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...

Girl in French - boy is Laurent

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

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.

Definately a girls name.

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

Girl.

Lawrence is male name.

Female name, like Florence.

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

I prefer the spelling Lawrence.

French girl: laurence

english boy: lawrence

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.

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.

I'd assume it was a boy

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.

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!

Laurence Olivier
Laurence Fishburne
Lawrence Oates

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

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.

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

Feminine form of Laurent in French speaking world.

Think Lawrence works better for a male imo.

my lawrence has never been called larry btw

I find the nickname Laurie very feminine

Really? Even though it sounds like Lorry? :o

I'd assume it was a boy.

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

My brother is Laurence.
He is scottish/canadian

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

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.

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