Laurel is a female given name of Latin origin. It means "laurel tree" or "noble". The laurel tree was a symbol of victory in ancient Rome, and it was believed that the gods would reward those who were crowned with laurels. The name Laurel has been used in English-speaking countries since the Middle Ages.
In literature, the name Laurel appears in Shakespeare's play "As You Like It", where it is given to one of the main characters. This character is a noblewoman who is forced to flee into the Forest of Ardenne because of political intrigue. Her name may be a reference to the laurel tree that grows in this forest.
In popular culture, Laurel has been used as a girl's name in several movies and television shows. For example, it is the name of one of the main characters in the film "Little Women", played by Emma Watson. It is also the name of a character in the television series "Gossip Girl".
Here are some interesting statistics about the name Laurel over the years in the United States:
* The name Laurel first appeared on the Social Security Administration's list of baby names in the year 1887, with five babies being named Laurel that year.
* There was a brief period between 1935 and 1946 where the number of births with the name Laurel significantly decreased, from 30 births in 1935 to just 17 births in 1948. However, it recovered afterwards.
* The peak years for the name Laurel were 1920 and 1921, with a total of 110 births (55 each year) during this time period.
* Despite its popularity in the early to mid-20th century, the name Laurel has not been among the top 1000 most popular names since 1964. In recent years, it seems that the name is becoming more popular again, with nine births in 2022.
It's fascinating to see how the popularity of a name can fluctuate over time and generations!