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At a Glance: Name: Ora – Meaning: breeze (as a form of Aura); the separate Hebrew name means 'light' – Origin: Latin (variant of Aura); a distinct Hebrew name Ora/Orah also exists – Gender: used for both boys and girls
Ora is a name with a bit of a mix-up behind it: many people assume it means 'light' in Hebrew, but that meaning actually belongs to a separate Hebrew name that just happens to be spelled the same way. The English/American Ora traced by Wiktionary is instead a 19th-century variant of Aura, meaning 'breeze.' If you're drawn to Ora, it helps to know which version — and which meaning — you're actually choosing.
Meaning & Origin of Ora
Meaning: Breeze (as a form of aura); the separate hebrew name means 'light'.
Origin: Latin (variant of Aura); a distinct Hebrew name Ora/Orah also exists.
A common claim: Ora means 'light' (Hebrew) Actually: 'Light' belongs to a separate Hebrew name with the same spelling. The English/American name Ora is instead a 19th-century variant of Aura, meaning 'breeze.'
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
Popularity of Ora
Ora reached its peak popularity in 1881, ranking #104 with 191 babies given the name that year. By 2024 it had fallen to #3474, with just 45 babies named Ora.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.
Make Ora Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Ora, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Ora mean?
Breeze (as a form of aura); the separate hebrew name means ‘light’. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Ora)
Is Ora a popular name right now?
Ora peaked at #104 in 1881 and is ranked #3474 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
📊 How popular is Ora? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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