Fun Facts About the Name Zorah
- 527 babies named Zorah: U.S. records list 527 babies given the name Zorah from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Zorah Mean?
Zorah is a biblical place name of Hebrew origin. It corresponds to Hebrew Tzora (צָרְעָה, Tzorʿah), which is usually connected with the noun tzirʿah (צִרְעָה), "hornet." The literal sense is therefore "hornet," and as a place name it is often understood as "place of hornets." The Hebrew name is not etymologically the same as the Slavic name Zora, which means "dawn"; the two names look and sound alike but have separate origins. In English, Zorah is used as a feminine given name, generally as an adoption of the biblical place name rather than as a traditional Hebrew personal name, though some modern uses may be spelling variants of Zora.
Zorah Name History & Origins
The Hebrew place name Tzora appears in the Hebrew Bible as a town in the Shephelah, the lowland region of ancient Judah. Joshua lists it among the towns of Judah and also among the towns of Dan, and it lay near Eshtaol and Beth-shemesh. In the book of Judges, Zorah is the home of Manoah, the father of Samson; the Spirit of the Lord begins to move Samson between Zorah and Eshtaol, and he is buried in Manoah's tomb between those two towns. The Danites also send men from Zorah and Eshtaol to seek new territory. Later, King Rehoboam of Judah fortifies Zorah along with other towns, and after the Babylonian exile it is listed among the places where people of Judah live.
The site is commonly identified with an archaeological mound in the Shephelah near Beth-shemesh, the site of modern Tel Tzora (also known as Khirbet Sarʿa), though the exact identification is not certain. As an English given name, Zorah follows the biblical place name rather than an ancient personal-name tradition; the Bible presents Zorah as a location, not as a woman. Some modern uses may also be spelling variants of the Slavic name Zora, but that derivation is separate from the Hebrew place name.
How Popular is the Name Zorah?
Zorah 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 2023. Its best rank was #1,825 in 1896.
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 | #3,387 | 46 | 0.0029% |
| 2024 | #4,027 | 37 | 0.0023% |
| 2023 | #3,272 | 50 | 0.0031% |
| 2022 | #3,887 | 39 | 0.0024% |
| 2021 | #3,880 | 39 | 0.0024% |
| 2020 | #4,546 | 30 | 0.0019% |
| 2019 | #3,919 | 38 | 0.0023% |
| 2018 | #5,614 | 23 | 0.0014% |
| 2017 | #6,526 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2016 | #8,869 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2015 | #9,476 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2014 | #9,515 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2013 | #13,140 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2012 | #9,106 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2011 | #10,368 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2010 | #9,783 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2009 | #8,450 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2008 | #9,470 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2007 | #12,670 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2006 | #8,236 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2005 | #8,326 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2004 | #8,713 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2003 | #8,499 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2002 | #13,590 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2001 | #12,053 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1999 | #12,682 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1912 | #2,978 | 6 | 0.0011% |
| 1896 | #1,825 | 5 | 0.0021% |
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 Zorah Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have aspiration and inspiration, hope and guidance. Since you are intuitive and perceptive and you understand human nature. You have the power to achieve. Diplomacy and discretion make you a good mediator. You are inspired, introspective, and have a good understanding of the human heart. You can have the ability to commercialize your artistic talents successfully. You are often a mystery to others and to yourself. You are always reaching for something higher, without exactly knowing what that "higher" is. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.
You are seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.
✦ Zorah's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Zorah's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.