Ora
Ora was given to 40 girls in 2025, #3,759 among girls’ names; 44,894 Americans have been recorded with it since 1880 (Social Security Administration, published May 2026).
An estimated 8,300 Americans named Ora and born in the U.S. are alive in 2026 (19% of everyone recorded); the median is 74 years old and half are between 60 and 83.
Girls and boys together; gaps are years SSA did not record (fewer than 5 births).
Births of Ora by year: SSA national baby-name file, 1880-2025, published May 8, 2026. SSA’s notes on the data.
What does Ora mean?
Wiktionary, English section
Ora is “a diminutive of the female given name Aurelia, from Latin, variant of Aura. Mainly used in the U.S.A. in the latter half of the 19th century.”
(given name): First appeared in the 19th century when similar sounding names like Cora, Dora and Nora were in fashion. Possibly shortened from Aurelia, sometimes spelled Ora Lee, or, Aura Lea, in the American civil war song.
(Italian commune): Borrowed from Italian Ora
Meaning: Wiktionary, English section, as of Sep 25, 2026 (CC BY‑SA 4.0).
How popular is Ora?
#3,759 among girls’ names, 2025
Ora rose from #4,207 in 2015 to #3,759 in 2025 among girls’ names; its share of girls born rose from 19.6 to 24.9 per million.
1,078 babies in 1919, the peak
Ora peaked in 1919, when 1,078 babies were given it (920 girls, #203 among girls’ names). The 40 births of 2025 are 4% of that peak.
Births by sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls’ rank | Boys | Boys’ rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 40 | #3,759 | under 5 | |
| 2024 | 46 | #3,443 | 5 | #13,709 |
| 2023 | 44 | #3,567 | under 5 | |
| 2022 | 41 | #3,751 | under 5 | |
| 2021 | 39 | #3,859 | under 5 | |
| 2020 | 34 | #4,138 | under 5 | |
| 2019 | 38 | #3,897 | 10 | #8,047 |
| 2018 | 42 | #3,658 | under 5 | |
| 2017 | 26 | #5,146 | under 5 | |
| 2016 | 35 | #4,216 | 5 | #13,657 |
Every recorded year (146)
| Year | Girls | Girls’ rank | Boys | Boys’ rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 35 | #4,207 | 5 | #13,515 |
| 2014 | 27 | #5,132 | under 5 | |
| 2013 | 24 | #5,607 | under 5 | |
| 2012 | 15 | #8,114 | under 5 | |
| 2011 | 17 | #7,339 | 7 | #10,476 |
| 2010 | 18 | #7,143 | under 5 | |
| 2009 | 16 | #7,974 | under 5 | |
| 2008 | 22 | #6,304 | under 5 | |
| 2007 | 20 | #6,748 | under 5 | |
| 2006 | 12 | #9,752 | under 5 | |
| 2005 | 16 | #7,408 | 6 | #11,093 |
| 2004 | 13 | #8,597 | under 5 | |
| 2003 | 11 | #9,536 | under 5 | |
| 2002 | 13 | #8,167 | under 5 | |
| 2001 | 13 | #8,066 | 6 | #10,182 |
| 2000 | 13 | #7,919 | 5 | #11,668 |
| 1999 | 13 | #7,595 | under 5 | |
| 1998 | 17 | #5,995 | under 5 | |
| 1997 | 16 | #6,088 | under 5 | |
| 1996 | 13 | #7,024 | 6 | #8,699 |
| 1995 | 12 | #7,387 | under 5 | |
| 1994 | 16 | #5,907 | under 5 | |
| 1993 | 14 | #6,513 | 5 | #9,752 |
| 1992 | 24 | #4,336 | 7 | #7,184 |
| 1991 | 22 | #4,600 | under 5 | |
| 1990 | 10 | #8,326 | 5 | #9,107 |
| 1989 | 21 | #4,462 | 6 | #7,640 |
| 1988 | 29 | #3,365 | 9 | #5,093 |
| 1987 | 22 | #3,941 | 8 | #5,306 |
| 1986 | 27 | #3,327 | 6 | #6,496 |
| 1985 | 34 | #2,785 | 9 | #4,586 |
| 1984 | 36 | #2,609 | 10 | #4,126 |
| 1983 | 25 | #3,309 | 9 | #4,392 |
| 1982 | 29 | #3,068 | 7 | #5,445 |
| 1981 | 33 | #2,760 | 16 | #2,855 |
| 1980 | 37 | #2,578 | 10 | #4,049 |
| 1979 | 37 | #2,511 | 17 | #2,744 |
| 1978 | 34 | #2,549 | 5 | #6,501 |
| 1977 | 35 | #2,499 | 13 | #3,152 |
| 1976 | 33 | #2,468 | 16 | #2,673 |
