Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Aurora
GirlLatin· “dawn”
- Meaning
- dawn
- Origin
- Latin
- Pronunciation
- uh-ROR-uh
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #15
- US babies 2025
- 7,065
- Best rank
- #15 (2025)
- Peak year
- 2025
Meaning and origin of Aurora
Aurora is a Latin name that means “dawn”.
Aurora is the Latin word for dawn and the name of the Roman goddess who brought the morning, the counterpart of the Greek Eos. The word also lives on in the aurora borealis and aurora australis, the shimmering polar lights, which gives the name a celestial glow. Aurora is the princess in Tchaikovsky's ballet The Sleeping Beauty, and the fairy-tale association has stuck. Today it reads as romantic and bright without feeling fussy, a name with real classical roots that also sounds modern. Nicknames include Rory, Aura and Rora, which makes it flexible from childhood onward.
Popularity over time
Aurora has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 143 different years. It is at its all-time high right now: 2025 brought both its best national rank, #15, and its highest count, 7,065 babies. Use has grown 93% in ten years.
Its national rank moved from #399 in 1920, #568 in 1950, #792 in 1980, #488 in 2000, #203 in 2010, and #15 in 2025. Of the 99,113 US girls named Aurora since records began, 37% were born in the 2020s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 32,160 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Ailany, Violet, Nora, Ellie, and Lucy.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Aurora ranked highest in Wyoming, Alaska, and Rhode Island.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | #1 | 20 |
| Alaska | #5 | 24 |
| Rhode Island | #8 | 31 |
| Vermont | #9 | 16 |
| Oregon | #10 | 97 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Aurora is usually pronounced uh-ROR-uh, with three syllables. It has six letters, starts with A and ends in “-ra”.
Middle names for Aurora
A few middle names that flow with Aurora: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Aurora
Similar names
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LOO-nuh
“moon” · Latin
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uh-MAWR-uh
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uh-NOR-uh
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suh-NOR-uh
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uh-MAHR-uh
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kuh-MIH-luh
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Lists that include Aurora
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Aurora mean?
Aurora is a Latin name that means “dawn”.
What is the origin of the name Aurora?
Aurora has Latin roots. Aurora is the Latin word for dawn and the name of the Roman goddess who brought the morning, the counterpart of the Greek Eos.
Is Aurora a popular name?
Yes. Aurora ranked #15 in the US in 2025, which makes it one of the 100 most popular names.
Is Aurora a boy or girl name?
Aurora is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Aurora?
Aurora is usually pronounced uh-ROR-uh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings