The Baby Name Wizard

Reader Contributions

Contribute to, or edit, this collection of community wisdom on the name Aurora!

Comments and insights on the name Aurora: | Edit

I knew a beautiful artistic woman named Aurora. Her name made her even more lovely. Unfortunately, I had a hard time saying her name. This name and Rory make me think of 30 Rock and the 'Rural Juror...'

Personal experiences with the name Aurora: | Edit

When I was growing up in the Philippines, I hated my name because it sounded so old and I couldn't have a cute nickname. I ended up with "Pinky" or "Au-au". I remember giving my mother quite a hard time for naming me, Aurora, especially when she named my youngest sister, Ann Marie - the name I really liked.

Also, Aurora is quite a common name in the Philippines. It's the first name of the wife of President Manuel Quezon - so there's a town, province, major boulevard etc named after her.

When I was in college, my foreign friends would ask if "Pinky" was my real name and when I replied, "No, it is actually Aurora", they recommended that I start using my real name. So when I left for the United States after graduation, I recalled their comments and began the new chapter in my life simply as "Aurora".

As an adult woman, I love my name - I've grown into it! I'm in the travel business and without exaggeration, I get compliments about my name at least once a week! However, I find few people can actually spell it properly - the "U" is often left out. I'm not sure why but my clients of Irish descent have the most difficulty pronouncing it.

Needless to say, I've apologized to my mother countless times. It also turned out that my youngest sister disliked her name and dropped the "Ann" legally.

I have also found the it is hard for people to spell me name correctly.
WHen I was born my mother was planning on nameing me Elenor after my grandmother. I still thank god that I she refused and the book my mom was currently reading had a charater named Aurora in it. The charater was strong and smart. SO she named me Aurora in hopes I would be like Aurora from this book which I still do not know the name of. I have always wanted my first name to be Jane, which is my middle name, and what my first born girl's first name will be. Jane Margret after my sister.

Nicknames for Aurora: | Edit

Aura, Aury/Aurie, Rory, Rora, Au-au (mainly in the Philippines)

Meanings and history of the name Aurora: | Edit

Roman goddess of the dawn. The Greek goddess equivalent is Eos.

"Aurora borealis" means northern lights, "aurora australis" the same phenomenon in the southern hemisphere. To "see the aurora" refers to seeing this typically winter-time display of breathtaking beauty in the night sky. The beauty of the aurora borealis has contributed to the popularity of this name in the state of Alaska, the only U.S. state where the phenomenon can be seen.

Famous real-life people named Aurora: | Edit

Aurora Browne, Canadian actress and comedian
Aurora Cunha, Portuguese long-distance runner
Aurora Karamzin, Finnish philanthropist
Aurora Königsmarck (1662–1728), mistress of Augustus the Strong, elector of Saxony and king of Poland
Aurora Quezon (1888–1949), first spouse of a Philippine president to be called First Lady
Aurora Robles, supermodel
Aurora Snow, pornographic actress
Aurora Jolie, pornographic actress

Aurora in song, story & screen: | Edit

Real name of 'Sleeping Beauty' (went incognita as 'Briar Rose')
Italian singer Eros Ramazzotti has a song titled "Aurora".
Aurora Greenway, lead character in "Terms of Endearment", played by Shirley MacLaine.
Cities in Colorado and Illinois - the latter of which was the prominent setting for the SNL movie 'Wayne's World'.