How to say it
NOR · uh
ˈnɔr.ə
Feminine
Nora
Honor, or 'light'
What it means
Multiple roots converge. The Irish Nora is the short form of Honora (from the Latin honor). Also serves as the short form of Eleanor or Elinor (themselves possibly from a Greek root for 'light').
The medieval Irish Nora became a folk name in its own right, divorced from any longer formal version. Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House (1879) featured Nora Helmer, whose final-act exit became a touchstone of feminist literature. The modern revival starting in the 2010s lifted Nora into the US top thirty for girls. The Spanish and Italian Nora is widely used. Often serves as the daily-life form for someone formally Eleanor (Nora is one of Eleanor's many nickname tree branches).
How to spell Nora
The standard spelling is Nora. Common variants include Norah, Nóra, Honora, but Nora is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #20 in 2025, currently #20 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
Sometimes a given name in its own right, sometimes a short for Eleanor or Honora. Both intents are current.
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.
- Nora Ephron Screenwriter and director, When Harry Met Sally and Sleepless in Seattle
- Nora Roberts Bestselling romance novelist, 200-plus books
Spelling variants
- Norah
- Nóra
- Honora
Names with the same feeling
See Nora from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Nora mean?
- Multiple roots converge. The Irish Nora is the short form of Honora (from the Latin honor). Also serves as the short form of Eleanor or Elinor (themselves possibly from a Greek root for 'light').
- What does Nora mean in Irish?
- In Irish, Nora means "Honor, or 'light'." The medieval Irish Nora became a folk name in its own right, divorced from any longer formal version. Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House (1879) featured Nora Helmer, whose final-act exit became a touchstone of feminist literature. The modern revival starting in the 2010s lifted Nora into the US top thirty for girls. The Spanish and Italian Nora is widely used. Often serves as the daily-life form for someone formally Eleanor (Nora is one of Eleanor's many nickname tree branches).
- Is Nora short for Honora?
- Yes. Nora is a short form of Honora, and it carries the same meaning, "Honor, or 'light'." These days many parents use Nora as a given name in its own right, not only as a nickname.
- How do you pronounce Nora?
- Nora is pronounced ˈnɔr.ə. Say it as NOR-uh, with the stress on the "nor" syllable.
- How do you spell Nora?
- The standard spelling is Nora. Common spelling variants include Norah, Nóra, Honora.
- Is Nora a boy or girl name?
- Nora is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Nora?
- Nora ranked #20 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.