Lorraine

At a Glance

Meaning

From Lorraine, France (ultimately 'famous army' via Lothair)

Origin

French (place name)

Gender

Used for both boys and girls

Pronunciation

lor-AYNListen

Lorraine comes from the French region of Lorraine, which takes its name from 'Lotharingia,' the realm of Lothair, a Germanic name meaning roughly 'famous army.' You may hear that Lorraine is related to Laura and means 'laurel,' but the two names are unrelated. It's pronounced lor-AYN.

Meaning & Origin of Lorraine

Meaning: From Lorraine, France (ultimately 'famous army' via Lothair).

Origin: French (place name).

A common claim: Lorraine is sometimes said to be related to Laura, meaning 'laurel' Actually: Lorraine is unrelated to Laura. The name comes from the French region of Lorraine, itself from 'Lotharingia' (realm of Lothair), ultimately Germanic for roughly 'famous army.'

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Lorraine

Popularity of Lorraine

Lorraine peaked at #39 in 1928, when 5,982 babies were given the name. By 2024 it had fallen to #1417, with 157 babies, so a baby named Lorraine today would be unlikely to meet another.

Names Like Lorraine

These names have followed a similar path to Lorraine in U.S. popularity over the years.

• Althea
• Roslyn
• Carmella
• Elvin
• Evangelina
• Nadine

FAQ

What does the name Lorraine mean?

From Lorraine, France (ultimately ‘famous army’ via Lothair). (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Lorraine?

Lorraine is pronounced lor-AYN (IPA: /lɒˈreɪn/).

Is Lorraine a popular name right now?

Lorraine peaked at #39 in 1928 and is ranked #1417 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1882–2024.)

Make Lorraine Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Lorraine, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.