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The short answer
Soraya is a feminine name used in Persian and Spanish. Behind the Name describes it this way: "Persian form of Thurayya. It became popular in some parts of Europe because of the fame of Princess Soraya (1932-2001), wife of the last Shah of Iran, who became a European socialite." It ranked #868 for girls in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, persian form of Thurayya. It became popular in some parts of Europe because of the fame of Princess Soraya (1932-2001), wife of the last Shah of Iran, who became a European socialite. The entry lists its usage as Persian, Spanish, French, Portuguese (Brazilian).
Editorial confidence: likely
Popularity
Soraya ranked #868 for girls in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #868 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (Persian) and that sit near Soraya in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Soraya mean?
Behind the Name does not give Soraya a one-word meaning. It describes the name as follows: persian form of Thurayya.
Is Soraya a popular name?
Soraya ranked #868 for girls in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Soraya a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Soraya appears in the girls' list; Behind the Name labels it feminine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Soraya — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
