Aurora Name Meaning

When it comes to beautiful meanings, Aurora hit the jackpot with “goddess of dawn.” In addition, she is also the name of the stunning phenomena known as the Northern Lights.

Celestial names are rising on the girl charts, with Luna, Nova, and Stella all picking up steam in recent years. Parents are looking to the skies for influence and loving what they’re finding. The name of the goddess of dawn, Aurora is no exception. A once oddball name for nature lovers, her slow spread in popularity has made her more and more familiar and lovable in time with the general public.

Aurora is similar in sound to Aria or Aurelia but has the added bonus of being a princess name. In Sleeping Beauty, it was dear Aurora who fell into the fateful slumber. Disney lovers especially will rejoice in this hidden princess name, a less obvious nod to their passion than Belle or Ariel. In addition, Gilmore Girl fans will jump for joy over her adorable nickname of Rory. Other potential nicknames include the cool Aura and the precious Rora.

Aurora is very much a confident name, proud of her meaning and origins. She isn’t a delicate name that folds under pressure. She stands tall, aging gracefully into adulthood.

A French variant of the name is Aurore and an alternative spelling is Arora.

Infographic of Aurora name meaning, which is Meaning goddess of dawn, Aurora is a Latin name.
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Aurora Name Popularity

How popular is the name Aurora? Here’s everything we know.

Year Rank # Births % Births
1910 — 41 0.0116%
1911 — 48 0.0129%
1912 — 74 0.0147%
1913 — 60 0.0106%
1914 — 74 0.0106%
1915 — 127 0.014%
1916 — 151 0.0156%
1917 — 157 0.0157%
1918 — 182 0.017%
1919 — 193 0.0184%
1920 — 231 0.0208%
1921 — 295 0.0258%
1922 — 247 0.0222%
1923 — 311 0.0278%
1924 — 323 0.0278%
1925 — 307 0.0272%
1926 — 295 0.0268%
1927 — 334 0.0302%
1928 — 335 0.0313%
1929 — 322 0.0311%
1930 — 291 0.0279%
1931 — 228 0.0231%
1932 — 230 0.0233%
1933 — 188 0.0202%
1934 — 184 0.019%
1935 — 180 0.0185%
1936 — 170 0.0176%
1937 — 161 0.0163%
1938 — 171 0.0167%
1939 — 153 0.015%
1940 — 140 0.0132%
1941 — 142 0.0126%
1942 — 199 0.0158%
1943 — 204 0.0156%
1944 — 177 0.0143%
1945 — 195 0.016%
1946 — 183 0.0124%
1947 — 228 0.0137%
1948 — 176 0.011%
1949 — 156 0.0097%
1950 — 186 0.0116%
1951 — 161 0.0095%
1952 — 177 0.0101%
1953 — 160 0.009%
1954 — 142 0.0078%
1955 — 149 0.0081%
1956 — 134 0.0071%
1957 — 136 0.0071%
1958 — 124 0.0066%
1959 — 117 0.0062%
1960 — 150 0.0079%
1961 — 112 0.0059%
1962 — 133 0.0072%
1963 — 111 0.0062%
1964 — 130 0.0074%
1965 — 141 0.0086%
1966 — 141 0.009%
1967 — 125 0.0082%
1968 — 127 0.0085%
1969 — 102 0.0066%
1970 — 126 0.0079%
1971 — 141 0.0094%
1972 — 123 0.009%
1973 — 127 0.0098%
1974 — 149 0.0115%
1975 — 141 0.011%
1976 — 144 0.0112%
1977 — 144 0.0107%
1978 — 124 0.0092%
1979 — 143 0.0101%
1980 — 166 0.0114%
1981 — 156 0.0106%
1982 — 197 0.0132%
1983 — 126 0.0085%
1984 — 160 0.0108%
1985 — 163 0.0107%
1986 — 160 0.0106%
1987 — 191 0.0125%
1988 — 170 0.0109%
1989 — 213 0.0132%
1990 — 235 0.0142%
1991 — 212 0.013%
1992 — 253 0.0159%
1993 — 319 0.0205%
1994 — 230 0.015%
1995 — 258 0.0171%
1996 — 290 0.0194%
1997 — 387 0.0262%
1998 — 457 0.0305%
1999 — 472 0.0315%
2000 — 513 0.0336%
2001 — 644 0.0427%
2002 — 632 0.0422%
2003 — 787 0.0517%
2004 — 977 0.0641%
2005 — 926 0.0606%
2006 — 1,040 0.0664%
2007 — 1,040 0.0659%
2008 — 1,150 0.0744%
2009 — 1,472 0.0985%
2010 — 1,515 0.1051%
2011 — 1,714 0.1203%
2012 — 1,902 0.1335%
2013 — 2,122 0.149%
2014 — 2,731 0.1874%
2015 — 3,639 0.2501%
2016 — 3,983 0.2762%
2017 — 4,573 0.3276%
2018 — 4,785 0.3483%
2019 — 4,952 0.3658%
2020 — 5,085 0.3995%
2021 — 5,129 0.4196%
2022 — 5,956 0.4515%
2023 — 6,080 0.4698%

