Soraya
Soraya is a feminine Arabic and Persian name. It is derived from the Arabic name for the Pleiades star cluster, Thurayyā or Suraya. The name, also spelled Zoraya, is used in Spain and throughout the Spanish-speaking world with an origin in Al-Andalus.
Meaning & Origin of Soraya
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Soraya is a feminine Arabic and Persian name. It is derived from the Arabic name for the Pleiades star cluster, Thurayyā or Suraya. The name, also spelled Zoraya, is used in Spain and throughout the Spanish-speaking world with an origin in Al-Andalus.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Soraya
Soraya first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1955, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2024, when 290 Sorayas were born — ranking #909 that year. As of 2026, Soraya ranks #928 for baby girls with 284 births, rising sharply (+26% over the past five years). In total, more than 7K Sorayas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1950s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Soraya
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Soraya (1969–2006), Colombian-American singer/songwriter
- Soraya Antonius (1932–2017) Palestinian writer, filmmaker, curator
- Soraya Bedjora Adiong (1944–2024), Filipino politician
- Soraya Alekozei (born 1955), Afghan-German interpreter and veteran
- Soraya Arnelas (born 1982), Spanish singer
- Soraya Ray Bañas (born 1989), Filipina singer, comedienne and actress better known as Kitkat
- Soraya Brigui (born 2005), singer and 2018 finalist of The Voice Kids (Belgium) .
- Soraya Córdova (born 1959), Mexican politician
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Soraya
Phonetically similar names — useful when Soraya is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Soraya
What does the name Soraya mean?
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In which U.S. states is Soraya most popular?
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About the name Soraya
Soraya is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1955 and has accumulated 7K births in the dataset. Soraya's peak popularity came in 2024 when it ranked #909. Use the chart and map above to compare Soraya's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2024 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "S" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.