Laurence wears a bowtie, but this Scandinavian variant is pure heavy metal.
Thanks to Kristin for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day: Lars.
I’m quite fond of the story of Saint Laurence. The name probably started out as a reference to Laurentum, an ancient city pre-dating Rome. The city likely took its name from the laurel. Laurence and company have been common for centuries. In the 200s Saint Laurence was martyred after being ordered 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.
Despite this gutsy and grisly tale, Laurence feels like an academic today – an English professor, or maybe a banker or a graphic designer. Larry – a short form that was a Top 20 pick from 1937 through 1955 – is your grandpa, or maybe your neighbor who can fix anything, the one whose kids are all in high school or out of the home.
As for medieval diminutive Larkin? He could be spotted on a boy, but Lark is almost certainly a new baby girl.
Then there’s Lars. He has a long history of use in Scandinavia, where he’s not a nickname – he’s just the Swedish and Norwegian and Danish form of Laurence. He’s also heard in Dutch, and popular in Belgium and Germany.
Like the white-hot Axel, this import has a certain 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 nine Grammy awards – and I have to add this: they’ve just collaborated on a new album with Lou Reed called Lulu.
In 2007, quirky little indie flick Lars and the Real Girl made waves. Danish film director Lars von Trier has been sparking controversy and winning accolades since his career took off in the late 1980s. Von Trier’s latest film, Melancholia, helped Kirsten Dunst nab a best actress award at Cannes.
All of this lends Lars some serious edge. But in the US, his sound is slightly out of step with current trends. In fact, Lars did appear in the Top 1000 steadily from 1958 through 1976, and a few times before and since. His last appearance was 1984.
Overall, this makes Lars a heritage choice with a certain offbeat vibe. His sound is masculine, but not nearly as aggressive as Slade or Cannon. Thanks to his saintly origins, Lars has a certain evergreen quality that makes him a good choice for parents who want unusual something that screams tough guy while still staying within the lexicon of established appellations.
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.