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NamyLab

Eleanor

female
Updated 7 months ago

Meaning

"Bright; Shining One"

Introduced to England via Norman French, strongly associated with medieval queens and enduring literary and civic usage.

Themes:royalclassicmedievalfeminine
RoyalRegalVintageRetroClassicTraditionalTimeless

Fact-checked by Dr. Elena Vasquez

Ph.D. Medieval History, StanfordPublished Academic ResearcherHistory Professor (Adjunct) • Historical Names Consultant

This name has been verified against authoritative sources including SSA data, etymology databases, and cultural naming traditions.

Popularity History of Eleanor

Full SSA rank history from 1880 to 2024

#14Top 50
SSA did not record this spelling in the national rankings for the available chart years. Names used fewer than 5 times in a year are omitted from the dataset.

Yearly Ranking Snapshot

Pick any SSA release year to inspect that year's national ranking and how it changed from the year before.

Selected Year Rank
Unranked

Eleanor did not appear in the national SSA rankings for 2024.

Change Vs Previous Year
--

no national rank in 2024

Data Source

Popularity rankings are based on official data from the Social Security Administration (SSA), which tracks baby name applications in the United States.

Last updated: 2024 • Data source updated annually

Eleanor Nicknames

Familiar short forms, playful variations, and easy everyday options for Eleanor.

13 ideas
Ellie
Nickname
Nell
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Nora
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Lenora
Nickname
Elle
Nickname
eley
Nickname
elea
Nickname
anor
Nickname
nory
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el
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EL
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eeie
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eany
Nickname

Similar Names to Eleanor

female

Anna

AN-uh

“Grace; Favor”

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Ashley

“Ash Tree Clearing”

#124
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Amy

AY-mee

“Beloved”

#228
|French
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Angela

AN-juh-luh

“Messenger; Angel”

#282
|Greek
female

Alice

“Noble Kind”

#62
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female

Andrea

“Manly, Courageous”

#185
|Greek
female

Annie

“Grace, Favor”

#191
|Hebrew
female

Alexis

uh-LEK-sis

“Defender; Helper”

#506
|Greek
female

Ava

AY-vuh

“Birdlike; Life”

#9
|Germanic
female

Anne

“Grace; Favor”

#649
|Hebrew

Baby Name Lists That Include Eleanor

Browse every Namylab list page that currently includes Eleanor, from meaning and origin collections to letter, syllable, and themed baby name lists.

32 linked lists

Famous Eleanors

  • E
    Eleanor Roosevelt
    American First Lady and United Nations diplomat and human rights activist
  • E
    Eleanor of Aquitaine
    Queen of France and England, one of the most powerful women of medieval Europe

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Eleanor mean?
Eleanor means "Bright; Shining One". Introduced to England via Norman French, strongly associated with medieval queens and enduring literary and civic usage.
What is the origin of Eleanor?
Eleanor is of French origin. The name has been used historically across cultures and carries significant cultural meaning within its origin tradition.
How popular is the name Eleanor?
According to the latest SSA data, Eleanor is currently ranked #14 in the United States. The name has shown interesting trends over the past century, with popularity varying based on cultural preferences and naming trends.
Is Eleanor a girl name?
Eleanor is traditionally a girl name. However, modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal preference.
What are good nicknames for Eleanor?
Popular nicknames for Eleanor include Ellie, Nell, Nora, Lenora, and more. These offer shorter, more casual alternatives for everyday use.
What names are similar to Eleanor?
There are many names similar to Eleanor in meaning, origin, or sound. Explore the Similar Names section to discover alternatives that may resonate with you.

Quick Facts

OriginFrench, Greek
Syllables3
Length7 letters
US Rank#14
Trend→ Stable
Starts withE

Sibling Ideas

Explore More Girl Names Like Eleanor

Eleanor has French roots, making it a wonderful choice if you love names from this heritage. Discover more options in our French baby names collection, where you'll find hundreds of names with similar cultural depth.

Eleanor appears in several of our curated collections. Check out Names That Mean Strength and Names That Mean Light for more names with a similar feel. You might also enjoy browsing Timeless Classic Baby Names and Vintage Baby Names.

Before you decide, try our Full Name Preview to see how Eleanor pairs with your surname. The Sibling Name Matcher can help find names that complement Eleanor beautifully, and the Nickname Predictor reveals the most common short forms.

Explore our full baby name lists for origin-based, meaning-based, and themed collections, or head back to the baby name generator to continue your search.