Literary name popularized by Tolkien's Lothlórien in The Lord of the Rings.
Lorien exists at a fascinating crossroads of mythology and literary invention. R. Tolkien's legendarium, Lórien appears in two intertwined forms: as Irmo, one of the Valar whose name means 'dream' in Quenya and who presides over visions and rest, and as Lothlórien, the golden forest realm of the Elves where time moves differently and beauty is preserved against the darkening world.
Tolkien drew on Old English and Old Norse traditions when constructing his mythologies, and the name resonates with the Proto-Indo-European root for 'laurel,' connecting it obliquely to the Latin laurus and names like Laura and Lauren. Before Tolkien popularised the spelling, variants of the name — Loren, Lorene, Lorraine — had long histories in Romance-language Europe, ultimately traceable to the Roman province of Lorraine (Lotharingia), itself named after the Frankish king Lothar. The French province lent its name to countless bearers of distinction, including Lorraine Hansberry, the playwright who wrote 'A Raisin in the Sun.'
The Lorien spelling, however, carries an unmistakably Tolkienian shimmer, suggesting leaves of mallorn gold and the timeless quality of elvish craft. For contemporary parents, Lorien occupies a quietly magical register. It is neither as common as Lauren nor as overtly fantastical as Galadriel, sitting in the sweet spot of names that feel literary and luminous without demanding explanation. It suits a child who might grow up to love books, forests, and the particular beauty of things made with care and intention.