Eleanor as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Eleanor

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The baby name Eleanor is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced US: /ˈɛlənɔɹ/ (EL-uh-nor); UK: /ˈɛlənɔː/ (EL-uh-naw); respelling: EL-ə-nor.

Eleanor is Old French in Origin.

Gender: Female

Syllables: 3.0

Origin: Old French

Pronunciation: US: /ˈɛlənɔɹ/ (EL-uh-nor); UK: /ˈɛlənɔː/ (EL-uh-naw); respelling: EL-ə-nor

What is the meaning of the name Eleanor ?

The baby name Eleanor is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced US: /ˈɛlənɔɹ/ (EL-uh-nor); UK: /ˈɛlənɔː/ (EL-uh-naw); respelling: EL-ə-nor.

Eleanor is Old French in Origin.

Rooted in Old French Aliénor from Occitan Aliénor, the name Eleanor likely arose from the phrase alia Aenor, “the other Aenor,” used to distinguish a daughter from her mother Aénor. Brought to England by Eleanor of Aquitaine in the 12th century, it spread through Anglo‑Norman courts, graced several English queens (Eleanor of Castile, Eleanor of Provence), then dipped before a strong Victorian revival that fixed it as a steady modern classic.

Its precise meaning is debated: the historical formation points to “the other Aenor,” while long-standing association with Greek Helen (Helene) lends the popular gloss “light” or “torch.” Notable variants include Elinor, Elenor, Éléonore (French), Eleonore (German), Eleonora (Italian/Polish), Leonor (Spanish/Portuguese), and Ellinor (Scandinavian), with elaborations Eleanora and Leonora. Friendly diminutives abound - Ella, Ellie, Nell, Nellie, Nora, and Lenore - supporting Eleanor’s blend of regal history and approachable warmth.

Eleanor has the following similar or variant Names

Eleanor Roosevelt Politician · Born 1884 · United States Eleanor Roosevelt was a prominent American politician and the First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945. She is most famous for her role as a diplomat and activist, championing human rights and women's issues. Eleanor also played a key role in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.	Eleanor Parker Actor · Born 1922 · United States Eleanor Parker was an American actress best known for her acclaimed film performances in Caged, Detective Story, and Interrupted Melody. She earned three Academy Award nominations, and her role in Caged also won her the Volpi Cup for Best Actress.	Eleanor of Provence Politician · Born 1223 · France Eleanor of Provence was most famous for being Queen of England as the wife of King Henry III. A Provençal noblewoman, she served as queen from 1236 until Henry’s death in 1272.
Eleanor of Austria Politician · Born 1498 · Spain Eleanor of Austria is best known as a Habsburg princess who became queen consort of both Portugal and France. Also called Eleanor of Castile, she was Queen of Portugal from 1518 to 1521 through her marriage to King Manuel I and Queen of France from 1530 to 1547 as the wife of King Francis I, and later held the Duchy of Touraine in dower.	Eleanor Tomlinson Actor · Born 1992 · United Kingdom Eleanor Tomlinson is an English actress best known for playing Demelza in Poldark. She has also appeared in films like Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging, Jack the Giant Slayer, and Colette.	Eleanor Holm Actor · Born 1913 · United States Eleanor Holm was an American Olympic swimmer best known for winning a gold medal and competing in the 1928 and 1932 Olympics. She was also controversially expelled from the U.S. team before the 1936 Summer Olympics by Avery Brundage.

Eleanor of Anjou, Queen of Sicily

Royal · Born 1289

Eleanor of Anjou was a queen consort of Sicily, known for her marriage to Frederick III of Sicily. She played a significant role in the political landscape of the time, supporting her husband's reign and the Kingdom of Sicily.

Eleanor, Fair Maid of Brittany

Royal · Born 1185 · Kingdom of England

Eleanor, Fair Maid of Brittany, was most famous as a Breton princess and the eldest daughter of Geoffrey II, Duke of Brittany, and Constance, Duchess of Brittany. Also known as the Damsel of Brittany, Pearl of Brittany, or Beauty of Brittany, she lived from about 1184 to 1241.

