Adora to Zora: Names Ending in the ‘Ora’ Sound

2023 preschools are full with names that are just as comfortable in 1923 and 1893 as they are today. Whether names like Henry and Emma, Theodore and Violet are suddenly refreshing or parents are nostalgic for the past, vintage names are in and they’re here to stay. Even modern names like Evanora often incorporate old-fashioned sounds to present familiarly. Speaking of Evanora, one of those sounds that’s currently on my mind is the feminine “Ora” ending!

Ora is a versatile name element. It gives us everything from Nora and Aurora to Zamora and Cleodora. Classic but hip, elegant yet zany, urban and cottagecore, this sound gives parents a lot of options for baby girls’ names.

Here is a list of names ending in that “ora” sound from Adora to Zora!

• Adora – Traditionally Adora is short for Adoración, a religious Spanish name meaning “Adoration” in reference to the Adoration of the Magi. I love that idea that some parents are also taking the word “adore” and swapping the ‘e’ for an ‘a’ to name-ify it! 80 girls were named Adora in the U.S. in 2022, according to data from the Social Security Administration.
• Aldora – Archaic name that many cite as a Greek name meaning “winged gift.” It very well could be a Greek name, though it primarily appears to be a Scandinavian name as the feminine form of Aldor. Aldor can derive from two Old Norse names that respectively mean (more or less) “elf thunder” and “stone thunder/Thor.” While I love the sweetness of names that mean “gift,” there is something so incredibly metal and amazing about a name that means “Elf Thunder!” Aldora was given to only 5 baby girls in 2022, so it’s unbelievably rare and unique.
• Amora – Similarly to Amora, this takes a word for love (in this case, Amour or Amore) and adds an -a to nameify it. Current U.S. rank: #373.
• Aura works as a nickname for Aurora or Aurelia, but it also has New Age vibes thanks to the word. It hasn’t been in the U.S. Top 1000 since 1901, though it’s trending and very close to reentry with 245 girls receiving the name at last count. Could 2023 be Aura’s year?
• Aurora – Not that it says much about national popularity, but Aurora’s the #1 most popular baby girls’ name in Alaska as of May 2023. I imagine the ability to see the Northern Lights has something to do with that, but Aurora ranks #31 nationally and is still rising. It has the right sounds – vowel-heavy, ends in -a, and it comes from mythology – a huge source for trendy baby names in the 2020s. In Ancient Rome, Aurora was the goddess of the dawn, hence its meaning: “dawn!”
• Belladora – Take two classic name elements and smoosh them together to make a new name! Belladora is an invented name combining the Italian word “Bella” (beautiful) and the Greek root “Dora” (gift). Hence, we get a new girls’ name meaning “beautiful gift.” No known babies were named Belladora last year.
• Callidora usually translates to “gift of beauty.” While we don’t know if any babies were named Callidora in 2022, we know 5 American girls were given this Greek name in 2021. Entomologists and insect fans may enjoy knowing that ‘Callidora’ also refers to a genus of moths. Callidora is also the name of an obscure character mentioned in the Harry Potter universe.
• Claudora – The thing about inventing names is that you’re never actually the first person to create them. I formulated Claudora in my mind only to google it and find that Lady Claudora is a character in the Mount & Blade game universe! There are also a few people who already appear to have the name. Claudora is what I call “charmingly clunky,” and I mean that in the best way…it’s adorable! No known babies have the name.
• Cleodora is a great choice for parents who love Theodora but are worried about its growing popularity. Because Cleodora is the name of a nymph in Greek Mythology, it’s arguably even older than Theodora, which we remember because of the Empress. This ultra-rare moniker was only given to 5 girls in 2022 and means “glorious gift.”
• Cleonora – Smoosh Cleo or Cleopatra and Eleanora to get this gorgeously unique compound girls’ name! No known infants were named Cleonora in 2022.
