Laura

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈlɔɹə/

Definitions

1. A female given name of Latin origin meaning "laurel" or "crowned with laurel," traditionally associated with honor and victory
2. A feminine name derived from Latin that signifies "laurel" or "crowned," often symbolizing success and achievement in various cultures
3. This name, originating from Latin, translates to "laurel" or "crowned with laurel," representing victory and excellence

Etymology: The name "Laura" is tied to the laurel tree, but its direct source is a much humbler word. In Ancient Greek, "laúra" meant a narrow lane or path, and it reached Late Latin as "laura" with the same sense. The journey from a footpath to a crown of honor happened through a single famous association rather than through the word's own meaning. The name's fame comes from the poet Petrarch, who wrote a long sequence of love poems addressed to a woman he called Laura. Because "laurel" was the plant of poets and victors, his choice of name carried the symbolic weight of a crown, and the name spread through European literature from that association. The Latin "laurus," meaning laurel, is a separate word that only came to be linked with this name through that sense of honor.

Synonyms: laurel, crown, award, victory, honor