it's Laurentius; Italian Lorenzo, so he'd originally have been called something similar to one of those.

The "Lawrence" version would have come later.

I also prefer Laurence as a first name and Lawrence as surname, but either spelling works for both.

Lilacsunflowers · 12/10/2022 12:10

Lawrence is the anglicised version of Laurent.

The feminine version of Laurent is Laurence. Just like Florence is for Florent.

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 12/10/2022 12:06

chaotical · 12/10/2022 11:42

@ZoyaTheDestroyer I find it unlikely that somebody in 3rd century Rome was named Lawrence. Surely that must be an Anglicised form of his actual name.

Of course. His name was Laurentius in Latin, Lorenzo in Italian, but this was anglicised to both Lawrence and Laurence from that point onwards and both spellings are valid. Informally I think Lawrence is the common anglicisation in the Catholic Church while Laurence and Lawrence are both used in Anglicanism. There will be exceptions to this, I am sure.

chaotical · 12/10/2022 11:42

@ZoyaTheDestroyer I find it unlikely that somebody in 3rd century Rome was named Lawrence. Surely that must be an Anglicised form of his actual name.

GlassOuijan · 12/10/2022 10:13

Laurence
Benedict
Theodore
Wilfred
Edmund
James
Dominic
Francis
Matthew
Samuel
Ambrose

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 12/10/2022 10:12

I love Laurence (it’s spelt like that, Lawrence is the surname) shame you can’t use it.

It's often a surname but the 'w' spelling has been in use as a given name since St Lawrence of Rome in the third century. Both spellings are valid.

Luredbyapomegranate · 12/10/2022 09:54

I love Laurence (it’s spelt like that, Lawrence is the surname) shame you can’t use it.

Patrick
Alistair
Robert
Giles
Justin
John
Jonathan
Francis
Dominic
Nicholas
Michael
Simon
Daniel
Adam

all have a similar vibe to me (classic, but not especially popular right now)

Ernest
Miles
Edmund
Edwin

Are also quite similar but a bit more dated Edwardian and currently being revived - I imagine Gerald, Arnold, Leonard and Ambrose might shortly start cropping up more too

Astrabees · 10/10/2022 15:02

I have a Laurence, we chose the name because every adult called Laurence I’d ever met was lovely. In the family he is Loz.

Fiddledeedeeee · 10/10/2022 12:16

Laurence is on our boys list this pregnancy. Other are:
Hugh
Hugo
Edward
Oscar
Edmund
Patrick
James
Alec
Miles

Longdarkcloud · 10/10/2022 00:25

Leon
Kenelm
Ludovic
Tarquin

FawnDrench · 09/10/2022 20:32

Lionel
Giles
Neville
Graeme
Leonard
Bernard

MerryHen · 09/10/2022 18:09

Laurence is on our boy's name shortlist (#1 on mine, #3 for DH). Other names we are considering/considered are:

Alexander
Julian/Jules
Edward
Edwin
John
Gabriel
Hugo (vetoed by DH because we know a dog named Hugo 😭)

We also have Adam on there which DH really likes but I don't feel has the same vibe.

Lilacsunflowers · 08/10/2022 09:28

Laurence is actually a woman's name in France, the female version of Laurent.

Similar names for boys

Lawrence
Quentin
Edmund
Vincent

greatpotential · 08/10/2022 08:41

Love laurence and laurie

Some other classics with good nicknames (which aren’t too 80s/90s):
Joseph
David
Peter
Dominic
Christopher

PinkSyCo · 06/10/2022 20:02

Benedict.
Dominic.
Nathaniel.
Alexander.

myrtlehuckingfuge · 06/10/2022 20:02

I see Laurence as a 'world citizen' name and have known a few from all over including Nigeria and a 'Laurenz' from Switzerland. Therefore I suggest Alexander which also has many varients across the world.

Original poster
wishing3 · 06/10/2022 19:58

WeneedSamVimesonthecase · 06/10/2022 19:54

Lysander
Alistair
Silas
Gregory
Dominic
Theodore

DP suggested Alistair but to me it feels a bit odd as we’re not Scottish. Though I wouldn’t think that if it was a friend using it!

OP posts:
LuciaPopp · 06/10/2022 19:57

I’m now imagining a kid called Laurie Park 😭

How about John? Classic but not common these days. Robert? Simon?

Original poster
wishing3 · 06/10/2022 19:56

Dominic is interesting . Can’t make up my mind on it. Thanks all.

OP posts:
Original poster
wishing3 · 06/10/2022 19:55

I like Laurie as a nickname but our surname is a noun that sounds weird with what essentially sounds like ‘lorry’.

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