The baby name Lars blends classic style with Scandi heritage.
Thanks to Kristin for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day: Lars.
WHAT DOES THE NAME LARS MEAN?
The Latin name Laurentius referred to an ancient city. Laurentum, in turn, took its name from the Latin word for laurel.
But it’s so much more.
A laurel wreath has been a traditional symbol of victory since ancient days. The Greek god Apollo sported such a crown. Terms like “poet laureate” still refer to the custom.
Laurel is sometimes a synonym for any honor. For example, film festivals and other award programs typically award them. Celebrated movies or plays may have multiple awards mentioned on their posters, every one surrounded by laurels, like a pair of fancy brackets.
SAINT LAURENCE
The name Laurentius filtered into use across Europe thanks to Saint Laurence.
During the third century, Laurence served as something of a finance officer, distributing alms to the poor.
A local government official in Rome ordered him to round up the riches of his church and hand ’em over.
Laurence gathered the poor and presented them as the true wealth of his faith.
Legend has it that he was roasted alive. He’s the patron saint invoked against fire. Because Catholics love a gory saint story, Laurence is also the patron saint of chefs and restaurant owners.
His death is the subject of much medieval artwork.
LAURENCE, LAWRENCE, LARRY, AND MORE
Thanks to the gutsy and grisly tale, this name is heard across Europe and the English-speaking world.
- It’s also spelled Lawrence. Originally this was the preferred form of the last name, but now it’s just more common in English.
- Nickname Larry became a popular independent first name from the 1930s into the 50s.
- The French Laurent lives on in high fashion, thanks to Yves Saint Laurent.
- Italian form Lorenzo is enjoying a rise in use, with so many O-ending names for boys. Nickname Enzo is a popular choice, too.
- Larkin is medieval diminutive form of Laurence, but today it reads more like a feminine name based on Lark.
So where does the baby name Lars come in?
SCANDI FAVORITE
By the sixteenth century, Lars was a common form of the name used in Scandinavia. It’s also heard in German and Dutch-speaking countries.
Famous men by the name of Lars are plentiful. They lend the name a rich history, but also a heavy metal undercurrent.
- Guitar legend Yngwie Malmsteen’s given name was Lars.
- Rancid’s Lars Frederiksen was born in California, but his mom was born in Denmark.
- Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich truly puts the heavy metal umlaut in Lars. The Danish-born drummer and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer has had a successful career since the early 1980s. Metallica has racked up multiple Grammy awards. Along with founding member James Hetfield, Ulrich wrote most of the band’s songs.
Two movie Lars connections might also come to mind:
- Quirky little indie flick Lars and the Real Girl made waves in 2007.
- Danish film director and Lars von Trier’s career is riddled with hateful comments and indefensible choices, but you may have seen his work. Kirsten Dunst won a best actress awards at Cannes for her performance in 2011’s Melancholia. (So yes, there are laurels on the DVD case and movie posters.)
HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME LARS?
The baby name Lars ranked in the US Top 1000 steadily from 1958 through 1976, and a few times before and since. The name’s last appearance was in 1984, with an all-time high rank of #737 in 1961.
The name’s popularity has waxed and waned since. As of 2023, 66 boys received the name. That’s on the low side, but still not too terribly obscure.
With names like Axel and Magnus popular, Lars might fit right in with the Scandi energy. It’s also an S-ending name, which puts it in the company of choices like Brooks and
STRENGTH AND SUBSTANCE
From Ancient Rome to stadium concerts, there’s a confidence and courage around Lars.
It’s masculine and strong, but not particularly aggressive. The Latin origin gives this name a solid meaning, too.
If you’re looking for a Scandi heritage choice that’s familiar in English, but not too common, Lars might be the perfect name.
What do you think of the baby name Lars?
First published on December 21, 2011, this post was updated November 11, 2013 and again on May 6, 2025.
Here in Lake Wobegon, Lars is a pretty normal name. Not ever popular, but not ever completely gone either. It’s perfectly nice, but I’m not enamored with it — in fact I’d prefer Lasse, but I that would get twisted into Lassie. 🙁
As far as Scandinavian names go it’s pronunciation is accessible and with the popularity of the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, I imagine Norsk names in general will be rising in popularity. I wouldn’t be surprised to meet more children named Lars.
As a Laura I couldn’t use Lawrence. Lars os a bit too harsh, but Larkin? Larkin’s one of my favourites. I didn’t know it was related to my own name. Now that has serious possibilities.
My son is a fourth generation Lawrence. I had my doubts and anxieties about it, but now I’m in love. He is such a sweet, old soul, and so incredibly smart and funny. The name suits him perfectly. My Father in law (and his late father) go by Larry, my husband grew up as Larry and now prefers Lawrence. Every once in awhile I’ll call our son Lorie..just slips out, but he’s our Lawrence!! Ps….he’s wearing a bow tie in his one year pictures 😉
LOVE it! We actually lived down the street from a little Lawrence a few years ago … he was fearless, constantly riding his tricycle at high speeds towards the hilly part of our street. As for Lorie? I used to call my son Aly and Alexei – but now he’s 7 and he’s Alex-thank-you-very-much. Still, I love Aly and Lorie and all of those softer nicknames for classic boys’ names.
I would probably use a different form of the name: Lorenz. It’s on my family tree, thanks to an immigrant from Czechoslovakia about 8 generations ago, and I like the sound and heft of it much better. And there’s that Z!
I think it is a great heritage choice as well, but not one I’d use. I prefer Laurence as a middle for a boy or even a girl. (Laurence is the feminine form of Laurent in france). I didn’t realize that Lark was related to Laurence! I always figured it was a nature name like Wren or Hawk. My grandfather and his father were both named Lark, now I can use Laurence to honor them.
We know a Lars. His mom is Dutch, sibs are Lucas and Amy.
I think is such a cool dude name! Although it is a little out of my ethnicity and would sound weird on a brown baby, so I dont think we would use it.. but I would love to see it on the playground
I think it’s a really ugly name, sorry. Not my style whatsoever.
I’m not going to use that name just because it is my brother-in-law’s name. Enough said.
‘Laurence wears a bowtie’. Haha, the one I know does indeed wear a bowtie. Everyday. For that fact alone I would pick Lars over Laurence any day, but you’ve given even more reasons why Lars is a fantastic name.