Lavender
Lavender is a given name often given in reference to the flowering plant or to the light purple color. It is derived from the Old French word lavendre from the Latin lavendula. In some instances, it might also be a transferred use of the surname, which originated as an occupational name for a person who worked in a laundry or was a camp follower.
Meaning & Origin of Lavender
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Lavender is a given name often given in reference to the flowering plant or to the light purple color. It is derived from the Old French word lavendre from the Latin lavendula. In some instances, it might also be a transferred use of the surname, which originated as an occupational name for a person who worked in a laundry or was a camp follower.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Lavender
Lavender first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1962, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2026, when 268 Lavenders were born — ranking #967 that year. As of 2026, Lavender ranks #967 for baby girls with 268 births, rising sharply (+92% over the past five years). In total, more than 3K Lavenders have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1960s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Lavender
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Lavender "Pinkie" Barnes (1915–2012), English international table tennis champion
- Lavender Cheung , (born 1970) Chinese journalist from Hong Kong
- Lavender Patten (born 1944), British writer and diplomat
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Lavender
Phonetically similar names — useful when Lavender is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Lavender
What does the name Lavender mean?
How popular is Lavender in 2026?
When was Lavender most popular?
In which U.S. states is Lavender most popular?
Is Lavender a unisex name?
What names go well with Lavender?
About the name Lavender
Lavender is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1962 and has accumulated 3K births in the dataset. Lavender's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #967. Use the chart and map above to compare Lavender's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2026 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "L" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.