Eleanor of Arborea

Royal · Born 1340 · Judicate of Arborea

Eleanor of Arborea is most famous as Sardinia’s celebrated heroine and one of the last and most powerful judges of the Judicate of Arborea. Also known as Eleanor De Serra Bas, she ruled in the late 1300s and remains one of the island’s most important historical figures.

Eleanor Coppola

Actor · Born 1936 · United States

Eleanor Coppola was best known as a documentary filmmaker, writer, and artist, and as a member of the Coppola family. She directed Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse and Paris Can Wait, and was married to director Francis Ford Coppola from 1963 until her death in 2024.

Eleanor Bron

Actor · Born 1934 · United Kingdom

Eleanor Bron is an English actress and author, best known for her work on stage and screen. She is especially remembered for playing Ahme in the Beatles film Help! and has also appeared widely in television and theatre.

Eleanor Matsuura

Actor · Born 1983 · Japan

Eleanor Matsuura is a British actress best known for playing Yumiko on The Walking Dead. She has also appeared as Hannah Santo in Spooks: The Greater Good, Bev in Utopia, and PC Donna Prager in Cuffs.

Eleanor Audley

Actor · Born 1905 · United States

Eleanor Audley was an American actress best known for her voice roles as Lady Tremaine in Disney's Cinderella and Maleficent in Sleeping Beauty. Her distinctive voice made these characters memorable in the world of animation. She also appeared in live-action television series like Green Acres and The Dick Van Dyke Show.

Eleanor Worthington Cox

Actor · Born 2001 · United Kingdom

Eleanor Worthington Cox is a British actor best known for her role as Matilda in the West End production of Matilda the Musical, for which she won an Olivier Award. She also appeared in the TV series Britannia and the film Maleficent.

Name	Last Name(s)	Mother	Mother famous for	Fame Level	Father	Father famous for	Fame Level
Eleanor	Columbus				Chris Columbus	film director	★★★★★

