Eleanor Overview
The other Aenor, light, sun ray, shining light
Girl
Old French, Greek
Derived from “Aliénor”, evolved through historical linguistic influences from Greek and Old French.
Christianity, Judaism
/ˈɛlənɔːr/
Consistently popular in English-speaking countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia; ranked 14th in 2023 in the United States.
3 syllables
7 letters
7 (Analytical, Studious, Knowledgeable)
Traditional, Classic, Vintage, Aesthetic, Popular, Cute
Intelligence, strength, resilience, elegance, compassion, leadership
Represents divine light and wisdom in various cultures
February 21st
Eleanor Variations in Different Cultures
Eleanora, Elenor, Elenora, Elianora, Elianore, Elienora, Elienore, Elinor, Elinore, Ellenora, Helen, Lenore, Leanora
Ella, Elle, Ellie, Nell, Nellie, Nora, Norah, Lenora, Lenore, Leonora, Noreen, Lea, Len, Lena, Lennie
Elle, Ella, Ellie, Elly, Leonor, Leonora, Leonore, Nella, Nellie, Nelly, Nora
What Is the Meaning of Eleanor?
The name Eleanor has diverse origins and meanings, reflecting its rich historical and cultural background:
General Meaning: Eleanor derives from the Old French name “Aliénor,” believed to mean “the other Aenor” or “foreign Aenor.” The name is also linked to meanings like “light,” “sun ray,” or “shining light,” drawing from its possible connection to the Greek name “Helen.”
Hebrew Meaning: In Hebrew, Eleanor can be broken down into “el” meaning “god” and “or” meaning “light,” translating to “God is my light.”
Arabic Meaning: Eleanor is linked to the Arabic phrase “el nour,” meaning “light.”
Spiritual Significance: Spiritually, Eleanor represents light and divine illumination, often suggesting qualities of wisdom, guidance, and purity across different cultures.
What Is the Origin of The Name Eleanor?
The name Eleanor has roots in both French and Greek history. It’s believed to have evolved from the Old French “Aliénor,” which means “the other Aenor.”
This term likely originated from Eleanor of Aquitaine, born in 1122 to William X, Duke of Aquitaine, and Aenor de Chatellerault. It distinguished her from her mother, possibly making her the first to bear the name.
Alternatively, Eleanor may derive from the Greek name Helen, meaning “sun ray” or “shining light.”
Eleanor Name Popularity
Popularity Chart of the Name Eleanor in the U.S. over the Years
 United States | #152021 | #162022 | #142023 |
| Top 3 Rankings | #142023 | #152021 | #162022 |
Annual Statistics Breakdown for Eleanor
| Year | Name Ranking | Number of Births | Birth Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 14 (+2 from 2022) | 6739 (-177 from 2022) | 0.38526 |
| 2022 | 16 (-1 from 2021) | 6916 (-178 from 2021) | 0.38571 |
