She’s astronomical, mythical and animated, with a tomboy twist.
Thanks to Laura for suggesting her darling daughter’s appellation as Name of the Day: Aurora.
Aurora isn’t quite as rare as you might think. She’s ranked in the US Top 1000 most years since 1880. In 2008 alone, more than 1100 new baby girls were given the name.
And yet that’s still a fraction of the Olivias, Isabellas, Samanthas and Gabriellas. If feminine and flowery is your style, Aurora might be a satisfying choice.
The name comes from the Latin for dawn. The Ancient Romans considered Aurora the goddess responsible for flying across the sky at daybreak. Some tellings also make her the mother of the four winds and sister of Luna, the moon.
While she’s not a major mythological figure, she’s been embraced in literature. Homer and Virgil, Shakespeare and Tennyson have all referenced Aurora. There’s no shortage of artistic depictions, either.
Another intriguing twist is the Northern Lights – Aurora Borealis – and the Southern Lights – Aurora Australis. I’m no astronomer, so suffice to say that there’s a straightforward scientific explanation for the dazzling display in the night sky. The lights lend the name a certain Nature Babe angle, too.
The name has been used over the years, for a host of real and fictional characters including:
- One of Marvel Comics’ minor X-Men;
- One of nineteenth century novelist George Sand’s given names – Amandine Aurore Lucile Dupin;
- A beloved First Lady of the Phillipines, Aurora Aragon de Quezon, known for her humanitarian work with organizations like the Red Cross;
- The Swedish-born Aurora Königsmarck, who became the mistress of Augustus the Strong, a seventeenth century King of Poland;
- Late nineteenth century Finnish philanthropist Aurora Karamzin.
Many modern parents will associate Aurora with Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. The story is an old one, and the princess’ name varies. In some tellings she’s Talia; in others, Briar Rose or Rosebud. In 1889, Tchaikovsky composed his ballet, The Sleeping Beauty, and gave her the name Aurora.
Disney kept the name Aurora for their 1959 movie. The entertainment titan repackaged their tiara-sporting heroines as an elite sorority a few years back. The rest is product marketing history, but let’s just say that even though the original movie is five decades old, your little girl will still know that she shares her name with Ariel and Jasmine’s friend.
Whether the princess link repels or charms you, Aurora’s history is considerable. Besides the references above, Aurora has been the name of:
- A Hungarian punk band;
- A cave in New Zealand, an airport in Guatemala and places in over a dozen US states;
- A butterfly;
- An Oldsmobile;
- An award given to Canadian science fiction authors – the Prix Aurora.
While some ultra-feminine monikers lack an easy nickname, Aurora has one built in – Rory. If your daughter turns out to be more soccer star than fairytale princess, it’s a sporty choice that will suit her well.
If you’re looking for a ruffled and be-ribboned pick and don’t mind that Aurora is steadily inching her way up the popularity charts, she is definitely one to consider.
MKey says
October 19, 2015 at 3:06 PMOur fourth daughter is named Aurora Felicity. Obviously, we love the name, but many others seem to as well. My two-year-old daughter likes to call her “Rora” (which I think is very sweet).
Sebastiane says
June 24, 2009 at 12:41 AMAnother favorite choice, she used to be way up on my list, now she is just on my long list. Maybe I’ll use her as a middle name for one of my future children. I really detest the name Rory. Which is probably why I will not use this as a first name, in fear of her being called Rory.
Lola says
June 2, 2009 at 6:49 PMI love Laura’s daughter’s name! Aurora has long been my favorite Princess from Disney. Asa kid, I was struck by the triumvirate: She has a real name, a mother and her Prince has a real name! Even Josie knows Aurora is “Mama’s Princess” (She’s a Cinderella gal).
