Loreley
Meaning of Loreley
The feminine name Loreley derives from the German compound lore (murmuring) and ley (rock), originally denoting the steep slate cliff on the Rhine at St. Goarshausen. In local folklore this landmark was personified as a siren whose song purportedly entrapped unwary boatmen, an image popularized by Heinrich Heine’s 1824 poem. Pronounced LOHR-uh-lie (/lɔˈreːlaɪ/) in German, Loreley has maintained marginal but stable adoption in the United States: registrations have ranged from five to sixteen per year since 2006, peaking briefly in 2010 and otherwise remaining below ten, with a 2024 rank of 945 at five births. Its appeal lies in a blend of precise phonological structure and mythic resonance. Despite its perilous aquatic associations, modern bearers need not prepare for river rescues.
Pronunciation
German
- Pronunced as LOHR-uh-lie (/lɔˈreːlaɪ/)
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