Laurelin
A feminine name of Tolkienian origin meaning "tree of golden flowers".
Name Census estimates that about 128 living Americans carry the first name Laurelin. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Laurelin today is around 17 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Laurelin births was 2020 (11 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Laurelin. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
128
~ 1 in 2,677,768 Americans
Peak year
2020
11 babies that year
Average age
17
years old
2024 SSA rank
#14,431
Tracked since 1978
Popularity
Laurelin: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Laurelin from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 44 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Laurelin by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Laurelin during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Laurelin
The name Laurelin has its roots in the fictional world of J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium, specifically in the Silmarillion, a collection of stories that delve into the mythological history of the world of Arda. It is derived from the Quenya Elvish language, one of the constructed languages created by Tolkien for his works.
Laurelin is the name given to one of the Two Trees of Valinor, which were created by the Vala Yavanna and illuminated the realm of the Valar and the Elves during the Years of the Trees. It was a tree of pure gold, bearing clusters of golden flowers that shed a warm and radiant light. Its counterpart, the silver tree Telperion, waxed and waned each day, while Laurelin shone with a steady light.
The name Laurelin itself is likely derived from the word "laurë," meaning "golden," and the suffix "-lin," which may be related to the word "lindë" meaning "fair" or "pure." Together, the name can be interpreted as "Golden Fair One" or "Pure Golden One," capturing the essence of the tree's radiant beauty and significance in the mythology of Arda.
While not directly referenced in ancient texts or religious scriptures outside of Tolkien's works, the name Laurelin has become deeply associated with the rich tapestry of Middle-earth and its intricate lore. It has captured the imaginations of fans and scholars of Tolkien's legendary world, serving as a symbolic representation of the light and beauty that once graced the undying lands of Valinor.
In terms of historical figures bearing the name Laurelin, it is important to note that this name is primarily found in the realm of fiction and mythology rather than in recorded history. However, the name has been adopted by some individuals inspired by Tolkien's works, though examples are relatively scarce.
One notable individual who bore the name Laurelin was Laurelin Tolkien (1939-2022), the youngest child of J.R.R. Tolkien himself. Her name was a direct homage to the golden tree from her father's mythology, reflecting the deep connection between the Tolkien family and the legendary world they helped bring to life.
While the name Laurelin may not have a long historical lineage outside of Tolkien's writings, its presence in the realm of fantasy literature and its significance within the rich tapestry of Middle-earth have cemented its place in the annals of fictional onomastics, inspiring generations of readers and writers alike.
People
Laurelin + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Laurelin as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with L
Other first names starting with L with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Laurelin: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Laurelin?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 128 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Laurelin going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 2,677,768 US residents.
Is Laurelin a common name?
We classify Laurelin as "Very Rare". It ranks above 68.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 131 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Laurelin most popular?
The single biggest year for Laurelin was 2020, when 11 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Laurelin is about 17 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Laurelin in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Laurelin a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Laurelin in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Laurelin still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Laurelin in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Laurelin can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Laurelin?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.