• Some trees and shrubs in the laurel family Lauraceae are called Laurel:
  • Bay laurel Laurus nobilis, the original true laurel that is the source of bay leaves used as a seasoning. It was also the source of the laurel wreath of ancient Greece, and therefore the expression of "resting on one's laurels".
  • Azores Laurel Laurus azorica is the only other species in the same genus.
  • California laurel Umbellularia californica is a related tree or large shrub.

• Other unrelated plants that have been mis-named as laurels:
  • Cherry laurel, often just called laurel in gardens, is an evergreen cherry, Prunus laurocerasus.
  • Portugal laurel is also an evergreen cherry, Prunus lusitanica.
  • Spotted laurel refers to variegated cultivars of the Aucuba Aucuba japonica.

The name Laurel is widely used in English, once being a moderately common name typically for girls; also as Laurie.

• Laurel is the name of a number of towns within the United States of America:
  • Laurel, Delaware
  • Laurel, Florida
  • Laurel, Indiana
  • Laurel, Iowa
  • Laurel, Maryland
  • Laurel, Mississippi
  • Laurel, Montana
  • Laurel, Nebraska
  • Laurel Springs, New Jersey
  • Mount Laurel, New Jersey

• Laurel is an English coin

• Stan Laurel is one half of the comic duo of Laurel and Hardy