Soraya
How to say it: suh-RY-uh · /səˈraɪə/
From Persian meaning 'the Pleiades' star cluster; associated with brilliance and the night sky.
Soraya was the 652nd most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 313 babies (Social Security Administration). The 2020s are its busiest decade so far, its births are up about 59% in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #487 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #652 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 313 |
| Share of births | 1 in 7,837 |
| Peak decade | 2020s |
| Change over 10 years | +59% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #487 |
| In France, 2025 | #431 among girls’ names, 105 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Softly rising through recent years, Soraya reached its best in the 2020s. At its peak today, further rising looks likely over the next few years.
What goes with it
Glowing and soft with starry brightness, Soraya echoes the grace of Layla.
Nicknames
- Sora
- Raya
Honouring a Soraya in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Soraya is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish.
In France: #431 for girls in 2025.
Famous people named Soraya
- Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría (born 1971)Spanish politician
- Soraya Arnelas (born 1982)Spanish singer, songwriter, actress and model
- Soraya Esfandiari-Bakhtiari (1932–2001)Queen consort of Iran from 1951 to 1958
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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