Lorelei is a fanciful German choice boosted by a popular dramedy.
Thanks to Dirty Hippy for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
BY THE RHINE
German folklore gives us Rhine maidens, a mix of mermaid, shape-shifter, and siren. They lured sailors to their deaths on the treacherous rocks of the Rhine River.
One especially dangerous boulder shared its name with one of the maidens – Loreley.
Legend says she’s the ghost of a lovesick maiden, drowned in despair.
Poets, composers and painters have been inspired by her tale for generations:
- In 1801, Clemens Brentano wrote a poem about Lore Lay.
- Heinrich Heine penned the poem Die Lorelei in 1838.
- At least a dozen songs share the title, and there’s an Italian opera by the name, too, as well as another one based on the legend – but it’s called Lurline.
The name comes from the murmuring sound of the water – lurlei or lureln – or maybe from the same root that gives us the verb to lure, plus the word ley, from a Celtic word meaning rock.
GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES
A handful of women were named after the poetry and operas, but it took a comic novel by Anita Loos to boost the name. Her 1925 bestseller was the story of a stenographer from Little Rock who shot a would-be suitor for his unwanted advances. The judge’s sentence? He re-named her Lorelei and packed her off to Hollywood to use her beauty for good. She ends up in Europe, on madcap adventures with her BFF, Dorothy. All ends well.
It became a comic strip, a 1928 movie, and then a 1949 Broadway musical. But it was 1953’s big screen extravaganza that cemented the story in our memories. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes starred Marilyn Monroe as Lorelei. The diamonds and pink dress are iconic – years later, Madonna borrowed her character for her “Material Girl” video. We all recognize it, even if we’re not exactly sure about the backstory.
As the various adaptations of Loos’ story succeeded, more girls received the name. Lorelei hugged the edges of the US Top 1000, breaking in multiple times, from the 1930s into the 1960s.
But it took the small screen to make the name a hit.
GILMORE GIRLS
The Gilmore Girls debuted in 2000. The show used the variant spelling Lorelai for its two main characters – a mother-daughter duo. The mom used the name in full, while the daughter was known as Rory. We eventually learned that they weren’t the first to bear the Gilmore family name. Rory’s late great-grandmother was yet another Lorelai, but she answered to Trix.
The show was a major success, and the name caught on – maybe because the mom and daughter both showed how wearable the name could be.
BY THE NUMBERS
Lorelei re-entered the Top 1000 in 2004. As of 2012, the original spelling charted at #533. By 2018, the name reached #473. As for Lorelai, it entered the US Top 1000 in 2006, and reached #568 by 2018.
That’s not too common, and yet, it’s also not exactly rare. It hits a sweet spot for plenty of parents.
Plus, it feels like a spin on the classic Laura, and boasts nickname options like Lola and Rory.
If you’re looking for something a little bit sparkly, with hints of German heritage but a current feel, Lorelei might be the name for you.
Would you consider this name for a daughter? Do you like the -lei or – lai spelling better?
Originally published on July 30, 2008, this post was revised and re-posted on September 2, 2013 and again on February 5, 2020.
this is an echanting name and has a very interesting legend. but she is a temtress:)
Hello! I am 22 weeks pregnant and my bf and I have been searching for names that we agree one. Well, this morning I woke up and was looking at a poster that I plan to hang in the babys room. The poster is a print of an old oil painting of a mermaid combing her hair near a cove. That was when it came to me that perhaps I should look up mermaid names on the internet. I did so and fell in LOVE with Lorelei! It is such a poetic name and is now one of the names that we plan to say to our daughter when she is born to see if it ‘fits’ her!
Oh, and in response to the post by Another…the name Heidi reminds me of a prostitute (Heidi Fleiss) and I am not a 15 year old girl. I am a 31 year old woman who has her Masters degree. Please do not judge names.
Yea Lorelei!
I’m so glad you found a name for your daughter, ShanthiTruth! Congratulations on your baby-to-be.
But be forewarned – every one judges names! My own (beloved) sister called my kids’ names “Eurotrash.” Still love her to pieces, still love my kids’ names … still realize that there are plenty of people out there who hear my choices and think “Really?” Otherwise, we’d all be issued serial numbers at birth and spend our lives answering to handles like XJ1829-JR.