• Cleora – A nearly extinct name that last reached the Top 1000 in 1925 and doesn’t chart at all now. 2023 feels like the perfect time to dust her off the shelf!
• Cora – This short, sweet name became an instant classic when James Fenimore Cooper used it in his 19th-century novel The Last of the Mohicans. It’s one of the rare girls’ names that’s never been outside of the U.S. Top 1000, though like any other name its popularity comes in waves; the book’s 1992 movie rendition revived it for a new generation, while Downton Abbey propelled it into the Top 100. Fans of Greek mythology will be pleased to know that Cora is also a name for the goddess Persephone via Kore. Cora currently ranks #75, while Kora ranks #462.
• Dora – From a Greek root meaning “gift,” it’s a perfect standalone or sweet nickname. Just 69 girls were named Dora in 2022.
• Dvora – This comes from a Hebrew form of Deborah, which means “bee.” Keep in mind that this name is often pronounced with an “oy” sound, so some people are likely to say it like “Dvoyra.” Dvora didn’t chart in 2022.
• Eleanora – With medieval Eleanor now ranking #16 in the U.S., it’s only a matter of time for this maximalist and fanciful version reaches the Top 1000. 250 girls received this spelling in 2022, so it’s almost there!
• Eliora is a stunning Hebrew name meaning “God is my light.” it was given to just 93 girls in the U.S. in 2022. If you’re looking for an alternative to Elizabeth, this is one to consider!
• Elora – Elora’s modern history comes to us from the 1980s movie Willow, though it’s been around at least since the turn of the century and it only recently became popular. Elora currently ranks #515 in the U.S., but variant Alora ranks even higher at #266!
• Eudora – An Ancient Greek name meaning “good gift,” most people are probably familiar with Eudora thanks to writer Eudora Welty. 12 American girls were named Eudora in 2022.
• Evanora – This name gave me magical vibes off the bat, and sure enough, it’s the name of the Wicked Witch of the East in Oz: The Great and Powerful. Evil character, beautiful name! 7 girls were named Evanora in 2022.
• Flora – 25 years ago, Flora was too old-fashioned and dusty for anyone to consider naming their baby. Today, it’s chic! Flora was an Ancient Roman flower goddess. It’s sweet, nature-adjacent, mythological, and the ultimate reviving grandma name. If you’re a fan of Sleeping Beauty, Flora was also the name of one of the fairies. Current rank: #726.
• Gwenora – If Jennifer is too dated for you and you’re not sure about Guinevere, consider their Cornish relative Gwenora! An extremely unusual name given to no recent (known) babies in the States, it also makes a great sister option for Elowen.
• Honora / Annora – Honora and her medieval form Annora derive from Honoria, a Latin name meaning “honor.” Annora is the more popular version, given to 35 girls, while ultra-rare Honora was given to just 10 girls in 2022.
• Isadora is the usual spelling of Isidora, a Greek name meaning “gift of Isis.” Though never especially popular in the U.S., most people know it because of dancer Isadora Duncan and its similarity to Isabella. 145 girls were named Isadora in 2022.
• Izora / Isaura – Isaura is an ancient name referring to a historical country in Asia Minor (basically Turkey). Izora is a trendier modern form made especially cool by the unusual “I-z-o” combo at the front! Only 11 girls were named Isaura last year, while 8 girls received the Izora spelling.
• Kimora was popularized by model Kimora Lee Simmons. It’s widely believed that her name is influenced by her mother’s Japanese heritage. Kamora is another common spelling, though both versions are out of the Top 1000 now. 245 girls were named Kimora in 2022, while another 207 were named Kamora.
• Laura – The English pronunciation gives Laura similar vibes to Cora and Dora. It’s timeless and to-the-point! Current rank: #363.
• Lenora – Though we’re still waiting on Eleanora to become popular, Lenora just reappeared in the U.S. Top 1000 after several decades’ absence. Lenora is sweet and vintage without being dusty or fusty, but that’s not as much of an issue in 2023 as it used to be for baby names. Current rank: #932.