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Kentucky (KY)

Louisiana (LA)

Massachusetts (MA)

Maryland (MD)

Maine (ME)

Michigan (MI)

Minnesota (MN)

Missouri (MO)

Mississippi (MS)

Montana (MT)

North Carolina (NC)

North Dakota (ND)

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Nevada (NV)

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Wyoming (WY)

Data via SSA.gov.

Names Like Aurora

If you like Aurora, you’ll love these other names like Aurora.

What names are diminutives of Aurora?

A diminutive is a name that’s like Aurora sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Aurora, but shorter.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Aura

Wind

Latin

Ora

Pray

Latin

Rora

Dawn

Latin

Rory

Red king

Irish

What names are variants of Aurora?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Aurora.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Aurea

Wind; golden; dawn

Latin

Aurore

Dawn

Latin

What names sound like Aurora?

If you like how Aurora sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Aurora.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Aria

Vocal solo

English

Ariana

Most holy

Latin

Aurelia

Golden

Latin

Oriana

Sunrise

Latin

What names are similar to Aurora?

Find a name that’s like Aurora, but just a little bit different.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Celeste

Heavenly

Latin

Dawn

The first appearance of light, daybreak

English

Genesis

The beginning

Greek

Luna

The moon

Latin

Paloma

Dove

Latin

Penelope

Weaver

Greek

Persephone

Bringer of destruction

Greek

Serenity

Calmness

English

Skye

Isle of Skye

English

Stella

Celestial star

Latin

Lists With Aurora

Find inspiration in these baby girl name lists featuring the name Aurora.

Siblings of Aurora

Mamas with kids named Aurora also have kids with these names.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Elijah

My God is Yahweh

Hebrew

Adler

Eagle

German

Abram

High father

Hebrew

Colton

Charcoal settlement

English

Jayden

Thankful one

Hebrew

Gunner

Warrior

Scandinavian

Bergen

Mountain

German

Julianna

Youthful and downy

Latin

Brian

High and noble

English

40 Comments

  1. I was inspired by the song by Bjork titled
    “Aurora”. Then I was excited about the meaning for me. I’ve always wanted to see Aurora borealis and I found out the meaning is something along the lines of: the light in the darkness. In Greek mythology Aurora is the goddess that brings dawn to the night while she rides a chariot. For me in these times it just felt right.

    Reply

  2. Aurora was named after the aurora borealis which made a surprise showing at my birthday camp out…just weeks after experiencing pregnancy loss. This amazing moment reinvigorated my faith in the universe and spirit. I will forever remember that when I look at my baby girl.

