Whatever happened to Laura?

[SharpieHarpie]

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.

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!

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

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...

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

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

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

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

I wouldn’t because I don’t like it

@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

@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

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

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

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 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.

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

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.

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.

My Mum once told me I was called Laura because the downstairs neighbours daughter was called Laura, and she was nice. It was rife in the 80s

Isla is the current Laura.

Laura will come back in 30 years or so. That's usually the way these cycles go.

I was tempted by Laurie for my DD.

I love the name Laura, but my name ends with a “rl” so I thought it might sound a bit harsh when said together

I have a 2.5 year old called Laura.
I'm
Mid 30's, my middle name is Laura and I always loved it!

I've also never met a Laura I didn't like - so that helped :)

@TTCyay a toddler Laura! That’s so great 😍

It's coming back 😀

I really like the name Laura. It sounds nice. I'd never use it for my own daughter, but I do have a close friend with the name so it would be weird to me. I think it should make a come back!

I don’t know any babies or children called Laura (I only know one Laura and she’s nearly 40) but it’s a beautiful name! I love it.

That’s true actually, I’ve never met a horrible Laura either

(Ditto Paul)