Eleanor
Eleanor: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈɛləˌnoɹ/ · /ˈɛlənɚ/
Meaning and origin of Eleanor
Root meaning: “other”
- A female given name.
Etymology
The first known bearer was Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122–1204), Provençal Aliénor, perhaps from Latin alia (“other”) and her mother's name Aenor, its meaning thereby said to be “the other Aenor”. This Aenor seems to come from earlier Adenordis, which might be some corruption of Adamardis, feminine form of Ademar or Adamarus, from Proto-West Germanic *Audamār, from the Proto-Germanic elements *audaz (“riches”) + *mēraz (“fame”). An Arabic origin from نُور (nūr, “light”) has also been suggested. Eleanor has often been erroneously interpreted as a variant of Helen. More at Eleanor on Wikipedia. Also see Aenor.
How popular is Eleanor?
Since 1880, 336,678 girls and 645 boys in the U.S. have been named Eleanor (100% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #12 in 2025. Its highest rank for boys was #967 in 1908. In 2025 it ranked #12 for girls, with 7,654 babies given the name.
Names similar to Eleanor
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
Sibling name ideas for Eleanor
Names that peaked around the same time as Eleanor and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Eleanor FAQ
What does the name Eleanor mean?
Eleanor traces back to a root meaning "other". A female given name. The first known bearer was Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122–1204), Provençal Aliénor, perhaps from Latin alia (“other”) and her mother's name Aenor, its meaning thereby said to be “the other Aenor”. This Aenor seems to come from earlier Adenordis, which might be some corruption of Adamardis, feminine form of Ademar or Adamarus, from Proto-West Germanic *Audamār, from the Proto-Germanic elements *audaz (“riches”) + *mēraz (“fame”). An Arabic origin from نُور (nūr, “light”) has also been suggested. Eleanor has often been erroneously interpreted as a variant of Helen. More at Eleanor on Wikipedia. Also see Aenor.
How popular is the name Eleanor?
Since 1880, 336,678 girls and 645 boys in the U.S. have been named Eleanor (100% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #12 in 2025. Its highest rank for boys was #967 in 1908. In 2025 it ranked #12 for girls, with 7,654 babies given the name.
Is Eleanor a boy or girl name?
Eleanor is mostly a girl name in the U.S.: 336,678 girls and 645 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.