    Reply

  3. The name Aurora refers to the dawn, a bright light after a period of darkness. The name Aurora came to me during a season of darkness and I needed an inspiration to keep my eyes looking forward, with hope for the future. In this season, I decided to work hard and live in a way that I would for my future daughter’s sake. I wanted to strive to be the example she needed but also live in the hope that I would meet her one day. That was in 2020, and by God’s design, I started dating my husband a few weeks later. Now in 2024, that season still shapes me, God is still good, my husband is still my rock, and Aurora is still the light of my life.

    Reply

  4. Our first born is Luna and Aurora is such a sweet compliment to it. We love that both names are celestial and represent forms of light — Aurora means dawn in Spanish (which she will learn to speak from her dad) and also pays homage to Aurora Borealis! We also think the nickname Rory is perfect.

    Reply

  5. I love the meaning (beacon of light) and the sound of the name. Also love the princess, Aurora!! ?

    Reply

  6. My fiance picked her name. He said that the most beautiful thing he had ever seen was the Aurora Borealis before he saw his daughter.

    Reply

  7. Means a new dawn, a new day, coming into the light<3

    Reply

  8. She’s named after the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis)

    Reply

  9. We came up with her name by deciding something not really common but you do know where it came from. Plus it went great with the middle names her father chose.

    Reply

  10. El significado, numerologia me llamaron la atencion, pero sobretodo porque me recuerda la casa donde creci, pues el nombre de la calle donde quedaba es Aurora<3

    Reply

  11. My husband purposed to me under Aurora borialas so we decided that our baby girl should be named Aurora.

    Reply

  12. I chose this name because it was my grandmother’s and I also think it’s so beautiful!

    Reply

  13. We love her name & we both chose her name Aurora because it stands for a princess name. She is fit sure a princess!???

    Reply

  14. I’ve loved the name since I was little.

    Reply

  15. We picked the name because she is born and getting raised in Alaska.

    Reply

  16. Love the uniqueness & beauty of the name Aurora. My husband & I came into our relationship both w. the name in mind for our first daughter – His reason for the Borealis Lights also known as the “Auroras” & mine because I am a Disney fanatic & love the movie sleeping beauty.

    Reply

  17. Aurora is our rainbow baby but also our first living child too. She’s the dawn of a new era for my husband and I as we’ve been together since highschool and are now in our mid-twenties. Aurora is the Latin for “dawn” and we liked that better than the name Dawn with our last name. Plus I saw the Aurora Borealis on a flight once when I was a kid and it’s a memory I’ll never forget. It’s a beautiful natural phenomenon and one worthy to be named after. The name came to me when I was 3 weeks pregnant, before we even knew she was a girl even though I had a gut feeling. It was perfect. As I type, Aurora is 2 months old and has beautiful red hair, just like the dawn of a sunny day. How fitting!

    Reply

  18. Prior to finding out I was pregnant we had a trip to Iceland put on hold due to COVID. We decided to make that adventure happen when I was 25 weeks pregnant and got to see the most amazing and unexpected display of the northern lights (Aurora Borealis) while there. It seemed fitting to name her after something so naturally beautiful that we experienced together. We call her “Rory” for short.

    Reply

    • hi i am 10 and a aunt and am looking to help search for a girls name ad i thought that it could be aurora if it was a girl and if it was a boy it could be jace so yeah that what i thought oh and nice to meet you

      Reply

  19. Aurora means “dawn” and “luminous”, and shares a title with the beautiful Aurora Borealis lights. Also, everyone commented on how pretty she was right away and mentioned the Disney princess “Sleeping Beauty” . The name sounds so pretty in Spanish as well. It was our first choice and it kinda just fell into place for her.

    Reply

  20. I love the meaning of the name Aurora and when I came across it the name stuck with me. When I saw my baby I knew that was her name.

