Girl · #8,317 in 2026

Laverna

In Roman mythology, Laverna was a goddess of gain or profit and the underworld, who became associated with the protection of lower classes, refugees, and plans developed by thieves. She was propitiated by libations poured with the left hand. The poet Horace and the playwright Plautus called her a goddess of thieves.

  • Roman Mythology
Current Rank
#8,317
Peak Rank
#640 (1920)
Total Babies
4K
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1889
First Year
1985
Last Year
1920
Peak Year
#640
Peak Rank
4K
Total Count
91
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Laverna

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

In Roman mythology, Laverna was a goddess of gain or profit and the underworld, who became associated with the protection of lower classes, refugees, and plans developed by thieves. She was propitiated by libations poured with the left hand. The poet Horace and the playwright Plautus called her a goddess of thieves.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)

  • Roman Mythology
Etymology
Several explanations have been given for the origins of the name: from the PIE reconstruction * leh₂w- , meaning "profit, gain", which makes it cognate with the more familiar lucrum . This is currently cited as the most likely etymology; from Ancient Roman writings latere (Schol. on Horace, who gives laternio as another form of lavernio , robber); from lavare (Acron on Horace, according to whom thieves were called lavatores , 'washers', perhaps referring to bath thieves).
Origin & history
Laverna was an Etruscan deity in ancient Italy, originally one of the spirits of the underworld. A cup found in an Etruscan tomb bears the inscription " Lavernai Pocolom ," (cf. poculum ); and in a fragment of Septimius Serenus Laverna is expressly mentioned in connection with the di inferi , the underworld. She was worshiped at many sites by the Etruscans. By an easy transition into Ancient Roman mythology after Etruscan culture was superseded by that of Rome, Laverna came to be regarded as the protectress of thieves, whose operations were associated with darkness. She had an altar on the Ave

The Story of Laverna

American parents first put Laverna on the record books as a baby girl name in 1889, with 7 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 1920, when 127 Lavernas were born — ranking #640 that year. About 28% of every Laverna on record arrived during the 1920s, its defining decade. Laverna last appeared in the published SSA data in 1985, with 7 recorded births — it has not charted nationally since. All told, over 4K Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1880s to the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

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No data

Names that sound like Laverna

Phonetically similar names — useful when Laverna 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 Laverna

What does the name Laverna mean?
In Roman mythology, Laverna was a goddess of gain or profit and the underworld, who became associated with the protection of lower classes, refugees, and plans developed by thieves. She was propitiated by libations poured with the left hand. The poet Horace and the playwright Plautus called her a goddess of thieves.
What is the origin of the name Laverna?
Laverna has roots in the following cultural and linguistic traditions: Roman Mythology.
How popular is Laverna in 2026?
In 2026, Laverna ranks #8,317 among girls' names in the U.S., with 7 babies given the name that year.
When was Laverna most popular?
Laverna reached its peak popularity in 1920, ranking #640 that year with 127 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Laverna most popular?
Laverna has historically been most popular in Nebraska, North Dakota, Idaho. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Laverna.
Is Laverna a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Laverna is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.
What names go well with Laverna?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Laverna include Johannah, Zita, Elenor. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

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Johannah
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Zita
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👧
Elenor
Peak #640
👧
Kassie
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👧
Jamya
Peak #640
👧
Rosamond
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👧
Marigold
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Mellissa
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About the name Laverna

Laverna is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1889 and has accumulated 4K births in the dataset. Laverna's peak popularity came in 1920 when it ranked #640. Use the chart and map above to compare Laverna's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

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.