| 2021 | 15 (+7 from 2020) | 7094 (+718 from 2020) | 0.39597 |
| 2020 | 22 (+5 from 2019) | 6376 (+180 from 2019) | 0.36070 |
| 2019 | 27 (+5 from 2018) | 6196 (+469 from 2018) | 0.33768 |
| 2018 | 32 (+3 from 2017) | 5727 (+178 from 2017) | 0.30796 |
| 2017 | 35 (+6 from 2016) | 5549 (+410 from 2016) | 0.29373 |
| 2016 | 41 (+19 from 2015) | 5139 (+700 from 2015) | 0.26546 |
| 2015 | 60 (+18 from 2014) | 4439 (+700 from 2014) | 0.22754 |
| 2014 | 78 (+28 from 2013) | 3739 (+728 from 2013) | 0.19112 |
| 2013 | 106 (+28 from 2012) | 3011 (+628 from 2012) | 0.15620 |
| 2012 | 134 (+16 from 2011) | 2383 (+299 from 2011) | 0.12287 |
| 2011 | 150 (+16 from 2010) | 2084 (+233 from 2010) | 0.10755 |
| 2010 | 166 (+52 from 2009) | 1851 (+365 from 2009) | 0.09441 |
| 2009 | 218 (+36 from 2008) | 1486 (+144 from 2008) | 0.07338 |
| 2008 | 254 (+12 from 2007) | 1342 (+71 from 2007) | 0.06443 |
| 2007 | 266 (+3 from 2006) | 1271 (+50 from 2006) | 0.06005 |
| 2006 | 269 (-5 from 2005) | 1221 (-17 from 2005) | 0.05841 |
| 2005 | 264 (+37 from 2004) | 1238 (+175 from 2004) | 0.06100 |
| 2004 | 301 (+7 from 2003) | 1063 (+56 from 2003) | 0.05268 |
| 2003 | 308 (+11 from 2002) | 1007 (+46 from 2002) | 0.05019 |
| 2002 | 319 (+40 from 2001) | 961 (+135 from 2001) | 0.04866 |
| 2001 | 359 (+16 from 2000) | 826 (+55 from 2000) | 0.04170 |
| 2000 | 375 (+29 from 1999) | 771 (+83 from 1999) | 0.03863 |
| 1999 | 404 (-18 from 1998) | 688 (-31 from 1998) | 0.03534 |
| 1998 | 386 (+79 from 1997) | 719 (+182 from 1997) | 0.03709 |
| 1997 | 465 (+25 from 1996) | 537 (+50 from 1996) | 0.02813 |
| 1996 | 490 (+53 from 1995) | 487 (+50 from 1995) | 0.02540 |
| 1995 | 543 (+42 from 1994) | 437 (+47 from 1994) | 0.02274 |
| 1994 | 585 (-47 from 1993) | 390 (-54 from 1993) | 0.02001 |
| 1993 | 538 (+47 from 1992) | 444 (+49 from 1992) | 0.02252 |
| 1992 | 585 (-2 from 1991) | 395 (+1 from 1991) | 0.01970 |
| 1991 | 583 (+16 from 1990) | 394 (+16 from 1990) | 0.01938 |
| 1990 | 599 (+1 from 1989) | 378 (+21 from 1989) | 0.01840 |
| 1989 | 600 (+42 from 1988) | 357 (+48 from 1988) | 0.01792 |
| 1988 | 642 (+6 from 1987) | 309 (+19 from 1987) | 0.01607 |
| 1987 | 648 (+44 from 1986) | 290 (+27 from 1986) | 0.01547 |
| 1986 | 692 (-22 from 1985) | 263 (-7 from 1985) | 0.01425 |
| 1985 | 670 (+17 from 1984) | 270 (+26 from 1984) | 0.01462 |
| 1984 | 687 (-31 from 1983) | 244 (-19 from 1983) | 0.01353 |
| 1983 | 656 (+13 from 1982) | 263 (-2 from 1982) | 0.01470 |
| 1982 | 669 (-14 from 1981) | 265 (-5 from 1981) | 0.01461 |
| 1981 | 655 (+21 from 1980) | 270 (+12 from 1980) | 0.01510 |
| 1980 | 676 (-46 from 1979) | 258 (-18 from 1979) | 0.01449 |
| 1979 | 630 (-5 from 1978) | 276 (+7 from 1978) | 0.01602 |