| 1975 | 48 | #1,894 | 11 | #3,375 |
| 1974 | 34 | #2,332 | 12 | #3,075 |
| 1973 | 47 | #1,819 | 8 | #3,963 |
| 1972 | 53 | #1,690 | 13 | #2,779 |
| 1971 | 57 | #1,635 | 19 | #2,183 |
| 1970 | 58 | #1,630 | 10 | #3,213 |
| 1969 | 60 | #1,540 | 19 | #1,960 |
| 1968 | 74 | #1,288 | 13 | #2,414 |
| 1967 | 71 | #1,295 | 18 | #1,883 |
| 1966 | 78 | #1,223 | 21 | #1,708 |
| 1965 | 91 | #1,104 | 13 | #2,340 |
| 1964 | 111 | #1,025 | 19 | #1,881 |
| 1963 | 111 | #1,014 | 13 | #2,379 |
| 1962 | 119 | #983 | 19 | #1,883 |
| 1961 | 158 | #841 | 24 | #1,674 |
| 1960 | 125 | #957 | 26 | #1,608 |
| 1959 | 173 | #776 | 23 | #1,696 |
| 1958 | 181 | #737 | 25 | #1,580 |
| 1957 | 196 | #710 | 25 | #1,617 |
| 1956 | 225 | #636 | 26 | #1,559 |
| 1955 | 226 | #618 | 36 | #1,266 |
| 1954 | 236 | #589 | 27 | #1,487 |
| 1953 | 237 | #571 | 37 | #1,239 |
| 1952 | 279 | #501 | 33 | #1,311 |
| 1951 | 268 | #502 | 28 | #1,424 |
| 1950 | 270 | #490 | 43 | #1,081 |
| 1949 | 340 | #429 | 37 | #1,176 |
| 1948 | 328 | #437 | 47 | #1,028 |
| 1947 | 347 | #440 | 37 | #1,205 |
| 1946 | 353 | #411 | 46 | #1,011 |
| 1945 | 325 | #395 | 52 | #876 |
| 1944 | 363 | #369 | 43 | #998 |
| 1943 | 396 | #362 | 57 | #890 |
| 1942 | 370 | #366 | 60 | #848 |
| 1941 | 411 | #323 | 42 | #999 |
| 1940 | 420 | #311 | 50 | #900 |
| 1939 | 438 | #294 | 57 | #808 |
| 1938 | 415 | #306 | 49 | #905 |
| 1937 | 459 | #287 | 67 | #748 |
| 1936 | 443 | #290 | 76 | #684 |
| 1935 | 502 | #271 | 66 | #761 |
| 1934 | 511 | #271 | 82 | #672 |
| 1933 | 553 | #261 | 52 | #864 |
| 1932 | 555 | #267 | 71 | #744 |
| 1931 | 563 | #257 | 87 | #637 |
| 1930 | 677 | #237 | 86 | #676 |
| 1929 | 633 | #249 | 84 | #671 |
| 1928 | 655 | #246 | 108 | #597 |
| 1927 | 791 | #225 | 109 | #593 |
| 1926 | 758 | #234 | 123 | #551 |
| 1925 | 833 | #223 | 118 | #575 |
| 1924 | 823 | #230 | 129 | #555 |
| 1923 | 788 | #232 | 104 | #628 |
| 1922 | 865 | #221 | 156 | #498 |
| 1921 | 835 | #225 | 143 | #520 |
| 1920 | 895 | #215 | 120 | #570 |
| 1919 | 920 | #203 | 158 | #477 |
| 1918 | 859 | #215 | 131 | #531 |
| 1917 | 887 | #204 | 129 | #506 |
| 1916 | 857 | #205 | 153 | #459 |
| 1915 | 803 | #206 | 134 | #481 |
| 1914 | 698 | #190 | 99 | #492 |
| 1913 | 622 | #182 | 84 | #473 |
| 1912 | 605 | #168 | 65 | #494 |
| 1911 | 513 | #158 | 42 | #455 |
| 1910 | 495 | #158 | 53 | #351 |
| 1909 | 473 | #149 | 40 | #382 |
| 1908 | 426 | #158 | 48 | #323 |
| 1907 | 424 | #153 | 30 | #427 |
| 1906 | 407 | #148 | 34 | #358 |
| 1905 | 431 | #138 | 39 | #321 |
| 1904 | 412 | #140 | 36 | #339 |
| 1903 | 399 | #138 | 34 | #328 |
| 1902 | 427 | #131 | 43 | #289 |
| 1901 | 400 | #127 | 34 | #308 |
| 1900 | 463 | #133 | 42 | #334 |
| 1899 | 357 | #131 | 29 | #333 |
| 1898 | 447 | #120 | 39 | #302 |
| 1897 | 408 | #122 | 44 | #266 |
| 1896 | 408 | #118 | 42 | #287 |
| 1895 | 416 | #117 | 52 | #250 |
| 1894 | 404 | #116 | 42 | #274 |
| 1893 | 350 | #124 | 35 | #298 |
| 1892 | 405 | #110 | 53 | #245 |
| 1891 | 327 | #121 | 51 | #224 |
| 1890 | 354 | #114 | 49 | #241 |
| 1889 | 346 | #111 | 47 | #240 |
| 1888 | 325 | #113 | 70 | #211 |
| 1887 | 231 | #125 | 63 | #194 |
| 1886 | 287 | #110 | 63 | #211 |
| 1885 | 218 | #120 | 58 | #209 |
| 1884 | 251 | #106 | 68 | #198 |
| 1883 | 212 | #109 | 65 | #184 |
| 1882 | 181 | #114 | 67 | #192 |
| 1881 | 191 | #104 | 55 | #207 |
| 1880 | 149 | #114 | 64 | #194 |
Ranks: girls’ names and boys’ names ranked separately in each year’s SSA file; “under 5” is a year SSA did not list the name for that sex.