My only problem with Aurora is this: it’s a very hard name to say in full for any little kid, and some adults still have trouble with it. Not me, but my MIL can’t say it at all. Hence Aurelia being on our lists, not Aurora. She can say Aurelia much more comfortably. (I am quite fond of Eu/Au names lately). I have a dear friend who says, “Hey, if you name her Aurelia, I’m calling her Goldie” (Au is the symbol for gold….) *Sigh* At least it’s a decent stretch for me! I’d be tempted to stretch Goldie to cover Aurora as well. It’s beautiful in full, but Rory is an ugly sound and far too masculine for me (Remember, Remy is my #2 Boy name!, so I’m a bit warped). But Aurora, nn Goldie? Kitschy enough for me!
All in All, Auroras a fabulous name. Really fantastic! 😀
SophieGray says
June 2, 2009 at 6:07 AMLaura, what a well-named little daughter you have!! I’d be ecstatic to meet an Aurora amongst the abundance of Mias, Olivias and Siennas down here!
I’ve adored Aurora since I was a kid 🙂 one of my first dolls, which my DD now has – was named Aurore, which I think the love stemmed from! I like both of the names equally, and don’t really find them overly frilly. Of course I find her feminine, but in a stable, quiet way much like Briony or Esme seem to me.
I kind of dislike Rory, as it reminds me too much of Gilmore Girls, and I despise that show! I’d be more likely to call her Aura for short, or just simply Aurora / Aurore.
She keeps dipping in and out of my top 10 recently, after being a strong staple, as I can’t find any combos for her. Sylvie Pomeline Aurore is the closest I can get?
She’s a fanstastic little name for a little girl though.
Lulu Bee says
June 2, 2009 at 5:56 AMI think Aurora is just beautiful. It’s a little difficult for me to say, as is Rory… too many Rs for me, I suppose. But I do think it’s really, really pretty. My niece is named Dawn and I’ve often wished they had named her Aurora instead.
Laura says
June 2, 2009 at 4:16 AMObviously I love the name Aurora (as its my daughters name). Though its growing in popularity it is still hard to find another Aurora in my childrens classes or friendship groups.
We chose Aurora for the fanatstic sound and meaning. It really stood out to us as we didnt want to go for a plain name. Ironically (didnt know about the astronomy meaning) we call her our little star 😀
Laney McDonald says
June 1, 2009 at 9:38 PMI LOVE Aurora! I love the super spunky nickname Rory too. Aurora is one of the top names Eric and I are considering for our next girl. She’s climbing in popularity but still usable to me. I love Amaya too and that’s even more popular.
We are raising our kids multilingual (English, German, Japanese) so we like names that work in different cultures. Aurora NN Rory is great for us, because in Japanese they write Aurora as ???? (orora) and Rory as ??? (rorii). Pretty easy name to pronounce. lol
The Disney reference usually bothers me, but in this case it doesn’t for some reason.
Love the astronomy reference.
Allison says
June 2, 2009 at 12:32 AMI love Rory on a girl, and I can’t think of a better way to get to it than Aurora. Right on, PhotoQ, it is a spunky tomboy name, that’s part of it’s appeal for me. To my ear, any name that ends in the “ee” sound becomes feminine by default. As for namesakes, don’t forget Shirley Maclaine’s character from Terms of Endearment! Like the name, she was by turns proper and buttoned-up, fiery and passionate. (Please, someone else humor me and tell me I’m not the only one here old enough to have seen this movie.)
photoquilty says
June 1, 2009 at 11:47 PMThe downside for me is the nickname Rory. I think that it’s way to spunky and tomboy-esque to be a nickname for the pretty, feminine Aurora. Also, weren’t Wayne and Garth from Aurora?
photoquilty says
June 2, 2009 at 2:50 PMArgh. “way TOO spunky.”
JNE says
June 1, 2009 at 10:40 PMAurora is a very pretty name, a little ultra-feminine for my personal tastes, but that is helped out by Rory. The celestial side of it is also appealing. I definitely would love to meet a little Aurora.