Lorna
Lorna is a girl's name of Scottish origin.
Meaning
Derived from the Scottish place name Lorn (or Lorne), associated with the ancient kingdom of Lorne.
Origin and history
Lorna was created by Scottish author R. D. Blackmore for the title character of his 1869 novel Lorna Doone, likely inspired by the Scottish place name Lorn or Lorne. The name gained popularity in the early to mid-20th century in the United States and remains a familiar classic. It is currently a rare given name for newborn girls in the U.S.
Popularity in the United States
28,535 babies in the United States have been named Lorna since 1880. It ranks #855 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1824.
States where it is most popular
- CA (13.2 %)
- NY (7.8 %)
- MI (6.6 %)
- IL (5.6 %)
- OH (5.2 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 17 |
| 1890-1900 | 163 |
| 1900-1910 | 353 |
| 1910-1920 | 1,557 |
| 1920-1930 | 3,021 |
| 1930-1940 | 3,367 |
| 1940-1950 | 4,428 |
| 1950-1960 | 6,649 |
| 1960-1970 | 4,652 |
| 1970-1980 | 1,396 |
| 1980-1990 | 919 |
| 1990-2000 | 747 |
| 2000-2010 | 631 |
| 2010-2019 | 358 |
| 2020-2029 | 277 |
Famous people named Lorna
- Lorna Luft: Singer, Actress
- Lorna Simpson: Photographer, Artist
Nicknames
Lorie, Lori, Lori-Ann
Fun facts
- The name Lorna was invented by writer R. D. Blackmore for his popular 1869 romance novel Lorna Doone.
- Blackmore based the character's name on Lorn, an ancient district in Argyll, Scotland.