Aurora

Roman mythology, three siblings as sky gods. One of them, Aurora, represented the dawn. The king and queen from the 1959 Disney movie Sleeping Beauty also named Princess Aurora after the dawn. In turn, the name itself is Latin for "dawn".

Many mythological names for girls did not enter use until the Renaissance or later. Aurora was no exception. It first entered use in the seventeenth century among Swedish, Italian, and Spanish parents. A century later, Aurora debuted in Britain. The name eventually spread to other English-speaking nations. However, it was uncommon until recently. 

Aurora ranked in the American top 1000 most years since 1880. It peaked in the 300s during the 1920s. Tchaikovsky's 1890 ballet Sleeping Beauty, the first to refer to the main character as Aurora, may have influenced parents. It then hit a low point at the bottom of the charts from the 1960s to the 1980s. Aurora rose again after 1990. It has been in the top 100 since 2015 and the top 50 since 2018. Some could consider Aurora a revival name, but it feels more modern than old-fashioned. 

Aurora became popular all over the English-speaking world during the last decade. It entered the top 100 in New Zealand in 2013, Australia in 2014, and England in 2017. Aurora debuted in the Canadian top 100 the same year it became popular in the United States. The name is also in use in several foreign languages.

For some parents, Aurora might feel inseparable from the Disney princess. The name also can be difficult to pronounce because of its two "r"s. Despite these challenges, this smooth name is having its moment. 

STYLES:

Exotic, Fantastical, Mythological, Smooth

SISTERS:

Daphne, Genesis, Nova, Paloma, Serenity, Valentina

BROTHERS:

Apollo, Giovanni, Leonardo, Sebastian, Titus, Xavier

ALTERNATIVES:

Ariadne, Elora, Hermione, Isadora, Lorelei, Rowena

What do you think about Aurora?