How to say it
NOR · ah
ˈnɔr.ə
Feminine
Norah
Honor, or light
What it means
An Irish form of Honora (Latin honor), also read as a short form of Eleanor. The -h spelling is the dressier twin of Nora.
Norah is the Irish Nóra, a short form of Honora (from Latin honor) that also gets used as a clip of Eleanor. It has been a steady Irish name for centuries and crossed into wide English use through literature, including Nora Helmer in Ibsen's A Doll's House. The -h ending got a lift from singer Norah Jones in the 2000s. Nora and Norah are the same name; the h just adds a little weight.
How to spell Norah
The standard spelling is Norah. Common variants include Nora, Noora, Honora, but Norah is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #137 in 2017, currently #262 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
- Spelling
Nora and Norah are interchangeable; Nora is more common, Norah reads slightly more formal.
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.
- Norah Jones American singer-songwriter and pianist
- Nora Ephron American writer and director (When Harry Met Sally)
Spelling variants
- Nora
- Noora
- Honora
Names with the same feeling
See Norah from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Norah mean?
- An Irish form of Honora (Latin honor), also read as a short form of Eleanor. The -h spelling is the dressier twin of Nora.
- What does Norah mean in Irish?
- In Irish, Norah means "Honor, or light." Norah is the Irish Nóra, a short form of Honora (from Latin honor) that also gets used as a clip of Eleanor. It has been a steady Irish name for centuries and crossed into wide English use through literature, including Nora Helmer in Ibsen's A Doll's House. The -h ending got a lift from singer Norah Jones in the 2000s. Nora and Norah are the same name; the h just adds a little weight.
- Is Norah short for Honora?
- Yes. Norah is a short form of Honora, and it carries the same meaning, "Honor, or light." These days many parents use Norah as a given name in its own right, not only as a nickname.
- How do you pronounce Norah?
- Norah is pronounced ˈnɔr.ə. Say it as NOR-ah, with the stress on the "nor" syllable.
- How do you spell Norah?
- The standard spelling is Norah. Common spelling variants include Nora, Noora, Honora.
- Is Norah a boy or girl name?
- Norah is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Norah?
- Norah ranked #262 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.