Lorelei

Lorelei comes from the name of a rock on Germany’s Rhine River and the legend associated with it. In the literary tradition, Lorelei is a woman whose singing draws sailors toward danger. Descriptions such as “enchantress” summarize that story; they are not literal translations of the name’s older place-name elements.

The river setting gives Lorelei a geographical connection as well as a literary one. Lori is a straightforward shortening, while Lorelai offers a familiar alternative spelling. Parents who know the name from Gilmore Girls may recognize the latter version. Comparing both spellings can help separate the one you first encountered from the one you want to use.