| 1978 | 625 (+63 from 1977) | 269 (+41 from 1977) | 0.01636 |
| 1977 | 688 (-79 from 1976) | 228 (-29 from 1976) | 0.01386 |
| 1976 | 609 (+41 from 1975) | 257 (+23 from 1975) | 0.01635 |
| 1975 | 650 (+15 from 1974) | 234 (+6 from 1974) | 0.01499 |
| 1974 | 665 (-75 from 1973) | 228 (-38 from 1973) | 0.01456 |
| 1973 | 590 (-35 from 1972) | 266 (-34 from 1972) | 0.01712 |
| 1972 | 555 (-1 from 1971) | 300 (-25 from 1971) | 0.01860 |
| 1971 | 554 (-32 from 1970) | 325 (-41 from 1970) | 0.01854 |
| 1970 | 522 (-4 from 1969) | 366 (+6 from 1969) | 0.01998 |
| 1969 | 518 (-43 from 1968) | 360 (-48 from 1968) | 0.02042 |
| 1968 | 475 (-24 from 1967) | 408 (-35 from 1967) | 0.02386 |
| 1967 | 451 (-20 from 1966) | 443 (-30 from 1966) | 0.02580 |
| 1966 | 431 (-59 from 1965) | 473 (-130 from 1965) | 0.02694 |
| 1965 | 372 (+5 from 1964) | 603 (-45 from 1964) | 0.03300 |
| 1964 | 377 (-1 from 1963) | 648 (-19 from 1963) | 0.03311 |
| 1963 | 376 (-35 from 1962) | 667 (-96 from 1962) | 0.03355 |
| 1962 | 341 (+7 from 1961) | 763 (+15 from 1961) | 0.03764 |
| 1961 | 348 (-20 from 1960) | 748 (-78 from 1960) | 0.03601 |
| 1960 | 328 (-13 from 1959) | 826 (-39 from 1959) | 0.03972 |
| 1959 | 315 (-10 from 1958) | 865 (+1 from 1958) | 0.04161 |
| 1958 | 305 (-13 from 1957) | 864 (-98 from 1957) | 0.04182 |
| 1957 | 292 (-29 from 1956) | 962 (-82 from 1956) | 0.04585 |
| 1956 | 263 (-6 from 1955) | 1044 (+1 from 1955) | 0.05069 |
| 1955 | 257 (-15 from 1954) | 1043 (-74 from 1954) | 0.05202 |
| 1954 | 242 (-15 from 1953) | 1117 (-137 from 1953) | 0.05611 |
| 1953 | 227 (-9 from 1952) | 1254 (+5 from 1952) | 0.06499 |
| 1952 | 218 (-8 from 1951) | 1249 (-47 from 1951) | 0.06567 |
| 1951 | 210 (-11 from 1950) | 1296 (-75 from 1950) | 0.07016 |
| 1950 | 199 (-16 from 1949) | 1371 (-146 from 1949) | 0.07796 |
| 1949 | 183 (-14 from 1948) | 1517 (-147 from 1948) | 0.08641 |
| 1948 | 169 (-11 from 1947) | 1664 (-189 from 1947) | 0.09548 |
| 1947 | 158 (-18 from 1946) | 1853 (-80 from 1946) | 0.10193 |
| 1946 | 140 (-10 from 1945) | 1933 (+57 from 1945) | 0.11985 |
| 1945 | 130 (-8 from 1944) | 1876 (-314 from 1944) | 0.13936 |
| 1944 | 122 (-15 from 1943) | 2190 (-539 from 1943) | 0.16026 |
| 1943 | 107 (-20 from 1942) | 2729 (-436 from 1942) | 0.19012 |
| 1942 | 87 (-9 from 1941) | 3165 (-84 from 1941) | 0.22762 |
| 1941 | 78 (-10 from 1940) | 3249 (-335 from 1940) | 0.26076 |
| 1940 | 68 (-5 from 1939) | 3584 (-226 from 1939) | 0.30338 |
| 1939 | 63 (-3 from 1938) | 3810 (-239 from 1938) | 0.33596 |
| 1938 | 60 (-7 from 1937) | 4049 (-226 from 1937) | 0.35472 |
| 1937 | 53 (-6 from 1936) | 4275 (-66 from 1936) | 0.38799 |
| 1936 | 47 (+1 from 1935) | 4341 (+175 from 1935) | 0.40286 |
