[name_f]Laura[/name_f] stands out from the other classics for me; she feels a bit more tough, forthright, assertive, smart. Yes, actually, smart might be it. [name_f]Laura[/name_f] sounds like a smart, independent woman to me.
I like [name_f]Laura[/name_f], but I can never decide where to group her! I don’t really think of her as classic (like [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f]), but I should. And I definitely don’t think of her as dated. In any case, I think [name_f]Laura[/name_f] is a lovely choice and is a terribly under-appreciated name!
[name_f]Laura[/name_f] is a great name. Not dated, in my opinion, while [name_f]Lauren[/name_f] certainly is.
You might also consider [name_f]Laurel[/name_f], which I think is pretty, too.
I grew up with several [name_f]Laura[/name_f]'s in the 80s/early 90s and never really considered it as a possible name for a baby born now. Then a friend of ours named their daughter [name_f]Laura[/name_f] and I just love it. Although it is a classic, it feels fresh. And like so many people have mentioned there is the wonderful [name_f]Laura[/name_f] Ingalls [name_m]Wilder[/name_m] to reference. I hear [name_f]Lauren[/name_f] and think, yawn (but to be fair I think the same thing of [name_f]Sophia[/name_f], [name_f]Olivia[/name_f], [name_f]Isabella[/name_f], [name_f]Grace[/name_f], etc). I know [name_f]Lauren[/name_f]'s and it does feel trendy to me as so many others have mentioned. I would say, I’m a believer in listening to some feedback bc let’s face it, it does matter. But I take it with a grain of salt. For example one cousin named their daughter [name_f]Jazmin[/name_f]. So, I’m not likely to agree with their names and they certainly won’t get mine. My mom told me that people would think of [name_m]Ted[/name_m] Bundy (the serial killer) when we named our second son [name_u]Teddy[/name_u]. She only approved of names like [name_m]John[/name_m] and [name_m]David[/name_m] so our names were way too out there for her. So, I’ve learned who to share names with. People whose opinions I respect overall. And I’ve learned to laugh it off when people give me a strange look or response. We put a lot of time into our names so I feel I know the pros and cons for everything we’ve picked. If you guys love [name_f]Laura[/name_f] then use it!
This. Exactly.
Absolutely a classic! If you and your husband love it, use it.
I might be biased since it’s my own name, but I think [name_f]Laura[/name_f] is wonderful choice. It’s classic, feminine,and hits that familiar yet uncommon sweet spot.
Furthermore, I agree with previous commenters that [name_f]Lauren[/name_f] sounds much more dated to me, not hip or modern, because it peaked more recently. Perhaps your family is thinking back to names that were popular/modern/hip when they were naming their children or were kids? Most [name_m]Laurens[/name_m] are college aged or young moms born in the 80s/early 90s - the [name_f]Laura[/name_f] surge hit much earlier, in the 60s/70s.