Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Lorelei
GirlGerman· “murmuring rock”
- Meaning
- murmuring rock
- Origin
- German
- Pronunciation
- LAWR-uh-ly
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #441
- US babies 2025
- 699
- Best rank
- #441 (2025)
- Peak year
- 2016
Meaning and origin of Lorelei
Lorelei is a German name that is usually said to mean “murmuring rock”.
Lorelei takes its name from a steep rock on the Rhine River in Germany, where a strong current and echo made the passage dangerous for boatmen. The name is usually explained from old German words meaning "murmuring" and "rock". In the early nineteenth century the poet Clemens Brentano created a legend of a beautiful woman at the rock, and Heinrich Heine's poem about the Lorelei, a siren whose singing lures sailors to their doom, made her famous. Anita Loos later named the heroine of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes Lorelei Lee. The name sounds musical and romantic. Lori and Lola are possible nicknames.
Popularity over time
Lorelei first appears in US Social Security records in 1916. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 37 different years, starting in 1938. Its best national rank was #441 in 2025, and the most babies received it in 2016, when 716 were named Lorelei. In 2025, 699 babies were named Lorelei, and it ranked #441 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #5,426 in 1920, #1,016 in 1950, #1,995 in 1980, #2,447 in 2000, #535 in 2010, and #441 in 2025. Of the 18,189 US girls named Lorelei since records began, 35% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2020s come next, with 4,037 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Eve, Emmalyn, Aleena, Braelynn, and Henley.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Lorelei ranked highest in Oregon, Minnesota, and Tennessee.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon | #234 | 16 |
| Minnesota | #246 | 23 |
| Tennessee | #248 | 32 |
| West Virginia | #256 | 7 |
| Missouri | #272 | 23 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Lorelei is usually pronounced LAWR-uh-ly, with three syllables. It has seven letters, starts with L and ends in “-ei”.
Middle names for Lorelei
A few middle names that flow with Lorelei: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Lorelei
Similar names
Lorelai Girl
LOR-uh-ly
“uncertain; from the Lorelei rock on the Rhine” · German
#333
Loralei Girl
LOR-uh-ly
“variant of Lorelei, luring rock” · German
#2,673
Ariel Unisex
EH-ree-uhl
“lion of God” · Hebrew
#356
Annabelle Girl
A-nuh-behl
“lovable; or Anna plus belle” · English
#343
Eliza Girl
ih-LY-zuh
“short for Elizabeth, 'my God is an oath'” · English
#115
Juliette Girl
joo-lee-ET
“youthful” · French
#110
Miranda Girl
mur-AN-duh
“worthy of admiration” · Latin
#656
Fiona Girl
fee-OH-nuh
“fair, white” · Scottish
#470
Juliet Girl
JOO-lee-eht
“youthful; from the Roman name Julius” · English
#274
Sabrina Girl
suh-BREE-nuh
“from the Latin name of the River Severn” · Latin
#321
Bianca Girl
bee-AHNG-kuh
“white” · Italian
#500
Vivienne Girl
VIH-vee-ehn
“alive” · French
#172
Lists that include Lorelei
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Lorelei mean?
Lorelei is a German name that is usually said to mean “murmuring rock”.
What is the origin of the name Lorelei?
Lorelei has German roots. Lorelei takes its name from a steep rock on the Rhine River in Germany, where a strong current and echo made the passage dangerous for boatmen.
Is Lorelei a popular name?
Yes. Lorelei ranked #441 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Lorelei a boy or girl name?
Lorelei is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Lorelei?
Lorelei is usually pronounced LAWR-uh-ly. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings