Zora Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: ZOR-ah /ˈzɔːrə/
Origin: Slavic; Arabic
Meaning: Slavic: dawn; Arabic: flower
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Zora has Slavic roots, deriving from the word "zora," which means "dawn" or "daybreak." This term is linked to the Proto-Slavic *zora, reflecting the significance of light and new beginnings in Slavic cultures. The name entered the English language through the influence of Slavic immigrants and literature, particularly in the 19th and 20th centuries, when interest in Slavic culture and languages grew in the West.
Historically, the name Zora has been associated with various cultural and literary figures. In Slavic folklore, the dawn is often personified, symbolizing hope and renewal.
The name gained further recognition in the early 20th century through the works of authors and poets who explored themes of nature and the human experience, often using the imagery of dawn to evoke transformation and awakening. Additionally, the name has been embraced in various artistic expressions, including music and visual arts, reinforcing its connection to beauty and inspiration.
Culturally, Zora resonates with themes of femininity and strength, often embodying the qualities of resilience and optimism. In some traditions, the dawn is viewed as a time of divine intervention or blessing, enhancing the name's spiritual significance.
The name has also been used in various forms across different cultures, with diminutives such as Zorina appearing in some Slavic languages, further enriching its historical tapestry. Overall, Zora stands as a name that encapsulates the essence of light, hope, and the promise of a new day.
Famous people named Zora
In this section, you will find notable people named Zora. 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 Zora who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Zora 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.
Zora Neale Hurston is an author and anthropologist best known for Their Eyes Were Watching God, Mules and Men, and Dust Tracks on a Road.
Zora Arkus-Duntov is an engineer best known for his work on the Chevrolet Corvette.
Fictional characters named Zora
The following list of fictional characters named Zora 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.
Zora Neale Hurston is a fictional character from the novel Their Eyes Were Watching God. She is a strong-willed woman who embarks on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment in the early 20th century American South.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Zora, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Zora. 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.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Zora was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Zora has ranked as high as #1023 nationally, which occurred in 2019, and has been most popular in California, North Carolina, Georgia, New York, and Texas.
In the past 5 years the name Zora has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Zora 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 Zora was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Zora (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 28 | |
| TX | 22 | |
| NY | 19 | |
| PA | 14 | |
| GA | 14 | |
| FL | 13 | |
| VA | 13 | |
| NC | 12 | |
| MD | 11 | |
| OH | 11 | |
| SC | 9 | |
| WA | 9 | |
| IN | 9 | |
| AL | 8 | |
| MO | 7 |
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 Zora.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 289 |
| 2023 | 311 |
| 2022 | 332 |
| 2021 | 338 |
| 2020 | 308 |
| 2019 | 353 |
| 2018 | 270 |
| 2017 | 206 |
| 2016 | 164 |
| 2015 | 140 |
| 2014 | 139 |
| 2013 | 99 |
| 2012 | 109 |
| 2011 | 94 |
| 2010 | 88 |
| 2009 | 87 |
| 2008 | 112 |
| 2007 | 104 |
| 2006 | 98 |
| 2005 | 98 |
| 2004 | 102 |
| 2003 | 117 |
| 2002 | 62 |
| 2001 | 65 |
| 2000 | 32 |
| 1999 | 26 |
| 1998 | 20 |
| 1997 | 25 |
| 1996 | 16 |
| 1995 | 24 |
| 1994 | 15 |
| 1993 | 16 |
| 1992 | 14 |
| 1991 | 12 |
| 1990 | 8 |
| 1989 | 10 |
| 1987 | 7 |
| 1986 | 9 |
| 1985 | 7 |
| 1982 | 10 |
| 1981 | 7 |
| 1980 | 13 |
| 1979 | 9 |
| 1978 | 8 |
| 1977 | 9 |
| 1976 | 7 |
| 1975 | 11 |
| 1974 | 14 |
| 1973 | 9 |
| 1972 | 12 |
| 1971 | 14 |
| 1969 | 10 |
| 1968 | 11 |
| 1967 | 15 |
| 1966 | 7 |
| 1965 | 15 |
| 1964 | 7 |
| 1963 | 14 |
| 1962 | 14 |
| 1961 | 20 |
| 1960 | 19 |
| 1959 | 11 |
| 1958 | 19 |
| 1957 | 30 |
| 1956 | 24 |
| 1955 | 34 |
| 1954 | 24 |
| 1953 | 47 |
| 1952 | 35 |
| 1951 | 35 |
| 1950 | 31 |
| 1949 | 35 |
| 1948 | 49 |
| 1947 | 36 |
| 1946 | 38 |
| 1945 | 41 |
| 1944 | 51 |
| 1943 | 45 |
| 1942 | 39 |
| 1941 | 52 |
| 1940 | 49 |
| 1939 | 55 |
| 1938 | 61 |
| 1937 | 49 |
| 1936 | 59 |
| 1935 | 62 |
| 1934 | 72 |
| 1933 | 57 |
| 1932 | 70 |
| 1931 | 73 |
| 1930 | 93 |
| 1929 | 72 |
| 1928 | 81 |
| 1927 | 92 |
| 1926 | 93 |
| 1925 | 114 |
| 1924 | 122 |
| 1923 | 130 |
| 1922 | 128 |
| 1921 | 136 |
| 1920 | 135 |
| 1919 | 117 |
| 1918 | 134 |
| 1917 | 135 |
| 1916 | 152 |
| 1915 | 169 |
| 1914 | 120 |
| 1913 | 90 |
| 1912 | 99 |
| 1911 | 82 |
| 1910 | 57 |
| 1909 | 57 |
| 1908 | 59 |
| 1907 | 92 |
| 1906 | 64 |
| 1905 | 55 |
| 1904 | 54 |
| 1903 | 83 |
| 1902 | 58 |
| 1901 | 58 |
| 1900 | 99 |
| 1899 | 56 |
| 1898 | 65 |
| 1897 | 67 |
| 1896 | 72 |
| 1895 | 55 |
| 1894 | 66 |
| 1893 | 67 |
| 1892 | 66 |
| 1891 | 52 |
| 1890 | 60 |
| 1889 | 53 |
| 1888 | 42 |
| 1887 | 46 |
| 1886 | 52 |
| 1885 | 48 |
| 1884 | 58 |
| 1883 | 35 |
| 1882 | 32 |
| 1881 | 21 |
| 1880 | 28 |