Find out how popular the first name Aurora has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Aurora by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Aurora is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Aurora being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 6,054 female babies and 5 male babies born with the name Aurora.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 5 baby boys were named Aurora in 2023, despite it being a predominantly female name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Aurora

The name Aurora is derived from the Latin word "aurora," which means "dawn" or "sunrise." This name has its roots in Roman mythology, where Aurora was the goddess of dawn, often depicted as a beautiful woman who opened the gates of the morning and scattered the morning dew.

In ancient Roman literature, Aurora was mentioned in various works, including Virgil's Aeneid and Ovid's Metamorphoses. The name was also used in ancient Roman times, though it was not as common as some other names.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Aurora is from the 4th century AD, when it was borne by a Christian martyr named Aurora of Hispania. Later, in the 6th century, there was a Saint Aurora who was a nun and abbess in France.

During the Renaissance period, the name Aurora gained popularity, particularly in Italy, where it was associated with the revival of classical culture and the rediscovery of ancient Roman myths and legends. One notable figure from this time was Aurora Rambouillet (1539-1608), an Italian-born French noblewoman who hosted a famous literary salon in Paris.

In the 17th century, the name Aurora was also used in England, as seen with the English writer Aurora Leigh (1819-1851), whose real name was Elizabeth Barrett Browning. She was a renowned poet and one of the most prominent writers of her time.

Another notable bearer of the name was Aurora Karamzin (1808-1902), a Russian writer and translator who played a significant role in introducing Russian literature to Western audiences.

In the 19th century, the name Aurora became more widespread in various parts of Europe and the Americas. One famous example is Aurora Lucero Hogan (1847-1922), known as the "Goddess of Liberty," who was a Mexican-American woman who posed for the Statue of Liberty in New York.

The name Aurora has also been associated with several notable figures in the arts and sciences, such as the Italian painter Aurora Prosperi (1490-1520), the Mexican painter Aurora Reyes (1908-1985), and the American astronomer Aurora Tsinan Ferendinos (1912-1989).

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Aurora was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Aurora, please contact us.

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