How to say it
EL · i · nor
ˈɛl.ɪ.nɚ
Feminine
Eleanor
Possibly 'the other Aenor'
What it means
From the Old French Aliénor, likely meaning 'the other Aenor' (alia + Aenor). The often-claimed link to a Greek root for light is poetic but not historically supported.
Eleanor of Aquitaine (12th century) brought the name from southern France into English royalty when she married Henry II. Two more medieval queens carried it forward before it went quiet for centuries. Eleanor Roosevelt's long shadow pulled it back into American awareness, and a major revival starting in the 2010s lifted Eleanor into the US top fifteen for girls. The name travels with one of the richest nickname trees of any English girls' name: Ellie, Nora, Nell, Nellie, and Lenore all live as common daily-life forms.
How to spell Eleanor
The standard spelling is Eleanor. Common variants include Elinor, Eleanora, Eleonora, Leonora, Ellie, Nora, but Eleanor is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #12 in 2025, currently #12 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
One of the deeper nickname trees in English: Ella, Ellie, Nora, Nell, Nellie, Lenore, Leonor. Worth knowing which one your family will reach for.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Eleanor Roosevelt Longest-serving US First Lady, UN delegate, activist
- Eleanor of Aquitaine 12th-century queen of both France and England
- Eleanor Oliphant Title character of Gail Honeyman's 2017 novel
Spelling variants
- Elinor
- Eleanora
- Eleonora
- Leonora
- Ellie
- Nora
Names with the same feeling
See Eleanor from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Eleanor mean?
- From the Old French Aliénor, likely meaning 'the other Aenor' (alia + Aenor). The often-claimed link to a Greek root for light is poetic but not historically supported.
- What does Eleanor mean in Old French?
- In Old French, Eleanor means "Possibly 'the other Aenor'." Eleanor of Aquitaine (12th century) brought the name from southern France into English royalty when she married Henry II. Two more medieval queens carried it forward before it went quiet for centuries. Eleanor Roosevelt's long shadow pulled it back into American awareness, and a major revival starting in the 2010s lifted Eleanor into the US top fifteen for girls. The name travels with one of the richest nickname trees of any English girls' name: Ellie, Nora, Nell, Nellie, and Lenore all live as common daily-life forms.
- How do you pronounce Eleanor?
- Eleanor is pronounced ˈɛl.ɪ.nɚ. Say it as EL-i-nor, with the stress on the "el" syllable.
- How do you spell Eleanor?
- The standard spelling is Eleanor. Common spelling variants include Elinor, Eleanora, Eleonora, Leonora, Ellie, Nora.
- Is Eleanor a boy or girl name?
- Eleanor is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Eleanor?
- Eleanor ranked #12 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.