Peter O'Toole as Lawrence of Arabia; Image via Wikipedia
Boys answer to Jamie and Robbie. Why not this diminutive form of an enduring classic?
Thanks to Emily for suggesting Lawrie as our Baby Name of the Day.
There’s the third century Saint Laurence and the twentieth century’s daring Lawrence of Arabia. It is difficult to call Laurence anything but an evergreen classic.
And yet he’s clearly out of favor these days. The earlier u-spelling last charted in the US Top 1000 in 1995. At #457, Lawrence has fared better, but he’s still stumbled from his glory days in the Top 50 during the first five decades of the twentieth century.
Laurence is derived from Laurentius, a Roman name indicating ties to the city of Laurentum. All of them come from the Latin laurus – laurel – and its associations with victory and triumph.
The third century Saint Laurence was born in Spain and became a leader of the church in Rome. He’s famous for having been roasted to death – cooked on a gridiron – though it may be more story than fact. In their gory way, the Catholic Church has made him the patron saint of chefs. My favorite tale of the martyr is this: when ordered by authorities in Rome to assemble and hand over the church’s treasures, he gathered up the poor and infirm and presented them as the most valued parts of his faith.
He was popular, and the name caught on, with international variants like Lorenzo and Vavrinic and Laurent. The u-to-w spelling appears in Medieval England, but seems to have really gathered steam in the nineteenth century, fueled by the surname spelling.
Lawrie is just one possible short form of Lawrence, more typically Scottish. There’s also Lawry, and surname forms like Lowry and Lowery.
Laurie brings to mind the March’s neighbor in Little Women, but seems almost unwearable for a boy today. Unlike Jamie, Laurie feels clearly feminine, at least in the US.
That’s why Lawrie stands out. His first syllable rhymes with cow and wow – low REE. You might think of Lawry’s spices and marinades. He’s in the same style category as surname choices like Riley or Tyler. Artist Lee Lawrie created the Atlas that stands in front of Manhattan’s Rockefeller Center.
Lawrie is different from Lori, but also distinctly different than Larry, the usual short form of Lawrence for much of the twentieth century. Larry peaked at #10 in 1949, and today he’s golfing with his friends Barry and Gary.
It’s too bad, because there are some truly dashing Lawrences. Captain Lawrence Oates was a member of an ill-fated South Pole expedition in 1912. Injured, and slowing down his party, Oates walked out of their tent to certain death, saying “I am just going outside, and may be some time.” Pop culture references abound.
And then there’s T.E. Lawrence, the archeologist turned British military officer, better known as Lawrence of Arabia. His knowledge of the region helped the British secure Damascus, as well as other key victories. Lawrence’s life was captured in his writings, but also in others’ words. The 1962 film Lawrence of Arabia won the Academy Award for Best Picture; Peter O’Toole was nominated for Best Actor.
If you find Lawrence dashing and distinguished, but can’t land on a short form, Lawrie might work. Or, if there is a grandpa Larry you’re trying to honor, Lawrie could be an inventive twist that would wear well today.
Having grown up with a parcel of female Lori/Laura/Laurie/Laurel’s (Lauren for girls came just a bit later), I think Lawrie for the boys is great and so much better than the dated Larry.
Funny story: My dad’s name was Gary. He had distant cousins named Cary and Terry (both guys). All three were married to Lindas. He also had another cousin Gerry. The -ary sound just works well with our odd German surname.
I have an Aunt Laurie and my mom has always been in love with Laurie and Jo from Little Women. I came across the name Laurence for a girl (apparently the traditional fem. version of Laurent in France) and I rather like it. I think Laurie/Lawrie for a boy is cute but maybe a bit too unwearable today. I fear I fall into the crowd that thinks once a name goes to the girls it can’t really come back. : (
I love Lawrence or Laurence. I do what makes people chose one spelling over the other though.
Laurence seems less harsh than the “w” somehow to me:)
I don’t think Laurie is particularly feminine as a short form — I actually immediately think Hugh Laurie. I prefer it to Lawrie, which to my eye looks clumsly.
I’m sure some people have Lawrence of Arabia in mind when they use the name, but of course, in his case, as you point out, it was his surname. His father was actually Sir Thomas Chapman, Baronet — but T.E. (Thomas Edward – known as Ned to his family and close friends) and his brothers were all illegitimate, the sons of Sarah Lawrence, governess of Sir Thomas’ four legitimate daughters. He left his wife and estates in Ireland and, after much meandering, settled in Oxford as ‘Mr Lawrence’. Lawrence’s brother – Arnold – was also an archaeologist; he was, ironically enough, the Laurence Professor of Classical Archaeology in Cambridge.
My son is Laurence but goes by Larkin. A less common diminutive of the name.
Larkin is a medieval diminutive – origin of the surname Larkin. Interesting that it has been picked up as a pet-form again. Love it!
My husband’s nephew is Lawrence (he was named for his paternal grandfather) and so far at 14 he doesn’t have a nickname. I really like Lawrie as a nn for Lawrence, but I don’t like it as a stand alone. I personally think the Lowry spelling is more intuitive. There is also a literary connection with the author Lois Lowry 🙂
Kind of nice … I can see Lawrie getting used by the same people who might otherwise call their son Campbell. That nice Scottish sound.
I would like the Lawry spelling better for Lawrence, but honestly I’m not a big fan of Lawrence or Laurence. I grew up with a male Loren, but I think he now goes by Red. (He’s a redhead.)
Apparently I’ve read too many Ricard Scarey books, because Lawrie makes me think of Lowly Worm. Lawrence is my dad’s middle name and it’s my go-to middle name for a future son. It would be my #1 boy’s first name if I liked any of the nicknames.
I know an older male who is British but lives in the US who goes by Laurie, although I think he is a Lawrence. To an English ear it sounds masculine and I was surprised when people told me that they thought he was going by a girl’s name.
I’ve always loved Laurie for a boy ever since I first fell in love with Theodore Laurence in the book “Little Woman” and I’ve never thought of it as overly feminine or overly masculine in that fact. Lawrie is ok-ok in my opinion, for some reason it makes me think of cowrie shells and yeah, the seasoning spices. I guess I’m just a sucker for the more traditional Laurie. Besides, if girls can wear masculine names, why can’t boys wear so-called feminine names?
Besides, if girls can wear masculine names, why can
Chelsea, right you are. But I say it’s up to the daring new parents willing to risk crossing that gender boundary and maybe names that were once considered masculine but stolen by girls, like Laurie and Evelyn will be given back to boys. I’ve always thought the notion of one’s name determining one’s femininity or masculinity was ridiculous. Sadly I don’t see that happening in the near future, if at all.
Weenie, I don’t disagree with you. I had one of those “daring” parents who named their son Chelsea (I am a guy). And as for the idea of one
Yes, but that’s certainly diminished in recent years, with boys named Baylee and Jaylin. No matter how you feel about kreatif spellings, I do think they illustrate that parents are willing to take risks with sons’ names – risks that would’ve been unthinkable just a few decades earlier.
Well, my paternal grandfather is a Lawrence, so this could work for me. However, I am not a fan of Lawrie. It still sounds kind of girly to me, as I know a Lori, a Laurie, and a Laury. Adding a Lawrie to the mix would make my life so confusing. I have considered using Lawrence (spelled Laurence, which I prefer) as a middle name to honor Grandad Larry, but I can’t bring myself to use it as first. It still seems like an old man name to me.
Laurie sounds masculine to me because of Little Women, while Lori seems feminine since I knew a girl by the name (although her full name was Lori Anne). Lawrie has a nice sound and seems masculine as well, but it would have to be short for something. My dad’s middle name is Lars, so I’ve considered using Laurence/Lawrence variants as a way to honour him.
Your reference to Larry, Barry, and Gary was funny. My own dad’s first name is Harry, and growing up he had a best friend Barry. Then at one point I believe he roomed with a Terry and a Perry (I think). I know in some countries those names don’t rhyme with Harry, but in North America they do.
Yes, I immediately though of the dreamboat of Little Women, too, and much prefer that spelling.
With Laurie, I say it the same as I would Lorry, as in Hugh Laurie, but with Lawrie I want to pronounce the w. My old primary school Headmaster had a Laurie who was the same age as me, and male. Personally, I could see myself using Laurie as an alternative to something such as Alfie etc.
I did think spices (Lowry) first and as a Laura, I do love Laurence (but not Lawrence!) and have suggested it in the past for one of my own boys. But if we won’t use His name, there’s no excuse to use mine. So it’s on the list for the Grandkids. And Lowry would work for my Grandkids, I’m not Lori, I’m Lola. Grandma Lil tried to make me Lori and failed, Lowry (or Laurie) will never be a girly sound for me. I like Lowry! 🙂