The name Laurie is of Scottish origin and it means "laurel" or "bay tree". The laurel plant was considered a symbol of victory in ancient Greece, and its leaves were used to create wreaths that were awarded to champions and heroes.
The name Laurie has been used historically as both a male and female name. In the past, it was often used for boys due to its association with the Scottish surname Laurie, which is derived from the French word "laurier" meaning laurel. However, in recent times, Laurie has become more commonly used as a female name.
The name Laurie gained popularity during the Victorian era when many English-speaking countries were influenced by Scottish culture and literature. It was also popularized by several literary characters named Laurie, such as the character of Lord Henry Wotton in Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray".
Some famous people named Laurie include American actress and singer Laurie Anderson, British actress Laurie Calvert, and Australian musician Laurie Brown.
The name Laurie has seen a significant rise and fall in popularity over the years in the United States. In the late 19th century, there were fewer than 10 babies named Laurie each year, with the highest number being just 12 births in 1895 and 1896.
However, starting from the early 20th century, the popularity of the name began to increase steadily. The number of babies named Laurie peaked in 1956 with 6,206 births that year. This marked a significant shift in preference towards this name.
From 1957 onwards, the popularity of the name started to decline gradually but remained relatively stable until the mid-1970s. Between 1971 and 1983, there were over 1,000 babies named Laurie each year, with a peak of 2,690 births in 1975.
After 1983, the popularity of the name began to decline more rapidly. By the end of the century, fewer than 100 babies were being named Laurie annually. This trend continued into the 21st century, with the number of newborns named Laurie falling below 60 each year from 2007 onwards.
In recent years, there has been a slight resurgence in popularity for the name Laurie, with around 50-60 babies being named Laurie annually between 2013 and 2022. However, this is still significantly lower than its peak popularity during the mid-20th century.
Overall, while the name Laurie has seen fluctuations in popularity over time, it remains a timeless choice that continues to be given to newborn babies even today.