Mostly girls
Clara
Latin
“bright, clear”
Mostly girls · English, from Provençal Aliénor
Eleanor
“Uncertain; from Aliénor”
Say it EL-uh-norPronunciation may vary by region.
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A little maybe, saved for later.
The story behind the name
Meet Eleanor.
Eleanor is an English form of the Provençal name Aliénor. Its original meaning is uncertain: proposed explanations include a Germanic name and the phrase other Aenor. It should not automatically be translated as light simply because it resembles Helen or Ellen.
Eleanor of Aquitaine gives it a strong medieval association. Elinor and Eleanore offer alternative spellings, while Ellie, Nell and Nellie give the longer name several everyday forms.
7 lettersEnglish origins ↗
A little perspective
How popular is Eleanor?
Girls · 2025#127,649 recorded births
Boys · 2025#12,5595 recorded births
Recorded US births over time
● Girls● Boys
View the numbers behind the chart
| Year | Category | US rank | Births |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | 12,559 | 5 |
| 2025 | Girls | 12 | 7,649 |
| 2024 | Boys | 7,924 | 10 |
| 2024 | Girls | 14 | 7,147 |
| 2023 | Boys | 11,224 | 6 |
| 2023 | Girls | 14 | 6,765 |
| 2022 | Boys | 11,258 | 6 |
| 2022 | Girls | 16 | 6,927 |
| 2021 | Boys | 12,677 | 5 |
| 2021 | Girls | 15 | 7,099 |
| 2020 | Girls | 22 | 6,379 |
| 2019 | Boys | 10,036 | 7 |
| 2019 | Girls | 27 | 6,198 |
| 2018 | Boys | 12,702 | 5 |
| 2018 | Girls | 32 | 5,728 |
| 2017 | Girls | 36 | 5,549 |
| 2016 | Girls | 41 | 5,140 |
| 2015 | Girls | 60 | 4,442 |
| 2014 | Girls | 78 | 3,740 |
Rankings are calculated separately for boys and girls. Records below the publication threshold may be missing; gaps are not zero births.
A few ways to make it theirs.
Nicknames
EllieNellNellieNora
Variations & related forms
ElinorEleanoreEleonora
Keep the possibilities coming
If you love Eleanor…
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“desired; or water, island”
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Lucy
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Nora
Short form of Honora (Latin) or Eleonora
“honor or meaning unknown”