Laurier

Gender: Masculine
Origin: French
Meaning: “laurel tree; bay tree.”

The name comes directly from the French word for the laurel tree, a long popular name among French-Canadians, the name first appeared in the French Revolutionary calender of the 1700s, where many nature names replaced common saints names.

Its popularity in Quebec may have been sparked due to Canada’s first francophone prime minister Wilfred Laurier (1841-1919). He is considered one of Canada’s greatest statesmen.

It is currently the 370th most popular male name in Quebec, Canada (2010).

Source

1. http://www.rrq.gouv.qc.ca/Interactif/PR2I121_Prenoms/PR2I121_Prenoms/PR2SPrenoms_01.aspx