    Reply

  21. When we found out we were expecting our fourth child, we already had three girls whose names all end in -a so we wanted to keep that going if we had another girl. That narrowed the search down for us and I loved that Aurora means essentially the same thing as my mom’s middle name. I was nervous about choosing a “Disney princess name” but we loved the sound and meaning of it so we didn’t let that deter us.

    Reply

  22. I liked the name since i was a little girl but never thought my future husband would go for it. Of course I originally heard the name on Sleeping Beauty. But the name has more to it than that. It is the Roman goddess of the dawn and dawn represents new beginnings. The northern lights are also beautiful and magical. Finally his deceased mother’s name was Dawna so we thought tis could be a small nod to her without just naming the baby after her.
    I don’t like that it is becoming a popular name negated i didn’t choose it because of a movie princess.

    Reply

  23. My husband and I had loved the name Aurora for years – with the nickname Rory. I’ve always liked the Disney movie Sleeping Beauty and Gilmore Girls, so it fits really well. She was born just before dawn on her birthday, and Aurora can also mean “dawn,” so we knew it was perfect for our girl.

    Reply

  24. I have always loved the name Aurora.

    Reply

  25. I’ve always loved this name.
    I like the way it sounds, spelled and the meaning.

    Reply

  26. We chose the name Aurora years before we had another girl. We’ve always loved the Aurora Borealis and and how the name means “dawn”. Funny enough, but I actually gave birth to her at 6:53am, right at dawn!

    Reply

  27. He father named her

    Reply

  28. We wanted a unique name with a Scandinavian feel as our ancestors are both Norwegian. We also loved the nickname “Rory.”

    Reply

  29. My husband came up with the name and it was a name he always loved. We chose it because it was unique and beautiful. I like how the band is not a typical name you hear everyday. I dislike how most people mispronounce the name.

    Reply

  30. It Is my birth city & my Mother’s favorite Disney Princess. Not to mention in my eyes my daughter is as beautiful and full of wonder as the Aurora borealis.

    Reply

  31. My husband chose the name for our daughter. He named her Aurora after the Northern Lights. I was hesitant about the name because the first thing I think of is the Disney princess Aurora from Sleeping Beauty. Most of the time I call her by her nickname Rory.

    Reply

  32. Aurora is a disney princess and since she is our only little girl with 2 older brothers she will always be out little princess. We decided to name her Aurora Faye after my husband grandma passed the month before we found out we were pregnant.

    Reply

  33. Her dad named her after the northern lights.

    Reply

  34. My mother suggested the name because of a show on STARS that had a strong female character on it. We also liked the meaning of the name, Aurora Borealis and felt that she would be a light in our life. Her nick name will be Rori and we love that nickname. We like the versatility of the name and it’s association with sleeping beauty.

    Reply

  35. I love the northern lights so my daughter is namedAurora. .

    Reply

  36. We picked the name Aurora for our 4th daughter because it’s a beautiful name and who does want to be named after the Aurora Borealis. We call her Rori for short. I have no dislikes about her name.

    Reply

  37. Aurora is the name of shirley mclain in terms of endearment which is my favorite chick flix

    Reply

  38. I love the name Aurora, like the Disney movie- “Sleeping Beauty”. It is not as common as some names and still so beautiful.
    Both of my kids have Disney inspired names.

    Reply

  39. Too many reasons. Because my husband works for the government, we thought we were moving to Alaska but ended up in Italy instead (where our daughter was born). Both places are popular for the name (Aurora Borealis & the Roman goddess Aurora). Plus I’m a Disney movie fan (Sleeping Beauty’s name is Aurora) and who doesn’t hope for a well rested child?!

    We almost didn’t name her Aurora, because it is a little more difficult to say (so we practiced it quite a bit!)

    We also didn’t know no one else with the name, and I enjoyed the idea of calling my daughter Rori as a nickname. Rory means “the red ruler” because of a famous Scottish king, and I have auburn hair myself. (But my daughter does not!?)

    Reply

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