Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Sora
UnisexJapanese· “sky”
- Meaning
- sky
- Origin
- Japanese
- Pronunciation
- SOR-uh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,959
- US babies 2025
- 99
- Best rank
- #1,864 (2023)
- Peak year
- 2023
Meaning and origin of Sora
Sora is a Japanese name that means “sky”.
In Japanese, sora means sky, and the name is used for both boys and girls, often written with the character for sky or with other characters that share the sound. Its simplicity and open, airy meaning have made it a favorite in Japan. English speakers know it well from Sora, the young hero of the Kingdom Hearts video game series. Sora has a calm, uplifting feel and a very easy pronunciation across languages, a short Japanese name with a clear nature meaning.
Popularity over time
Sora first appears in US Social Security records in 1972. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,864 in 2023, the same year it reached its highest count of 108 babies. In 2025, 99 babies were named Sora, and it ranked #1,959 nationally. That is 87% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #5,863 in 1980, #5,133 in 2000, #2,638 in 2010, and #1,959 in 2025. Of the 1,799 US girls named Sora since records began, 33% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2020s come next, with 564 babies.
Other babies' names that peaked around the same time include Cai, Mecca, Ryver, Nazareth, and Kaisyn.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Sora ranked highest in Colorado, California, and New Jersey.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | #1038 | 5 |
| California | #1226 | 21 |
| New Jersey | #1334 | 5 |
| New York | #1641 | 8 |
| Georgia | #1757 | 5 |
Gender, sound and spelling
Sora is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 67% of US babies named Sora were girls and 33% were boys.
Sora is usually pronounced SOR-uh, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with S and ends in “-ra”.
Middle names for Sora
A few middle names that flow with Sora: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Sora
Similar names
Ara Unisex
AIR-uh
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Lyra Girl
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Kiera Girl
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Ciara Girl
see-EHR-uh
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Chiara Girl
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Zaira Girl
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Meera Girl
MEER-uh
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Yusra Girl
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Kaira Girl
KY-ruh
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Nyra Girl
NY-ruh
“modern name of uncertain origin” · American (modern coinage)
#1,465
Lists that include Sora
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Sora mean?
Sora is a Japanese name that means “sky”.
What is the origin of the name Sora?
Sora has Japanese roots. In Japanese, sora means sky, and the name is used for both boys and girls, often written with the character for sky or with other characters that share the sound.
Is Sora a popular name?
Not especially. Sora ranked #1,959 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Sora a boy or girl name?
Sora is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 67% of US babies named Sora were girls and 33% were boys.
How do you pronounce Sora?
Sora is usually pronounced SOR-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