Lorelei: Meaning, origin and popularity
Pronounced LOR-ih-ly · 3 syllables
Lorelei means “murmuring rock or lurking rock”, from Germanic.
Borrowed from German Lorelei (“murmuring rock or lurking rock”), but not used as a given name in Germany. The Lorelei (or Lorelei, Lorelei, Lore Lay, Lore-Ley, Lurley, Lurelei, Lurlei) is an infamous maritime disaster site because of the Rhine's current and the surrounding terrain. The shipwrecks have been subject to mythological explanation attempts since around 900 AD.
- Meaning
- murmuring rock or lurking rock
- Origin
- Germanic
- Pronunciation
- LOR-ih-ly
- US rank (2025)
- #441
- US babies a year
- about 687 (2021–2025)
- Peak
- around 2020
How popular is Lorelei?
Lorelei was the #441 name in the US in 2025, given to 699 babies. Its use has been fairly steady over the last decade. It peaked around 2020.
How old are people named Lorelei?
Half of US adults named Lorelei are older than 43; most are between 18 and 78. (Estimated from US births by year and life tables.)
Sibling names for Lorelei
Names that real brothers and sisters of people named Lorelei have, from family records on Wikidata, most common first.
Names like Lorelei
Chosen by the same families or with a similar style and era.
On these lists
Questions about Lorelei
What does the name Lorelei mean?
Lorelei means “murmuring rock or lurking rock”. It comes from Germanic.
How do you pronounce Lorelei?
Lorelei is pronounced LOR-ih-ly.
How popular is the name Lorelei?
Lorelei was the #441 name in the US in 2025, given to 699 babies. Its use has been fairly steady over the last decade. It peaked around 2020.
How old are people named Lorelei?
Half of US adults named Lorelei are older than 43. Most are between 18 and 78.