Sonora
A feminine name derived from Spanish meaning "resonant" or "sonorous".
Name Census estimates that about 1,324 living Americans carry the first name Sonora. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Sonora today is around 20 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Sonora births was 2023 (62 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Sonora. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
1.3K
~ 1 in 258,878 Americans
Peak year
2023
62 babies that year
Average age
20
years old
2024 SSA rank
#2,960
Tracked since 1924
Popularity
Sonora: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Sonora from the 1920s through to the 2020s, spanning 11 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 422 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Sonora remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Sonora by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Sonora during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Sonoras live
The SSA's state-level files cover 4 states and territories. California, Texas, Arizona recorded the most babies named Sonora, while Oregon, Arizona, Texas recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 76 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Sonora
The name Sonora is believed to have its origins in the Spanish language. It is derived from the word "sonoro," which means "sonorous" or "resonant." The name is thought to have emerged in the late 15th or early 16th century, during the time of Spanish exploration and colonization of the Americas.
Sonora is a region in northwestern Mexico that borders the Gulf of California. The name "Sonora" was first used to refer to this area, which was known for its rich mineral resources and mining activities. The earliest recorded use of the name Sonora in this context dates back to the early 17th century.
The name Sonora is not commonly found in ancient texts or religious scriptures. However, it has been used as a given name for both males and females in various parts of the world, particularly in Spanish-speaking countries.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Sonora was Sonora Babb, an American author and journalist born in 1862. She wrote several books and articles on social and political issues of her time.
Another notable person with the name Sonora was Sonora Louise Smart Dodd, an American woman born in 1882 who is credited with initiating the modern celebration of Father's Day. She campaigned for the establishment of a day to honor fathers, similar to Mother's Day, and her efforts led to the first Father's Day celebration in 1910.
In the world of art, Sonora Carver was an American artist and sculptor born in 1904. She was known for her works in wood carving and was a member of the Taos Society of Artists.
Sonora Webster Carver, born in 1904, was an American horse trainer and writer. She authored several books on horse training and was considered an expert in her field.
Sonora McKeller, born in 1929, was a Canadian author and poet. She wrote several collections of poetry and was known for her works exploring themes of nature, spirituality, and indigenous cultures.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have borne the name Sonora, showcasing its use across various fields and cultures.
People
Sonora + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Sonora as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with S
Other first names starting with S with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Sonora: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Sonora?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,324 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Sonora going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 258,878 US residents.
Is Sonora a common name?
We classify Sonora as "Rare". It ranks above 91.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,387 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Sonora most popular?
The single biggest year for Sonora was 2023, when 62 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Sonora is about 20 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Sonora a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Sonora in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.