Loris is a male given name of Italian origin, derived from the Latin word "laurus," which means "laurel." The laurel plant was sacred to the Roman god Apollo and was often used to create wreaths that were awarded as symbols of victory or excellence.
The name Loris has been in use for centuries, with some notable historical figures bearing this name. For example, Loris Francesco Capovilla served as a Vatican prelate and was made a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2014. Another notable figure is Loris Jean Malaguzzi, an Italian educator who founded the preschools known as "scuole dell'infanzia" in his home town of Reggio Emilia.
While Loris is more commonly found in Italy, it has also gained popularity in other countries such as France and Belgium. In France, for instance, the name has been consistently ranked among the top 500 male names since the 1970s.
In summary, Loris is a historic and distinguished given name with Italian roots that carries a significant meaning related to victory and excellence. Despite its rich history, it remains relatively uncommon outside of Italy, giving it an air of uniqueness and exclusivity.
The name Loris has been a part of the American naming landscape for over a century, with the first recorded birth occurring in 1912. Throughout the years, the popularity of the name has waxed and waned, but it has remained a consistent presence nonetheless.
In the early decades of the 20th century, Loris was quite popular, with at least ten births recorded each year between 1912 and 1934. The peak of this period occurred in 1923, when twenty-two babies were named Loris. However, by the late 1930s and early 1940s, the popularity of the name began to decline, with fewer than ten births recorded each year.
The post-World War II era saw a resurgence in the use of the name Loris, with fifteen births recorded in both 1951 and 1952. However, this brief spike was not sustained, and the name's popularity continued to decline throughout the remainder of the century.
In recent years, however, there has been renewed interest in the name Loris. Since 2015, at least five babies have been named Loris each year, with seven births recorded in both 2017 and 2021.
In total, over the course of a century, from 1912 to 2021, there were 574 American babies named Loris. While the name's popularity has fluctuated over time, it remains a distinctive and historic choice for parents looking for a unique name for their child.