Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Sonora
GirlSpanish, Latin· “sonorous; also a Mexican state”
- Meaning
- sonorous; also a Mexican state
- Origin
- Spanish, Latin
- Pronunciation
- suh-NOR-uh
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #3,023
- US babies 2025
- 55
- Best rank
- #2,771 (1992)
- Peak year
- 2023
Meaning and origin of Sonora
Sonora is a Spanish and Latin name that is usually said to mean “sonorous; also a Mexican state”.
Sonora is a Spanish word meaning sonorous or resonant, from Latin sonorus, loud or ringing. It is also the name of a Mexican state bordering Arizona, and of the Sonoran Desert, which stretches across Mexico and the American Southwest. The origin of the state's name is uncertain. As a given name Sonora is rare and is used mainly for girls. It is said suh-NOR-uh. The name combines a musical meaning with a strong sense of place. Nora is contained in the name and could serve as a short form.
Popularity over time
Sonora first appears in US Social Security records in 1924. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #2,771 in 1992, and the most babies received it in 2023, when 62 were named Sonora. In 2025, 55 babies were named Sonora, and it ranked #3,023 nationally. That is 49% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #11,905 in 1980, #5,132 in 2000, #4,018 in 2010, and #3,023 in 2025. Of the 1,444 US girls named Sonora since records began, 29% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2020s come next, with 329 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Aicha, Zoha, Sena, Marcelina, and Jozie.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Sonora ranked highest in Texas and California.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | #1777 | 13 |
| California | #3477 | 5 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Sonora is usually pronounced suh-NOR-uh, with three syllables. It has six letters, starts with S and ends in “-ra”.
Middle names for Sonora
A few middle names that flow with Sonora: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Sonora
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Lists that include Sonora
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Sonora mean?
Sonora is a Spanish and Latin name that is usually said to mean “sonorous; also a Mexican state”.
What is the origin of the name Sonora?
Sonora has Spanish and Latin roots. Sonora is a Spanish word meaning sonorous or resonant, from Latin sonorus, loud or ringing.
Is Sonora a popular name?
Not especially. Sonora ranked #3,023 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Sonora a boy or girl name?
Sonora is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Sonora?
Sonora is usually pronounced suh-NOR-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