Abby, you are the greatest! <3
My name is also Lorelei and I was born in 1975. I am constantly being asked if I am named after the Styx song about Lorelei, but I beleve that song was released around ’78.
I have a German last name and my parents were hippies so it just made sense when I was a child. I was also teased in school, kids constantly asked me if I lied. But really I appreciate the name. It helped to give me character as a kid and telling the story of the Lorelei has always been a joy for me.
When I had my daughter 4 1/2 years ago I had to find a German name to rival my own. After months of searching I was only so lucky to find the perfect name for the lead water sprite’s daughter….Nixie!
So I say LIVE ON LORELEI, LIVE ON!
well I once knew a Lorelei myself, she too had a daughter with the same name as the lead water sprite’s daughter…. Nixie! I do understand that this is probably just a small coincedense, being as the two names are linked so closely together in ancient lure. The most perplexing part about it all is that the “L-dub” I once knew was definitely a “one of a kind”. At any rate I have to say that I truly love the name for the mother and daughter both! If you are anything like the one I once knew I imagine you do indeed have the strength, character, and integrity of …. the most precious stone known to man. 🙂 . That being said I think that would have made a unique and one of kind “middle name” for your daughter. It seems as though she is truly the “sunshine” of her mothers life?! Oh and how have you been… haha Seems as though things are going great which truly does make my heart smile! Very very glad to hear it! -Honestly not a stalker
smh
My name is Loralei……pronounced Lora-Lee. I am ALWAYS having people mispronounce my name as Lorelei. It drove me crazy as a cihld because all the kids at school would tease me saying “Lora Lies”. Silly I know, but those things can drive an elementary child crazy. So I always went by my nickname, Lori. It doesn’t bother me at all anymore, especially after Gilmore Girls because I found that show hilarious. But having Lorelei the Siren be the definition of my name was a highlight in high school and college. I was such a flirt and it was awesome being able to brag that I was luring men to their doom.
Well, i am not 15 and my daughter’s name is Loralei. She is 14 months old and I am 26. I did watch teh wb in highschool…but heck, that was a long time ago now. Her name is Loralei Josephine and we call her Lora-Jo. 🙂 My husband is German so we wanted German names for our kids. If we have another girl she will most likely be Adelheide or Heidelinde. I think it is a beautiful name and my little girl is just beautiful as well. Luring men to their death, my husband says, is his warning to any future boyfriends.
LOL, Rachael! I love the idea of a warning.
People have *very* strong feelings about this one – another sign that it might be destined to be a big hit. Fortunately, your little girl is ahead of the curve. 🙂 I’m quite fond of Adelheide, too, though not being even a drop German, I tend to think of her as Adelaide – probably one of my favorites over the years.
I want to love this so much. I have a surfeit of trashy cousins, though, all named after their mother (my aunt) Laura. I have Laura, Lauran, Laural, and Lauralai for cousins, all sisters. Laural and Lauralai are twins. Did I mention my Aunt Laura did a lot of crack, seriously? This is the same women with a Jakey, Sean, Shaunnah, and Corki. Other than my nutty family, I like the name, but it is a very strong association for me.
Thanks so much, AM! I find this name so pretty to say and look at. For me, it’s got a subtle nature vibe to it and I totally don’t see the downmarket factor in it at all. My biggest reservation is the one you hit on . . . I could really see this being the next “it” name. Isabella the sequel, if you will. It’s got so much going for it and is so appealing to so many that I have a hard time believing that it’s going to be uncommon for very long.
If I would use it (and I may . . . it sounds good with my tricky last name and has gotten my husband’s seal of approval) then I would definitely not use a nickname for it. I think any of the possibilities really fall short of the name as a whole.
Oh dear I’m, afraid I don’t like Lorelei much either. I hope this doesn’t offend anyone but the name looks so – how to put this – down market. I can imagine it being spelt multiple creative ways from Lorri-lee to lori-leigh, laurylee or even laurilai etc etc. Anyhow, I appreciate that the name is not creative and that this is merely my own interpretation, and that Lorelei infact has a strong history but even if I didn’t alrealy dislike it (reiterating what Lola has already said) the sexual overtones would still disconcert me.
