'aurora' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'aurōra', where the Proto-Indo-European root '*h₂éwsōs' meant 'dawn' (related to shining or east).

'aurora' changed from the Latin word 'aurōra' into Old/Middle English forms such as 'aurore' and eventually became the modern English word 'aurora'; the Latin plural ending '-ae' gives the classical plural form 'aurorae'.

Initially, it meant 'dawn' (and was the name of the Roman goddess of dawn), but over time it also came to be used for the luminous polar displays now called 'aurorae' (e.g., 'aurora borealis').