Soraya Girl

Popularity: #645 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: soh-RYE-uh //səˈraɪə//

Origin: Persian; Arabic

Meaning: Persian: princess; Arabic: bright, luminous

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Soraya has its roots in Persian, derived from the word "soraya," which refers to the Pleiades star cluster, known in Arabic as "al-Thurayya." The etymological journey of Soraya can be traced back to ancient Persian, where it was used to denote brightness and beauty, reflecting the stars' luminous qualities. The name made its way into various cultures through the influence of Persian literature and the spread of Islamic culture, eventually being adopted into Arabic and later into European languages, including English, through translations and cultural exchanges during the medieval period.

Historically, Soraya has been associated with notable figures, particularly in the context of Persian royalty. One prominent bearer of the name was Soraya Esfandiary Bakhtiary, the second wife of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran, who reigned from the mid-20th century until the Iranian Revolution in 1979.

Her life and the political context of her marriage brought the name into the global consciousness, intertwining it with themes of beauty, tragedy, and the complexities of modern Iranian history. Culturally, Soraya carries connotations of elegance and celestial beauty, often symbolizing grace and nobility.

The name's association with the Pleiades also lends it a sense of mystique and connection to the cosmos, which has resonated through various artistic and literary works. In Persian poetry, the stars often symbolize unattainable love or ideal beauty, further enhancing the name's romantic and ethereal qualities.

Diminutive forms such as "Sora" may also be used, reflecting a softer, affectionate variant of the name, though Soraya itself remains the more formal and widely recognized version.

Famous people named Soraya

In this section, you will find notable people named Soraya. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Soraya who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Soraya who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Soraya is a singer-songwriter best known for her albums Like a Star, and her hit single Cielo de Abril.

Soraya is a model best known for her work with brands such as L'Oreal and Victoria's Secret.

Fictional characters named Soraya

The following list of fictional characters named Soraya is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Soraya is a fictional character from the novel The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. She is the wife of the protagonist, Amir, and plays a crucial role in his journey towards redemption.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Soraya, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

SofiaSelenaSabrinaSamanthaSierraSavannah

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Soraya. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

SorinaSaraiSoleilSiennaSuriSoleaSora

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Soraya was first seen in the United States in 1955.

Soraya has ranked as high as #1637 nationally, which occurred in 2025, and has been most popular in California, New York, Texas, Florida, and Georgia.

In the past 5 years the name Soraya has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Soraya is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Soraya was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Soraya.

Year Total Births Girl
2025 313 313
2024 292 292
2023 212 212
2022 242 242
2021 262 262
2020 196 196
2019 215 215
2018 187 187
2017 177 177
2016 197 197
2015 201 201
2014 180 180
2013 192 192
2012 198 198
2011 219 219
2010 197 197
2009 170 170
2008 190 190
2007 237 237
2006 236 236
2005 172 172
2004 144 144
2003 135 135
2002 104 104
2001 100 100
2000 92 92
1999 67 67
1998 75 75
1997 74 74
1996 76 76
1995 67 67
1994 56 56
1993 55 55
1992 56 56
1991 49 49
1990 54 54
1989 52 52
1988 34 34
1987 49 49
1986 43 43
1985 38 38
1984 29 29
1983 40 40
1982 40 40
1981 44 44
1980 53 53
1979 31 31
1978 26 26
1977 27 27
1976 29 29
1975 33 33
1974 19 19
1973 34 34
1972 29 29
1971 49 49
1970 36 36
1969 32 32
1968 35 35
1967 23 23
1966 33 33
1965 40 40
1964 39 39
1963 31 31
1962 31 31
1961 39 39
1960 23 23
1959 21 21
1958 28 28
1957 6 6
1955 6 6

Top States for Soraya (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 37
15%
TX 30
12%
FL 28
11%
NY 22
9%
NC 15
6%
PA 12
5%
VA 8
3%
NJ 8
3%
IL 8
3%
IN 8
3%
OH 8
3%
CO 8
3%
MN 7
3%
GA 6
2%
NV 6
2%
AZ 6
2%
TN 6
2%
WA 5
2%
MA 5
2%
MD 5
2%
MI 5
2%
CT 5
2%