Zora Girl

Popularity: #687 · Trend: ↗ Rising

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.

ZaraLilaMiraNinaTara

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.

ZinaZaraZinaidaSoraCoraLoraNora

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Zora was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Zora has ranked as high as #1477 nationally, which occurred in 2019, and has been most popular in Texas, California, North Carolina, Georgia, and New York.

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.

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 Total Births Boy Girl
2025 273 9 264
2024 290 0 290
2023 319 6 313
2022 342 10 332
2021 338 0 338
2020 308 0 308
2019 353 0 353
2018 270 0 270
2017 206 0 206
2016 164 0 164
2015 140 0 140
2014 139 0 139
2013 99 0 99
2012 109 0 109
2011 94 0 94
2010 88 0 88
2009 87 0 87
2008 112 0 112
2007 104 0 104
2006 98 0 98
2005 98 0 98
2004 102 0 102
2003 117 0 117
2002 62 0 62
2001 65 0 65
2000 32 0 32
1999 26 0 26
1998 20 0 20
1997 25 0 25
1996 16 0 16
1995 24 0 24
1994 15 0 15
1993 16 0 16
1992 14 0 14
1991 12 0 12
1990 8 0 8
1989 10 0 10
1987 7 0 7
1986 9 0 9
1985 7 0 7
1982 10 0 10
1981 7 0 7
1980 13 0 13
1979 9 0 9
1978 8 0 8
1977 9 0 9
1976 7 0 7
1975 11 0 11
1974 14 0 14
1973 9 0 9
1972 12 0 12
1971 14 0 14
1969 10 0 10
1968 11 0 11
1967 15 0 15
1966 7 0 7
1965 15 0 15
1964 7 0 7
1963 19 5 14
1962 14 0 14
1961 20 0 20
1960 19 0 19
1959 11 0 11
1958 19 0 19
1957 30 0 30
1956 24 0 24
1955 34 0 34
1954 24 0 24
1953 47 0 47
1952 35 0 35
1951 35 0 35
1950 31 0 31
1949 35 0 35
1948 49 0 49
1947 36 0 36
1946 38 0 38
1945 41 0 41
1944 51 0 51
1943 45 0 45
1942 39 0 39
1941 52 0 52
1940 49 0 49
1939 55 0 55
1938 61 0 61
1937 49 0 49
1936 59 0 59
1935 62 0 62
1934 72 0 72
1933 57 0 57
1932 70 0 70
1931 73 0 73
1930 93 0 93
1929 72 0 72
1928 81 0 81
1927 92 0 92
1926 93 0 93
1925 114 0 114
1924 122 0 122
1923 130 0 130
1922 128 0 128
1921 136 0 136
1920 135 0 135
1919 123 6 117
1918 134 0 134
1917 135 0 135
1916 152 0 152
1915 174 5 169
1914 120 0 120
1913 90 0 90
1912 99 0 99
1911 82 0 82
1910 57 0 57
1909 57 0 57
1908 59 0 59
1907 92 0 92
1906 64 0 64
1905 55 0 55
1904 54 0 54
1903 83 0 83
1902 58 0 58
1901 58 0 58
1900 99 0 99
1899 56 0 56
1898 65 0 65
1897 67 0 67
1896 72 0 72
1895 55 0 55
1894 66 0 66
1893 72 5 67
1892 66 0 66
1891 52 0 52
1890 60 0 60
1889 53 0 53
1888 42 0 42
1887 46 0 46
1886 52 0 52
1885 48 0 48
1884 58 0 58
1883 35 0 35
1882 32 0 32
1881 21 0 21
1880 28 0 28

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. 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 28
12%
TX 22
9%
NY 19
8%
PA 14
6%
GA 14
6%
FL 13
5%
VA 13
5%
NC 12
5%
OH 11
5%
MD 11
5%
IN 9
4%
SC 9
4%
WA 9
4%
MI 8
3%
AL 8
3%
MO 7
3%
IL 7
3%
LA 6
2%
MN 6
2%
MA 5
2%
OR 5
2%
NJ 5
2%