A 1940s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Lorna since 1885
Babies named Lorna per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1957, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Lorna's real moment was 1941.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 17 |
| 1890s | 163 |
| 1900s | 353 |
| 1910s | 1,557 |
| 1920s | 3,021 |
| 1930s | 3,367 |
| 1940s | 4,428 |
| 1950s | 6,649 |
| 1960s | 4,652 |
| 1970s | 1,396 |
| 1980s | 919 |
| 1990s | 747 |
| 2000s | 631 |
| 2010s | 358 |
| 2020s | 277 |
Meaning & origin
Lorna first appeared on U.S. records in 1885, but its popularity surged after the 1869 novel 'Lorna Doone'. The name reached its peak rank in 1941, during the 1940s revival of vintage names. After a long decline, Lorna has been rising in use since 2016, showing renewed interest among modern parents. Today, it remains a rare but recognizable choice, with an estimated 1 in 28,701 babies receiving the name in 2025. The name's literary origin and Scottish roots give it a romantic, old-fashioned appeal that fits well with the recent trend toward names from classic literature.
Lorna is a name created by R.D. Blackmore for the heroine of his 1869 novel 'Lorna Doone'. The name was likely inspired by the Scottish place name Lorne (also spelled Lorn), which means 'fox' in Gaelic. It gained popularity in the English-speaking world after the novel's success.
Where Lorna is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Lorna” around the world
Where Lorna lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
10
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Lori, Lornie, Lorna Lee
Variants: Lornah
Sibling names for Lorna
Names that share Lorna's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Elara, Freya, Maren, Brynn, Rowan, Melva, Myrna, Crista, Fonda, Londa, Loran, Lossie, Ailsa, Arleta, Dorma, Leva, Shelda, Twilla, Vonna, Sonda, Cloria, Grisell, Ertha, Gayna, Ondine
Brothers: Duncan, Angus, Brody, Ewan, Niall, Odell, Arlin, Gaylon, Orlin, Verlin, Verlon, Levert, Malvern, Melven, Orlan, Vernis, Craige, Dalbert, Dervin, Lonza, Gailen, Glenroy, Levorn