To me Lorelai/Lorelei is the name that very young girls who shop at Wal-Mart, who are pregnant at 15, 16, 17, use for their daughters. While it’s not Kayla/Kaylee/Kaleigh, and it’s not Hailee, and it’s not Rylee, and it’s not Jaelynne, it’s still somehow in that group in my eyes. Probably has something to do with the WB. Maybe not. I don’t know.
I agree with Lola, though. Rory is a boy. Not only that, but Rory is difficult to pronounce. Those Rs right up next to each other. Oy.
I do like German names – my very most favorite is Heidi. Can Heidi be a NotD? Pretty please?
I understand you do not like the name Lorelai, however, please spare your stereotyping , as mentioned above “15 year olds pregnant shopping at Walmart” .
It’s a beautiful German name, and for those who speak the language as myself, it has a strong and beautiful meaning. It suits great for someone of a Nordic heritage with of course a Nordic last name.
And an FYI, I am planning on calling my daughter Lorelai, and no I am not 15, I am 28, 2nd year Surgical resident. We understand you don’t like the name, you don’t have to like it, but do not stereotype it. Thanks
Surgeon mom, you’ll find that many names that are quickly gaining in popularity are divisive – people either love, love, love them or have a strongly negative reaction. Madison and Nevaeh are two others that generate lots of chatter.
Whether or not this should change your mind is really up to you. But I find that it is helpful to have a sense of how a name will be received before it is written in permanent ink on the birth certificate.
I think many are also reacting to the spelling Lorelai, with an a. My understanding is that Lorelei is more traditional – but then, Kaitlyn is more popular than Caitlin and Aiden surpassed Aidan, so that doesn’t necessarily mean much.
No German would name their child Lorelei.
And they definitely wouldn’t spell it wrong.
It’s fine to me that you like the name and want to use it – Germans understand that Americans are funny namers and don’t hold it against them in any way – but there’s no need to assign false legitimacy to it. Liking it is reason enough, as long as you fully understand that it is, originally, the name of a rock that has caused a lot of deaths.
And Lorelei continues to generate more controversy than any three syllables should! I think there are clearly plenty of Americans of German descent who find Lorelei an appropriate nod to their heritage. It’s often the case that “heritage” names wouldn’t fly in the country of origin – at least not at that moment in time. That’s not necessarily false legitimacy – it is just the difference between a name that Americans perceive as having German roots and a name that actually is currently in use in Germany. As for spelling a name wrong? *Shrugs.* That’s really, really tough to call. I’ve written about it here. While there are variant spellings that are excessive and confusing, often different spellings are just variations – no better or worse than their originals, and sometimes with good reasons for families to use one or other.
Funny, seeing Lorelei all over the place, these days. I came ‘thisclose’ to being Lorelei instead of classic Laura. But Mom insisted, if I couldn’t be Alice, I had to be Laura. And then my little brother came along and couldn’t say the letter ‘r’. Ask any little kid, Laura is ra-ra. I got la-la and the lo-la as he tried to say my name. Lola’s how it ended up sticking and I’ve been Lola since I was 3. Maye because I am one, I fail to se the sex in Lola, except by assocation. To me, Lola is warm, friendly and very earth-mama-ish. Works for me. 🙂
Anyhoo, back to Lorelei!
I find Lorelei a teensy bit off putting because of that siren assocation. Luring men to their deaths by drowning isn’t something I would want associated with my daughter, particularly. But I can see the appeal of the sounds and think Lorelei’s a bit prettier than Lauren, which I’ve always called my “plastic” cousin. and it’s less air heady than Laurel, who’s my hippy dippy cousin (Naming cousin, not real cousin!). Lorelei’s biggest sticking point with me, and the main reason I wouldn’t ever consider it: I see her spelled the ‘Gilmore” way more often than the proper way. And Lorelai drives me bananas! I’m not fond of Rory on a girl, either. My Grandpa raised Great Danes and gave them all “Irish” names ‘Tara, Erin, Colleen & Rory’ were the three girls and the boy I knew growing up. Gorgeous dogs. So there’s Rory in my head. Male and dog.
But Lorelei in fuill is lovely, lyrical and I’m quite fond of Lola as a nickname 😉 … so Lorelei gets a big :thumbsup: from me!