| 1935 | 48 (-4 from 1934) | 4166 (-552 from 1934) | 0.38334 |
| 1934 | 44 (-6 from 1933) | 4718 (-388 from 1933) | 0.43591 |
| 1933 | 38 (+7 from 1932) | 5106 (+270 from 1932) | 0.48813 |
| 1932 | 45 (-5 from 1931) | 4836 (-419 from 1931) | 0.43713 |
| 1931 | 40 (-1 from 1930) | 5255 (-568 from 1930) | 0.47612 |
| 1930 | 39 (-1 from 1929) | 5823 (-42 from 1929) | 0.49920 |
| 1929 | 38 (-2 from 1928) | 5865 (-670 from 1928) | 0.50667 |
| 1928 | 36 (-3 from 1927) | 6535 (-428 from 1927) | 0.54662 |
| 1927 | 33 (-1 from 1926) | 6963 (-342 from 1926) | 0.56315 |
| 1926 | 32 (-1 from 1925) | 7305 (-419 from 1925) | 0.59382 |
| 1925 | 31 (-2 from 1924) | 7724 (-469 from 1924) | 0.61152 |
| 1924 | 29 (-1 from 1923) | 8193 (+421 from 1923) | 0.63234 |
| 1923 | 28 No change from 1922 | 7772 (-80 from 1922) | 0.62054 |
| 1922 | 28 (+1 from 1921) | 7852 (-202 from 1921) | 0.62938 |
| 1921 | 29 (-4 from 1920) | 8054 (-443 from 1920) | 0.62936 |
| 1920 | 25 (+5 from 1919) | 8497 (+886 from 1919) | 0.68302 |
| 1919 | 30 (-4 from 1918) | 7611 (-565 from 1918) | 0.64794 |
| 1918 | 26 No change from 1917 | 8176 (+507 from 1917) | 0.68000 |
| 1917 | 26 (+1 from 1916) | 7669 (+263 from 1916) | 0.68248 |
| 1916 | 27 (+1 from 1915) | 7406 (+370 from 1915) | 0.68213 |
| 1915 | 28 No change from 1914 | 7036 (+1662 from 1914) | 0.68720 |
| 1914 | 28 (+6 from 1913) | 5374 (+1436 from 1913) | 0.67459 |
| 1913 | 34 (+5 from 1912) | 3938 (+818 from 1912) | 0.60130 |
| 1912 | 39 (+10 from 1911) | 3120 (+1085 from 1911) | 0.53177 |
| 1911 | 49 (+6 from 1910) | 2035 (+237 from 1910) | 0.46060 |
| 1910 | 55 (+2 from 1909) | 1798 (+338 from 1909) | 0.42858 |
| 1909 | 57 (+8 from 1908) | 1460 (+158 from 1908) | 0.39664 |
| 1908 | 65 (+2 from 1907) | 1302 (+147 from 1907) | 0.36725 |
| 1907 | 67 No change from 1906 | 1155 (+67 from 1906) | 0.34229 |
| 1906 | 67 (+6 from 1905) | 1088 (+47 from 1905) | 0.34712 |
| 1905 | 73 (+7 from 1904) | 1041 (+173 from 1904) | 0.33595 |
| 1904 | 80 (-1 from 1903) | 868 (+28 from 1903) | 0.29682 |
| 1903 | 79 No change from 1902 | 840 (+3 from 1902) | 0.30195 |
| 1902 | 79 (+5 from 1901) | 837 (+151 from 1901) | 0.29858 |
| 1901 | 84 (+4 from 1900) | 686 (-67 from 1900) | 0.26984 |
| 1900 | 88 (+6 from 1899) | 753 (+178 from 1899) | 0.23699 |
| 1899 | 94 (+1 from 1898) | 575 (-45 from 1898) | 0.23233 |
| 1898 | 95 No change from 1897 | 620 (+61 from 1897) | 0.22616 |
| 1897 | 95 (+7 from 1896) | 559 (+66 from 1896) | 0.22515 |
| 1896 | 102 (-4 from 1895) | 493 (-51 from 1895) | 0.19564 |
| 1895 | 98 (+10 from 1894) | 544 (+94 from 1894) | 0.22015 |
| 1894 | 108 (+2 from 1893) | 450 (+53 from 1893) | 0.19070 |
| 1893 | 110 (+6 from 1892) | 397 (+8 from 1892) | 0.17626 |
| 1892 | 116 (-13 from 1891) | 389 (+13 from 1891) | 0.17296 |
