Fun Facts About the Name Orah
- 291 babies named Orah: U.S. records list 291 babies given the name Orah from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Orah Mean?
Orah is a feminine name taken from the Hebrew word orah (אוֹרָה), which means "light." The word comes from the root א־ו־ר, which has to do with light and shining, the same root behind the masculine name Or (אוֹר) and names such as Orit and Ori. In the Hebrew Bible the word appears as a common noun rather than a personal name, as in Esther 8:16, where light (orah) is listed among the good things that came to the Jews. As a given name, Orah is generally treated as a variant spelling of Ora: both represent the same Hebrew name, and the final h echoes the Hebrew ending that the shorter English spelling leaves off. The similar-looking biblical name Orpah (עָרְפָּה), Naomi's other daughter-in-law in the Book of Ruth, is a different name and is not related.
Orah Name History & Origins
The Hebrew noun אוֹרָה ("light") is old and appears in biblical text, but its use as a personal name is later. Ora and Orah came into regular use as given names among Hebrew speakers in the 20th century, during the revival of Hebrew as a spoken language, when many biblical and Hebrew words were adopted as names. The spelling without the final h, Ora, is the more common form; Orah is a closely related variant of the same name rather than an independent creation. Jewish families outside Israel have also used both spellings. In English-speaking countries the name is used mainly among Jewish families, and the identical spellings found in other languages - for example Italian ora ("hour, now") or Latin ora ("pray," "shore") - are unrelated words and did not produce the name.
How Popular is the Name Orah?
Orah recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1892. Its best rank was #794 in 1882.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #9,933 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2024 | #10,849 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 2023 | #14,716 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2021 | #9,395 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 2020 | #13,109 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2017 | #11,384 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2016 | #18,177 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2009 | #14,840 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2008 | #16,949 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1991 | #14,730 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1941 | #4,901 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1940 | #4,869 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1930 | #5,078 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1924 | #3,917 | 8 | 0.0006% |
| 1923 | #3,303 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1922 | #3,105 | 11 | 0.0009% |
| 1920 | #3,290 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1918 | #3,777 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1917 | #3,999 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1914 | #4,061 | 5 | 0.0007% |
| 1913 | #3,579 | 5 | 0.0008% |
| 1904 | #2,100 | 5 | 0.0018% |
| 1903 | #1,737 | 6 | 0.0023% |
| 1900 | #1,692 | 7 | 0.0023% |
| 1898 | #1,646 | 6 | 0.0023% |
| 1897 | #1,358 | 7 | 0.0030% |
| 1896 | #1,538 | 6 | 0.0025% |
| 1895 | #1,272 | 8 | 0.0034% |
| 1894 | #1,450 | 6 | 0.0027% |
| 1893 | #1,599 | 5 | 0.0023% |
| 1892 | #892 | 12 | 0.0057% |
| 1891 | #1,301 | 6 | 0.0032% |
| 1890 | #989 | 9 | 0.0047% |
| 1889 | #1,111 | 7 | 0.0039% |
| 1888 | #1,107 | 7 | 0.0039% |
| 1887 | #1,123 | 6 | 0.0041% |
| 1886 | #970 | 7 | 0.0048% |
| 1885 | #1,019 | 6 | 0.0045% |
| 1884 | #908 | 7 | 0.0054% |
| 1883 | #801 | 7 | 0.0062% |
| 1882 | #794 | 7 | 0.0065% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Orah Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are patient, persevering and strong willed. You are a good student, absorbing knowledge easily and retaining it well. You are either a saint or a sinner. You tend to hold things inside and suffer in silence. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.
You find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.
✦ Orah's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Orah's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.