Soraya

At a Glance

Meaning

The Pleiades star cluster; also glossed as 'brilliant gem'

Origin

Persian (from Arabic)

Gender

Girl

Pronunciation

soh-RY-ahListen

Soraya is a girl's name with roots in Persian, borrowed from the Arabic word for the Pleiades star cluster — sometimes glossed as 'brilliant gem.' You'll often see it described as meaning 'princess,' but that idea comes from famous namesakes like Queen Soraya of Afghanistan and Empress Soraya of Iran rather than the word itself. It's pronounced soh-RY-ah.

Meaning & Origin of Soraya

Meaning: The Pleiades star cluster; also glossed as 'brilliant gem'.

Origin: Persian (from Arabic).

A common claim: Often said to mean 'princess' Actually: Soraya is frequently glossed as 'princess' thanks to famous royal namesakes (Queen Soraya of Afghanistan, Empress Soraya of Iran), but that's not part of the word's etymology — it comes from the Persian/Arabic term for the Pleiades star cluster.

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Soraya

Popularity of Soraya

Soraya sits at #913 in the latest Social Security data (2024), with 290 babies given the name that year — and that's also its peak rank across the full 1955-2024 record.

Names Like Soraya

These names share Soraya’s style, era or origin.

• Anahi
• Anahita
• Anousheh
• Bita
• Darya
• Homa

FAQ

What does the name Soraya mean?

The Pleiades star cluster; also glossed as ‘brilliant gem’. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Soraya?

Soraya is pronounced soh-RY-ah (IPA: /soʊˈraɪə/).

Is Soraya a popular name right now?

Soraya is at its highest recorded popularity right now, ranked #913 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1955–2024.)

Make Soraya Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Soraya, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.