What does Laurel mean?
Laurel names the laurel tree, whose leaves crowned victors in the ancient world.
What does Flora mean?
Literally means 'flower': from Latin 'flos/floris' (flower). Flora was the Roman goddess of flowers and spring.
Laurel vs Flora
Which is more popular?
Flora is more popular than Laurel today: about 483 US babies were given the name Flora in 2025, compared with 372 named Laurel.
| Laurel | Flora | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | The laurel tree | Flower |
| Origin | Latin | latin |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | LOR-ul | FLOR-uh |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1883 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 1956 (1,181) | 1920 (1,566) |
| In 2025 | 372 | 483 |
| Trend | Rising | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Laurel
Flora
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Laurel | Flora |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 2,448 | 2,507 |
| 2010s | 3,618 | 1,801 |
| 2000s | 3,445 | 1,008 |
| 1990s | 4,365 | 717 |
| 1980s | 4,901 | 830 |
| 1970s | 4,065 | 1,140 |
| 1960s | 6,366 | 2,277 |
| 1950s | 9,439 | 4,411 |
| 1940s | 4,890 | 6,178 |
| 1930s | 1,525 | 8,727 |
| 1920s | 1,437 | 13,962 |
| 1910s | 366 | 11,761 |
| 1900s | 108 | 6,015 |
| 1890s | 98 | 5,442 |
| 1880s | 42 | 4,195 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Laurel or Flora more popular?
Flora is more popular than Laurel today: about 483 US babies were given the name Flora in 2025, compared with 372 named Laurel.
What is the difference between Laurel and Flora?
Laurel means The laurel tree (Latin origin), while Flora means Flower (latin origin).
Which name is older, Laurel or Flora?
In US records, Laurel first appears in 1883 and Flora in 1880, so Flora has the longer recorded history.