| 1891 | 103 (+14 from 1890) | 376 (+25 from 1890) | 0.19128 |
| 1890 | 117 (+6 from 1889) | 351 (+39 from 1889) | 0.17405 |
| 1889 | 123 (+5 from 1888) | 312 (+24 from 1888) | 0.16489 |
| 1888 | 128 (-6 from 1887) | 288 (+41 from 1887) | 0.15202 |
| 1887 | 122 (-8 from 1886) | 247 (-24 from 1886) | 0.15892 |
| 1886 | 114 (+5 from 1885) | 271 (+49 from 1885) | 0.17628 |
| 1885 | 119 (+5 from 1884) | 222 (+24 from 1884) | 0.15640 |
| 1884 | 124 (-10 from 1883) | 198 (+13 from 1883) | 0.14391 |
| 1883 | 114 (+3 from 1882) | 185 (+11 from 1882) | 0.15409 |
| 1882 | 117 (+25 from 1881) | 174 (+64 from 1881) | 0.15040 |
| 1881 | 142 (-16 from 1880) | 110 (-19 from 1880) | 0.11127 |
| 1880 | 126 First SSA data recorded | 129 First SSA data recorded | 0.13217 |
American States Popularity Rankings for Eleanor
(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Number of Births )New York (NY)
 New York (NY) | #502021 | #472022 | #492023 |
Pennsylvania (PA)
 Pennsylvania (PA) | #232021 | #272022 | #242023 |
Massachusetts (MA)
 Massachusetts (MA) | #212021 | #232022 | #192023 |
Illinois (IL)
 Illinois (IL) | #132021 | #122022 | #122023 |
California (CA)
 California (CA) | #552021 | #612022 | #512023 |
Ohio (OH)
 Ohio (OH) | #92021 | #102022 | #92023 |
New Jersey (NJ)
 New Jersey (NJ) | #622021 | #642022 | #612023 |
Michigan (MI)
 Michigan (MI) | #102021 | #82022 | #92023 |
Texas (TX)
 Texas (TX) | #242021 | #312022 | #332023 |
Minnesota (MN)
 Minnesota (MN) | #102021 | #72022 | #62023 |
Virginia (VA)
 Virginia (VA) | #122021 | #122022 | #112023 |
North Carolina (NC)
 North Carolina (NC) | #122021 | #112022 | #112023 |
Wisconsin (WI)
 Wisconsin (WI) | #82021 | #82022 | #72023 |
Connecticut (CT)
 Connecticut (CT) | #222021 | #212022 | #412023 |
Georgia (GA)
 Georgia (GA) | #302021 | #182022 | #152023 |
Indiana (IN)
 Indiana (IN) | #62021 | #62022 | #42023 |
Missouri (MO)
 Missouri (MO) | #82021 | #82022 | #42023 |
Maryland (MD)
 Maryland (MD) | #192021 | #222022 | #252023 |
Washington (WA)
 Washington (WA) | #92021 | #192022 | #102023 |
Florida (FL)
 Florida (FL) | #472021 | #442022 | #512023 |
Tennessee (TN)
 Tennessee (TN) | #112021 | #82022 | #92023 |
Iowa (IA)
 Iowa (IA) | #112021 | #82022 | #82023 |
Alabama (AL)
 Alabama (AL) | #232021 | #112022 | #112023 |
Colorado (CO)
 Colorado (CO) | #112021 | #122022 | #172023 |
South Carolina (SC)
 South Carolina (SC) | #142021 | #132022 | #182023 |
West Virginia (WV)
 West Virginia (WV) | #352021 | #312022 | #382023 |
Kentucky (KY)
 Kentucky (KY) | #152021 | #112022 | #122023 |
Kansas (KS)
 Kansas (KS) | #82021 | #72022 | #62023 |
Maine (ME)
 Maine (ME) | #122021 | #62022 | #42023 |
Louisiana (LA)