Is Ora a boy’s or a girl’s name?
Of the 44,894 Americans recorded as Ora, 87% are girls and 13% boys. In 2025 it went to 40 girls; SSA lists no boys with it that year (fewer than 5, or none).
Years with fewer than 20 babies given the name are left blank.
Girls and boys named Ora: the SSA national file counts each sex separately.
How many people are named Ora, and how old are they?
8,300 alive in 2026, estimated
That is 19% of the 44,894 Americans ever recorded as Ora. The median Ora alive today is 74 years old; half are between 60 and 83.
The 2020 Census counted 8,368 people named Ora (7,326 women and girls, 1,042 men and boys). SSA’s births carried forward to Census day, April 1, 2020, predict 10,739 born in the U.S. The Census count is 22% below that prediction. Possible reasons: people who give a short form or another name to the Census, and a survival estimate that can run high.
Alive today, by age
Alive today, by generation
| Generation | Born | Alive |
|---|---|---|
| Silent Generation | 1928-1945 | 2,470 |
| Baby Boomers | 1946-1964 | 3,570 |
| Generation X | 1965-1980 | 971 |
| Millennials | 1981-1996 | 453 |
| Generation Z | 1997-2012 | 266 |
| Generation Alpha | 2013-2025 | 493 |
An estimate, not a count. SSA’s files count people born in the United States who received a Social Security number, so anyone born abroad is not in them; before 1937 most people got a number as adults, and their survival is counted from that age.
Living estimate: SSA births carried forward with the survival rates in SSA’s cohort life tables (2024 Trustees Report) for each birth year and sex. How the estimate is made. Count: Census Bureau, first names in the 2020 Census (released April 14, 2026; names reported 100 or more times, with the Bureau’s disclosure-avoidance adjustment).
Where are babies named Ora born?
The states with the most babies named Ora are Mississippi, Texas and Alabama, with 32% of its births recorded by state since 1910; Mississippi and Alabama are not among the ten states with the most births.
| State | Since 1910 | Rank, girls | vs. national |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | 3,400 | not ranked | 5.0× |
| Texas | 3,062 | not ranked | 1.6× |
| Alabama | 2,262 | not ranked | 2.5× |
| Kentucky | 1,782 | not ranked | 2.1× |
| Louisiana | 1,741 | not ranked | 2.5× |
| Arkansas | 1,699 | not ranked | 2.9× |
| Tennessee | 1,611 | not ranked | 1.9× |
| Georgia | 1,547 | not ranked | 1.5× |
| North Carolina | 1,314 | not ranked | 1.1× |
| Oklahoma | 939 | not ranked | 1.4× |
Where Ora is more common than its national share predicts
Relative to its national share, Ora is most over-represented in Mississippi: since 1910 it was given 5.0 times as often there as its national share each year would predict.
States: SSA state file, 1910-2025, published May 8, 2026; births count girls and boys together, and the rank is among girls’ names in the state in 2025. The file leaves out any state and year with fewer than 5 babies of the name, so small states are undercounted; each ratio compares the state’s births of Ora with the births its national share predicts year by year, for states with at least 100 births of the name.
Names spelled alike
Of these 6 names spelled alike, given to 46,178 babies since 1880, Ora is the most given (97% of them). In 2025 it was given to 40 of their 83 babies (48%), again the most given.
Spelled alike: names in the SSA national file with the same pattern of letters and sounds and at most two letters apart, and Wiktionary’s listed forms; births since 1880 and in 2025, and each name’s peak year, from the SSA national file, published May 8, 2026. Some are separate names, not spellings of one.
Names that rose and fell in the same decades as Ora
Names whose births rose and fell across the same decades, measured on each decade’s share of births.
Similar histories: each decade’s share of births, from the SSA national file, 1880-2025, published May 8, 2026. SSA’s notes on the data.
More about Ora and names like it
- Compare Ora and OriahBirths, ranks, peak and the living estimate side by side.
- The most given names of the 1910sOra peaked in 1919.
- Mississippi’s most given namesThe state where SSA recorded the most babies named Ora since 1910.
- Latin namesWiktionary’s origin for Ora: every such name, by how often it is given.
- The top names of 1919The year the most babies were named Ora.
- The names of the Baby BoomersMost people named Ora alive today were born 1946-1964.
- Names starting with OMost given first.