The name Gloria has its origins in the Latin word "gloria", meaning "glory", "fame" or "renown". It was a title given to the Roman emperors and military leaders who achieved great victories or success. The name gained popularity as a given name during the early Christian era.

The earliest recorded use of Gloria as a personal name dates back to the 4th century AD. Saint Gloria was a young Christian martyr who was tortured and killed for her faith during the Diocletian persecution in 304 AD in Cagliari, Sardinia. Her feast day is celebrated on July 20th in the Roman Catholic Church.

In the Middle Ages, the name Gloria was occasionally used by European nobility and was associated with the concept of heavenly glory and the divine radiance of God. One notable bearer of the name was Gloria of Zweinitz (c. 1130-1196), a German noblewoman and abbess of the Cistercian convent in Zweinitz, Silesia.

During the Renaissance period, the name Gloria gained further popularity, particularly in Italy. Gloria Longo (1552-1624) was an Italian composer and singer, considered one of the first professional female composers of the Renaissance era.

In more recent history, several notable women have borne the name Gloria. Gloria Swanson (1899-1983) was an American actress and producer, best known for her role in the 1950 film "Sunset Boulevard". Gloria Steinem (born 1934) is an American feminist, journalist, and social and political activist, who played a key role in the women's liberation movement in the late 1960s and 1970s.

Other famous Glorias include Gloria Estefan (born 1957), the Cuban-American singer-songwriter and actress; Gloria Gaynor (born 1949), the American singer best known for the disco hit "I Will Survive"; and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (born 1947), the former President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010.