• Leora – This Victorian lady was a mildly popular baby name until the mid-20th century. Similar to widely popular Cora and Leo, moderately popular Leona, and the Hebrew girls’ name Liora, I think it’s ready for a comeback. 110 girls were named Leora in 2022, and another 83 were called Liora.
• Maura – Related to Mary through the Irish Maire, this feels fresher than Maureen and works as an unusual honorific for Laura. A famous bearer is Maura Healey, the current governor of Massachusetts. 117 baby girls were called Maura in 2022.
• Nora started off as a nickname for Eleanor or Honora, but these days it’s hard to imagine this time-honored, minimalist gem being short for anything! Nora can also be a variation of the Arabic name Noor, which means “light.” Current rank: #28.
• Ora itself is a name, and I’m all for it. Ora can mean “prayer” or “to pray” when derived from Latin, but it also means “light” in Hebrew and is an obscure Biblical name. Interestingly, it was unisex until the mid-20th century! 40 U.S. girls were named Ora in 2022.
• Selenora – I recently heard this mash-up name and I love it! Selene was a Greek goddess representing the “moon.” Combine that with Nora’s Arabic meaning to get “moon light?” Amazing. Selenora is dramatic, magical, and maximalist. And if you love unique names, know that it’s so rare it doesn’t chart.
• Sephora – This French form of Zipporah shares its name with a famous cosmetics company. If you enjoy brand names like Armani and Dior, Sephora might just be the next baby name for you. Only 34 girls were given this name in the U.S. last year, so it’s still pretty unique!
• Sonora – Nature and vacation spots make for perennially trendy baby names, and the Sonoran Desert is no exception. This rare yet on-point place name was given to 59 girls in 2022.
• Theodora – Theodore is the #10 boys’ name in America right now, which combines with the ongoing maximalist names trend to popularize Theodora. Empress Theodora is probably the most famous namesake, though some parents may better know Theodora Richards, a model and daughter of Keith Richards. Current U.S. rank: #694.
• Thora – Millennials best know this name thanks to their age-compatriot, actress Thora Birch. Thora is an Old Norse name that was mildly popular at the turn of the 20th century but has been rare since just after World War I. Rhyming with Cora and Nora, Thora also sounds a lot like “thorn” and has some serious cottagecore vibes that make it perfect for revival this decade. 50 girls were named Thora in 2022.
• Xiamora – This appears to be a variation of Xiomara, a Spanish name of ultimately unknown origin that’s taking off in the U.S. Even if it isn’t, the ‘X’ makes for a cool and unique way to vary Amora! 8 girls were named Xiamora in 2022 (Xiomara ranks #494 nationally with 636 girls).
• Winora – This recently invented girls’ name has a lot going for it. For one thing, it easily shortens to Winnie and Nora. It also sounds a lot like Winona, which is trending in Baby Names Land thanks to Winona Ryder and Stranger Things. Finally, it’s short, sweet, and feels vintage. Nobody’s using it yet, which makes it super unique!
• Zenaura – I don’t think this is supposed to be the words Zen and Aura together, but it’s a nice thought! I’ve found a few people named Zenaura, but it’s rather rare.
• Zikora is a lovely Igbo (West African) women’s name that means “show the people.” It was given to 7 girls in the U.S. in 2022.
• Zipporah is an ancient Biblical name belonging to the wife of Moses. Despite the adorably cute nickname “Zippy,” it’s not especially common in the United States outside Orthodox Jewish communities. 76 girls received this spelling in 2022, while others were named Tzipora (52), Tziporah (45), and Tzipporah (12).
• Zora: This name comes from a Slavic word meaning “dawn,” but that won’t be the primary association for most English-speakers. Zora Neale Hurston was an anthropologist and member of the Harlem Renaissance who wrote Their Eyes Were Watching God, a seminal novel in African-American and women’s literature. The name was mildly popular in the early 20th century and is back in the Top 1000 as of 2018. Current rank: #846.

Do you have a favorite name ending in “ora?” As always, drop your comments below!