Sora
Meaning
sky
The story
Sora is Japanese for sky, written most often with the character for the open heavens, and it is used for boys in Japan with a light, modern feel. Outside Japan it acquired a second life in 2002 as the name of the cheerful protagonist of Kingdom Hearts, the crossover series that introduced a generation of players to the name; his companions Riku and Kairi form a land, sea, and sky trio. It is rare in US records since 1890, appearing mostly in Japanese-American families and among parents who met it through games and anime. A whole sky in two syllables, which is about as much meaning per letter as a name can carry. The game association widened recognition without replacing the ordinary Japanese word behind the name.
Popularity, 1890–2024
Shape drawn from US Social Security baby-name records. Sora peaked in the 2010s and the 2020s in nearly equal measure.
See popularity in Brazil
Popularity in Brazil
52 people · the #64,892 first name in Brazil · median age 30
Source: IBGE, Censo Demográfico 2022
When you meet Sora
Most people given the name Sora in the United States are children or teenagers today. The name belongs to this generation.
Estimated from US Social Security birth registrations and typical lifespans; a rough guide, not a rule.
The Sora deep dive
Whether you’re naming a baby or exploring your own name’s history, this is a personal letter, not a list: where Sora truly comes from, how it traveled, and what a century of records reveals. If you have grown a tree on nametree, it also considers how Sora fits with your family’s names and surname.
Keep exploring
Japanese Brazilian baby names · Japanese baby names · Short names
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