Laura

A female given name from Latin.

Proper noun

  1. A female given name from Latin.
    • Now is he for the numbers that Petrarch flowed in; Laura to his lady was but a kitchen-wench; marry, she had a better love to be-rime her; - c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and...
    • Laura was saying something. A mellifluous name, he thought. I wish she were far away, so I could call her. - 1960 Peter S. Beagle: A Fine And Private Place. Random House Publishing, 1982:The Fantasy Worlds of Peter...
    • 'Mine's Laura'./ 'A beautiful name.'/ Laura has never liked her name. It's too old-fashioned and has, to her mind, a slightly whiny sound, like the twang of a country and western guitar. In fact she was given the name...

Origin

From Late Latin saint's name Laura, from the feminine form of laurus (“laurel tree”). A post-classical name made famous by Petrarch's sonnets to Laura in the fourteenth century.

Forms

Lora

Related

Laurel Lauren Lauretta Laurie Lol Loretta Lori Lorraine