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The short answer
Lorelei is a feminine name used in Literature and English. Behind the Name describes it this way: "From German Loreley, the name of a rock headland on the Rhine River. It is of uncertain meaning, though the second element is probably old German ley meaning ‘rock’ (of Celtic origin)." It ranked #441 for girls in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, from German Loreley, the name of a rock headland on the Rhine River. It is of uncertain meaning, though the second element is probably old German ley meaning ‘rock’ (of Celtic origin). The entry lists its usage as Literature, English.
Editorial confidence: uncertain
Popularity
Lorelei ranked #441 for girls in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #441 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (Literature) and that sit near Lorelei in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Lorelei mean?
Behind the Name does not give Lorelei a one-word meaning. It describes the name as follows: from German Loreley, the name of a rock headland on the Rhine River.
Is Lorelei a popular name?
Lorelei ranked #441 for girls in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Lorelei a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Lorelei appears in the girls' list; Behind the Name labels it feminine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Lorelei — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
