Lars

Lars is a masculine given name of Scandinavian origin, a form of Laurentius. It derives from the Latin Laurentius, meaning “laurelled” or “from Laurentum,” and was adopted in Northern Europe with the spread of Christianity in the Middle Ages. In Nordic countries, Lars has been a common name for centuries and remains widely used in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway.

The name has numerous cognates and variants, including Laurence/Lawrence, Laurent, Lorenzo, and Laurentius; Lars itself is the traditional Scandinavian form. While primarily a given name, Lars occasionally appears as a surname in some lineages, and patronymic forms like Larsen (meaning “son of Lars”) are common in the region.

Notable people named Lars include the Danish film director Lars von Trier; the Danish-American drummer Lars Ulrich of Metallica; and Danish politician Lars Løkke Rasmussen, who served as prime minister. The name also appears in various fields and fictional works, reflecting its enduring presence in Nordic-influenced cultures.