Ora

♀ Girl

Pronounced OR-ə /ˈɔr.ə/High

Meaning: Light; from Hebrew orah, a modern Israeli nameMedium

In 30 seconds: Two tiny syllables, two luminous readings: Hebrew 'light' and Latin 'pray'. Ora was a staple of American porches a century ago and of Israeli nurseries today — pop star Rita Ora keeps it on the charts.

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Origin MediumHebrew, Latin

MeaningLight; from Hebrew orah, a modern Israeli name

U.S. rank (2025)#3760 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births40 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1919

Total births (all-time)≈ 39,276

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

Ora leads parallel lives: in Hebrew it is orah, 'light', a modern Israeli favorite; in vintage America it flourished around 1900 alongside Etta and Iva, often linked by pious families to Latin ora, 'pray'. Albanian adds 'hour', and the name's brevity lets every culture pour meaning in.

It faded with its Edwardian cohort and now reads as a hidden vintage gem one Rita Ora chorus from revival. Rare, radiant, and four letters light.

Did you know? Rita Ora's surname is this name — her Kosovar-Albanian family's Ora also means 'hour, time' in Albanian, adding a third clock-faced meaning to the little word.

Overall data confidence 80%

Behind the Name — Ora — multi-origin

Variations

OrahAuraOralee

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Ora Washington (1898-1971)
American tennis and basketball champion, inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
★Ora Carew
American silent film actress and one of the Sennett Bathing Beauties

If you like Ora…

Opal— a fellow tiny Edwardian treasure name

Etta— the porch-swing contemporary of its first American wave

Nora— the near-sound classic already revived

Liora— the fuller Hebrew 'my light' sister

Explore names like Ora

By themehebrew vintage light

By meaningLight

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Ora mean?

Ora means 'light' in Hebrew; vintage American use also linked it to Latin ora, 'pray'.

How do you pronounce Ora?

It's said OR-ə /ˈɔr.ə/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Ora a boy or girl name?

Ora is mainly a girl's name.

How popular is Ora?

Ora is a rare vintage name in the U.S. today.