Fun Facts About the Name Ori
- More than 1 thousand babies named Ori: U.S. records list 1,962 babies given the name Ori from 1880 through 2025. Even 346 girls received the name Ori - about 1 girl for every 5 boys.
What Does the Name Ori Mean?
Ori is a Hebrew name meaning 'my light.' It comes from the Hebrew noun אוֹר (or, 'light') with the first-person possessive suffix -i, so the literal sense is 'my light' or 'light that belongs to me.' The same word appears in the Hebrew Bible in Psalm 27:1, where ori means 'my light': 'The Lord is my light and my salvation.' The biblical personal name Uri (אוּרִי) is related but distinct; it has a different vowel and is often translated 'my flame' or 'my light.' In modern Hebrew, Ori is chiefly a masculine given name, formed directly from Hebrew rather than borrowed from another language.
Separately, Ori is a Japanese feminine name, usually written 織 (ori), meaning 'weave.' It is unrelated to the Hebrew name. In English-speaking countries, Ori also appears as a short form of names such as Orion or Orin, but that is a modern English use and does not explain the Hebrew or Japanese names.
Ori Name History & Origins
The Hebrew root אוֹר (or, 'light') is common in the Hebrew Bible, and the possessive form ori appears in poetic passages. Psalm 27:1 is the best-known example, where the Hebrew text has ori for 'my light.' The Bible also has the personal name Uri (אוּרִי), borne by the father of Bezalel in Exodus 31:2, but its vocalization differs from that of Ori. In modern Hebrew, Ori became established as a given name in Israel. It is normally written אורי without vowel marks, making it identical to Uri when vowel marks are omitted; context and pronunciation distinguish them. Ori is generally masculine, while the related feminine name Orit and the unisex name Or come from the same root.
Japanese Ori has a separate history. It is read from the kanji 織, 'weave,' and is used as a feminine name. In English, Ori is familiar as the title character of the video game Ori and the Blind Forest, where it is pronounced 'OR-ee.' That modern English use is distinct from the Hebrew and Japanese names.
How Popular is the Name Ori?
Ori has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2024. Its best rank was #1,564 in 2024.
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 | #4,525 | 31 | 0.0019% |
| 2024 | #3,856 | 39 | 0.0024% |
| 2023 | #4,714 | 29 | 0.0018% |
| 2022 | #5,130 | 26 | 0.0016% |
| 2021 | #5,061 | 26 | 0.0016% |
| 2020 | #6,019 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 2019 | #6,127 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 2018 | #6,454 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2017 | #7,747 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2016 | #8,294 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2015 | #12,718 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2014 | #10,751 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2013 | #10,816 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2012 | #8,997 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2011 | #14,465 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2010 | #14,597 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2009 | #11,277 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2007 | #11,425 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2006 | #11,223 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2005 | #18,463 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2004 | #15,586 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2000 | #16,899 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1980 | #9,984 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,002 | 76 | 0.0044% |
| 2024 | #1,564 | 111 | 0.0065% |
| 2023 | #2,040 | 74 | 0.0043% |
| 2022 | #1,885 | 84 | 0.0048% |
| 2021 | #2,577 | 51 | 0.0029% |
| 2020 | #2,280 | 60 | 0.0035% |
| 2019 | #2,165 | 66 | 0.0037% |
| 2018 | #2,134 | 66 | 0.0036% |
| 2017 | #2,521 | 51 | 0.0028% |
| 2016 | #2,462 | 52 | 0.0027% |
| 2015 | #2,515 | 50 | 0.0026% |
| 2014 | #3,143 | 36 | 0.0019% |
| 2013 | #2,388 | 53 | 0.0028% |
| 2012 | #2,439 | 52 | 0.0027% |
| 2011 | #2,368 | 54 | 0.0028% |
| 2010 | #2,540 | 49 | 0.0026% |
| 2009 | #2,738 | 45 | 0.0023% |
| 2008 | #2,777 | 44 | 0.0022% |
| 2007 | #3,120 | 37 | 0.0018% |
| 2006 | #2,435 | 51 | 0.0025% |
| 2005 | #3,215 | 32 | 0.0016% |
| 2004 | #3,346 | 29 | 0.0015% |
| 2003 | #3,251 | 29 | 0.0015% |
| 2002 | #3,745 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 2001 | #3,693 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 2000 | #3,500 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 1999 | #3,799 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1998 | #2,996 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 1997 | #4,881 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1996 | #3,786 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1995 | #5,035 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1994 | #3,858 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1993 | #3,964 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1992 | #4,269 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1991 | #3,424 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1990 | #4,124 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1989 | #3,292 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1988 | #4,094 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1987 | #4,486 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1986 | #3,234 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1983 | #4,065 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1982 | #4,490 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1981 | #4,073 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1979 | #4,724 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1978 | #6,503 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1977 | #4,968 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1975 | #5,276 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1972 | #4,311 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1971 | #3,864 | 8 | 0.0005% |
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.
Explore More Lists with Name Ori
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with O
Short Boy Names That Start with O
How the Name Ori 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.
✦ Ori's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Ori's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.