Frilly princess name that conjures up plenty of nostalgia alongside a few hints of spunk and sass, it’s easy to see why parents would snatch Aurora up for their daughters. And that’s precisely why we’re taking a look at the baby name Aurora today, getting the ins and outs of the qualities people love her for-and those that may not be as beloved. At the end, you’ll get a handful of beautiful baby name combos containing Aurora alongside my opinion on the name and my guesses for her popularity in the future. Will Aurora prove to be a fantastical and stunning choice? Or has her magic been worn away by use? Take a look with me, dear readers, and let’s get started with some of Aurora’s best qualities.
Pros
Aurora Borealis, the stunning spectacle known as the Northern Lights. These beautiful colors that illuminate the night sky in some parts of Australia and Antarctica are on many parent’s bucket lists, this natural phenomenon having a place in many adventurer’s hearts. So for a baby name to encapsulate such a beautiful experience and to bring to mind the striking streaks of color rippling across the sky will undoubtedly put a good flavor in a parent’s mouth. I would say that the Northern Lights are one of the first associations that someone would have when hearing the name Aurora, and given that I can’t think of an angle in which that would be perceived as a negative trait, I think that many people would be delighted by this connection.
And then there’s the princess. Sure, some parents aren’t a fan of the princess association because they feel like it’s too tacky, but the majority of families love the idea of bestowing a name fit for a princess on their little girl. Given that Aurora in the Disney film Sleeping Beauty was kind, sweet, a nature-lover through and through, and Aurora in the recent Maleficent is courageous, determined, selfless, and again, a true nature lover, Aurora isn’t a weak or unmotivated princess. In fact, I don’t think there’s anything about her, specifically in the more recent Maleficent movies, that doesn’t ooze positive qualities. Qualities that parents have no problem bestowing upon their baby daughters.
Not only that, Aurora has the hopeful meaning of “dawn,” a meaning that symbolizes hope, starting fresh, and also the beauty of a sunrise. With a stunning natural phenomenon, beautiful princess, and such an amazing meaning, it’s hard to imagine Aurora getting any better. But then the meaning offers yet another possibility that can bring more personalized meaning to the name. Got an aunt, mom, friend, or any other special person in your life with the name Dawn? Boom. Instant honor name, and not anything obvious or that will get annoying on family game night or at family reunions. A hopeful, heartfelt meaning with the potential to pay tribute to a beloved friend or family member subtly is about all you can ask for from a name meaning, and that’s alongside all of the gorgeous associations that many people have with the name Aurora.
The name is enchanting, ethereal, and elegant in sound, a name that has mystical sounds that feel familiar yet also mysterious and unique. Aurora feels dreamy and fairytale-like, a choice that is undoubtedly regal and royal. Finally, let’s not forget Aurora’s spunky side with all of this talk of her elegance. Aurora’s nickname Rory puts a quirky and cheerful spin on the full form, an adorable short form for a daughter who doesn’t quite feel as elegant and refined as Aurora suggests. If you’re looking for a lovable short form, Rory is about as playful and cute as nicknames get. Not only that, Rory completely opposes the style of Aurora, which allows for the ideal day-to-day name for any personality. Whether your daughter is more into spunky, adventurous, rough-and-tumble Rory or kind, regal, and sophisticated Aurora, this name has it all.
Cons
Say the name Aurora. Savor every syllable, lean into every little intonation. Uh-ror-uh. Beautiful. Lilting. Now introduce yourself as Aurora aloud. “Hi, I’m Aurora.” A little difficult, sure, but nothing too hard. Now pretend you’re a child, maybe ten years old, calling out to your friend Aurora across the playground. “Aurora! Aurora! Aurora!” Uh-ror-uh-roh-uh! It sounds a bit like you’re attempting to swallow a mouthful of cotton candy or have a dentist cleaning your teeth while you’re speaking. I presume that, since you’re reading this, you are at least 12 years of age, and therefore, your speech is pretty clear and concise. Now imagine that you’re a three year old with a little lisp on your Rs, as many three years olds have, and you’re walking through life with a name like Aurora. Aurora is quite the mouthful for any grown adult to attempt, much less a young child who is still trying to correctly pronounce some of their letters, one of which the most difficult is R. If a parent considering the name Aurora isn’t butchering it or having difficulty pronouncing it, then that’s fantastic. But a child is very likely to have trouble pronouncing Rs when they are young, and to have two back to back Rs in their own name that many full grown people have difficulty pronouncing is a recipe for disaster. Yes, the name is beautiful. When saying the sounds slowly or even talking to your partner about the name, it sounds stunning. But a name is something that comes up in ordinary conversation, and is often said quickly and multiple times when you call your children to dinner or want to get their attention or their friends see them at soccer practice. So to have a name that can quickly turn into a tongue twister isn’t ideal. Maybe you can dodge the bullet with a nickname like Rory, but the name has the same problem. “Rory! Rory! Rory!” quickly morphs into “Rory-wory-Roy-y,” and that is just as problematic.
And as if the practicality issue wasn’t already worrying enough, there’s also a high probability that that girl on the playground shouting “Aurora! Aurora! Aurora!” won’t be calling your little one. Sure, Aurora has a lot of pronunciation issues for younger kids, but those positive qualities still get a lot of parents to select this name for their daughter, so much so that she ranks at #36. For many people who think that they’re choosing a rare and ethereal baby name, #36 is a lot to take in, and the fact that she’s on the upswing doesn’t help her case. Five thousand, one hundred and eighty four little girls were given the name Aurora last year in the US alone, so the chances that these roughly five thousand little Auroras sprinkled around the nation would land in your playground are fairly high. To give you a little taste of Aurora’s popularity in relation to other names, Lily only ranks one spot above her, and Leo is just as popular. Zoe, Everly, and Isla all rank under her, displaying just how incredibly popular she is.
Combos
Adelaide Aurora (means “noble dawn”)
Aurora Bronwen
Aurora Elliot
Katherine Aurora
Predictions for Aurora:
I think that Aurora has reached a peak. She’s kept climbing and climbing, but I think 2021 might be the year in which she starts to plateau, perhaps even losing some ground, although I can’t know for sure. For me, Aurora is just too difficult to say to be a pleasant name to me. She looks stunning on paper, and the associations are perfect. But in the end, the actual sound of the name, even when I manage to pronounce it correctly, isn’t my favorite. I prefer names with a few less frills. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this little look at the pros, cons, combos, and popularity of the name Aurora, dear readers, and have a lovely rest of your day!
Sincerely,
-Delphina Moon