 Louisiana (LA) | #212021 | #152022 | #162023 |
Nebraska (NE)
 Nebraska (NE) | #52021 | #122022 | #92023 |
Oregon (OR)
 Oregon (OR) | #102021 | #152022 | #112023 |
Rhode Island (RI)
 Rhode Island (RI) | #232021 | #212022 | #202023 |
Arizona (AZ)
 Arizona (AZ) | #472021 | #552022 | #332023 |
District of Columbia (DC)
 District of Columbia (DC) | #102021 | #52022 | #152023 |
Oklahoma (OK)
 Oklahoma (OK) | #82021 | #112022 | #122023 |
Utah (UT)
 Utah (UT) | #62021 | #112022 | #232023 |
Mississippi (MS)
 Mississippi (MS) | #232021 | #252022 | #542023 |
North Dakota (ND)
 North Dakota (ND) | #82021 | #82022 | #132023 |
New Hampshire (NH)
 New Hampshire (NH) | #72021 | #92022 | #172023 |
Hawaii (HI)
 Hawaii (HI) | #482021 | #472022 | #392023 |
Arkansas (AR)
 Arkansas (AR) | #152021 | #202022 | #102023 |
South Dakota (SD)
 South Dakota (SD) | #222021 | #622022 | #142023 |
Vermont (VT)
 Vermont (VT) | #62021 | #92022 | #22023 |
Montana (MT)
 Montana (MT) | #102021 | #152022 | #62023 |
Idaho (ID)
 Idaho (ID) | #92021 | #92022 | #192023 |
New Mexico (NM)
 New Mexico (NM) | #532021 | #432022 | #492023 |
Delaware (DE)
 Delaware (DE) | #672021 | #612022 | #272023 |
Nevada (NV)
 Nevada (NV) | #502021 | #372022 | #562023 |
Alaska (AK)
 Alaska (AK) | #62021 | #142022 | #92023 |
Wyoming (WY)
 Wyoming (WY) | #322021 | #182022 | #112023 |
Popularity Rankings for Eleanor in other Countries and American Territories
(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Rankings)
Popularity in Canada
 Canada | #342021 | #312022 | #202023 |
Popularity in Australia (NSW)
 Australia (NSW) | #482021 | #452022 | #342023 |
Popularity in New Zealand
 New Zealand | #702021 | #502022 | #522023 |
Popularity in England and Wales
 England and Wales | #522019 | #532020 | #552021 |
Popularity in Scotland
 Scotland | #1262021 | #1132022 | #1192023 |
Popularity in Ireland
 Ireland | #1472021 | #1282022 | #1262023 |
Popularity in Northern Ireland
 Northern Ireland | #1392021 | #2182022 | #1932023 |
Popularity in Quebec, Canada
 Quebec, Canada | #2042020 | #2452021 | #1492022 |
Popularity in Puerto Rico
 Puerto Rico | #2362023 |
Popularity in Switzerland
 Switzerland | #3922020 | #7992021 | #4442022 |
Popularity in Germany
 Germany | #4672021 | #4542022 | #4182023 |
Popularity in Poland
 Poland | #4492018 | #5072019 | #4652022 |
Popularity in Sweden
 Sweden | #4802022 | #5902023 |
Source: Social Security Administration (SSA) and Other National Sources
Is Eleanor a Name for Boys or Girls?
Eleanor is mainly recognized as a girl’s name. There was a brief period around 1908 in the United States when it was recorded as a boy’s name, but this was quite uncommon. Overall, Eleanor has been and continues to be predominantly used for girls.