Soraya
Soraya is a girls' name of Arabic origin meaning “princess, jewel, the Pleiades star cluster.” It ranked #868 in the United States in 2025. Soraya derives from the Arabic word for the Pleiades star cluster, also meaning 'princess' or 'jewel.
how do you pronounce Soraya?
sor-EYE-ah
Hear it spoken aloud with our AI pronunciation tool.
what does Soraya mean?
The name Soraya means “princess, jewel, the Pleiades star cluster.” It comes from the Arabic language tradition.
Soraya derives from the Arabic word for the Pleiades star cluster, also meaning 'princess' or 'jewel.' Queen Soraya of Iran helped popularize the name internationally in the 1950s. In Persian poetry, the Pleiades symbolize beauty and unattainability.
where does the name Soraya come from?
Wiktionary traces Soraya to a word meaning brilliant gem or the Pleiades star cluster; the princess sense given elsewhere is not stated in this source. Wikipedia calls it a feminine Persian name rather than Arabic, which conflicts with the Arabic origin listed elsewhere, and records the alternate spelling Zoraya used in Spain and the Spanish-speaking world, tracing to Al-Andalus.
the history of Soraya
Wikipedia gives two historical bearers: Isabel de Solis, a princess of the Nasrid dynasty of Granada who converted to Islam and took the name Soraya or Zoraya, and Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiari, the second wife of Iran's Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, whose fame popularized the name in Europe.
how popular is this name?
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #868 |
| 2024 | #911 |
| 2021 | #990 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset
what are the nicknames and variants of Soraya?
Variants around the world
who are famous people named Soraya?
- Queen Soraya of Iran
- Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiary (Iranian-German socialite)
what names are similar to Soraya?
what names go well with Soraya?
Sibling names that share Soraya's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
Last reviewed April 30, 2026 · Curated by HushName editorial
love Soraya? get 10 more names curated for your family.
Popularity rankings and meanings are just the starting point. Our AI consultant finds names that match your heritage, style, and what matters most to you.
Completely free. No credit card required.
start free consultation