Leora

♀ Girl

Pronounced lee-OR-uh /liˈɔːr.ə/Medium

Meaning: from Hebrew, a variant of Liora, derived from 'li' ('to me') and 'or' ('light'), meaning 'my light'; also associated with Greek-derived names meaning 'light'Medium

In 30 seconds: Leora comes from Hebrew as a variant of Liora, blending 'li' (to me) and 'or' (light) to mean 'my light'.

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Origin MediumHebrew

Meaningfrom Hebrew, a variant of Liora, derived from 'li' ('to me') and 'or' ('light'), meaning 'my light'; also associated with Greek-derived names meaning 'light'

U.S. rank (2025)#1356 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births163 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1921

Total births (all-time)≈ 12,118

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

In Hebrew, Liora joins the words for 'to me' and 'light', and Leora is the smoothed-out form of that phrase, carrying the sense of 'my light'. The name is well established in Jewish naming. It is sometimes also linked to Greek-derived names meaning 'light', which echo its core idea even from a different source.

The pronunciation flows in three open vowels, which gives it a gentle, lyrical feel. Its meaning ties it to the broader group of Hebrew light-names like Liora and Ora.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Leora is 'origin uncertain', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.

Overall data confidence 70%

Behind the Name - Leora — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Leora Dana (1923-1983)
American actress and Tony Award winner
★Leora Spellman (1890-1945)
American vaudeville performer and stage and film actress
★Leora Skolkin-Smith (1952-)
Israeli-American novelist

If you like Leora…

Liora— the parent Hebrew form Leora streamlines

Eliora— another Hebrew name combining light with a longer prefix

Noa— a Hebrew girl's name in the same naming tradition

Adira— another Hebrew name

Tzipora— shares Leora's Hebrew roots

Explore names like Leora

By themeenglish jewish

By meaningLight

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Leora mean?

Leora is usually explained as meaning 'origin uncertain' and is most often linked with Jewish tradition.

How do you pronounce Leora?

It's commonly said lee-OR-uh /liˈɔːr.ə/.

Is Leora a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Leora is used as a girl name.

How popular is Leora?

In 2024, Leora ranked #1529 in the U.S. for girls, with 140 births recorded.