Eleanor – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country	Gender	Year	Rank	Born	of
Ireland	Girls	2025	#1	—	874
Germany	Girls	2025	#1	—	411
United States	Girls	2024	#14	7,127	8,487
Canada	Girls	2024	#31	550	2,795
NA		0	#33	1	2,537
MO		0	#52	1	2,706
CM		0	#56	1	2,592
LU		0	#65	2	2,830
BG		0	#82	1	1,799
PH		0	#85	12	5,607
CN		0	#86	1	3,857
JM		0	#93	1	3,714
TW		0	#99	5	4,523
QA		0	#104	3	7,011
GE	Girls	0	#108	1	1,564
BN	Girls	0	#110	5	5,459
Switzerland	Girls	2024	#114	22	1,786
HU		0	#115	1	1,675
KW		0	#118	4	5,216
OM		0	#120	2	6,215
EC		0	#121	1	2,502
CY	Girls	0	#122	4	3,755
EE	Boys	0	#125	1	2,087
MT	Girls	0	#132	20	3,773
EE	Girls	0	#142	1	1,888
BW	Girls	0	#151	1	4,216
Belgium	Girls	2024	#157	29	424
Sweden	Girls	2022	#164	16	1,568
AE		0	#182	6	10,220
CZ		0	#185	2	3,154
LU	Girls	0	#189	2	4,850
RU		0	#192	3	3,641
NA	Girls	0	#215	10	7,146
PS		0	#223	4	5,692
HU	Girls	0	#225	1	3,308
IR		0	#231	1	4,221
SG		0	#240	30	11,010
MO	Girls	0	#242	10	7,056
GR	Girls	0	#246	4	6,293
GH		0	#248	1	5,396
JP	Girls	0	#248	4	6,592
PT		0	#250	1	4,161
EC	Girls	0	#258	1	3,650
TW	Girls	0	#261	16	8,139
JM	Girls	0	#270	9	7,507
NG		0	#271	2	5,926
IL		0	#275	8	6,291
PH	Girls	0	#279	113	13,098
SA		0	#284	12	10,560
QA	Girls	0	#288	29	15,378
JM	Boys	0	#293	1	6,876
HR	Girls	0	#294	1	3,687
GH	Girls	0	#296	29	6,973
KZ	Boys	0	#296	1	6,578
MY		0	#312	19	12,352
CN	Girls	0	#326	24	8,829
DK	Girls	0	#327	3	7,429
KZ	Girls	0	#327	6	5,862
CZ	Girls	0	#328	14	5,378
HK		0	#328	21	8,483
PE		0	#329	1	6,350
France	Girls	2021	#330	76	3,185
CN	Boys	0	#331	1	9,639
JO	Girls	0	#337	3	7,570
MU	Girls	0	#361	2	8,539
PL	Girls	0	#362	3	5,096
ZA		0	#375	73	14,421
OM	Girls	0	#377	20	15,987
Finland	Girls	0	#381	11	1,368
PT	Boys	0	#381	1	7,951
YE		0	#397	2	8,639
SG	Girls	0	#405	185	18,916
BD	Girls	0	#406	1	8,413
BO		0	#407	2	6,868
PH	Boys	0	#408	1	11,440
CL		0	#432	3	6,867
Spain		0	#442	11	2,326
CM	Girls	0	#463	78	11,671
PT	Girls	0	#467	5	7,952
KW	Girls	0	#471	45	19,177
RU	Girls	0	#477	22	11,913
HK	Girls	0	#481	135	16,104
PS	Girls	0	#481	43	10,981
AE	Girls	0	#496	58	20,968
CO		0	#510	1	7,768
CR	Boys	0	#510	1	10,188
PA	Girls	0	#510	9	9,861
ZA	Girls	0	#516	893	25,928
IR	Girls	0	#517	14	8,334
IQ	Girls	0	#524	2	11,303
RU	Boys	0	#525	2	12,621
BH		0	#535	19	17,937
UY	Girls	0	#535	2	6,731
GT	Girls	0	#537	5	7,500
IL	Girls	0	#551	67	11,648
HK	Boys	0	#557	1	12,905
LY		0	#557	3	12,703
IR	Boys	0	#564	2	10,162
CR	Girls	0	#566	8	11,342
CM	Boys	0	#568	8	12,054
BO	Boys	0	#622	1	9,244
Finland	Girls	2026	#623	118	3,895
IL	Boys	0	#625	1	10,983
AR	Girls	0	#627	4	8,289
BO	Girls	0	#646	6	9,488
IN	Girls	0	#654	1	13,121
LB		0	#682	9	13,263
IT		0	#695	20	4,183
IQ	Boys	0	#697	1	13,071
SY		0	#719	10	11,684
NG	Girls	0	#726	61	15,093
SG	Boys	0	#739	1	17,960
BR	Boys	0	#785	1	12,213
Germany	Girls	0	#818	21	4,949
CL	Girls	0	#835	17	14,098
TN		0	#863	3	13,765
SA	Girls	0	#869	67	25,931
United States	Boys	2024	#883	10	7,044
MY	Girls	0	#886	109	24,821
NL	Girls	0	#916	40	5,933
OM	Boys	0	#918	1	17,948
EG	Boys	0	#923	3	15,035
PE	Girls	0	#931	13	14,861
EG	Girls	0	#943	17	14,742
Spain	Girls	0	#945	39	5,561
BR	Girls	0	#990	3	12,708
NG	Boys	0	#1,001	1	16,906
MX	Boys	0	#1,032	2	16,355
CO	Girls	0	#1,067	12	16,140
AE	Boys	0	#1,141	3	22,615
MX	Girls	0	#1,144	40	17,781
ZA	Boys	0	#1,166	13	25,619
MY	Boys	0	#1,180	3	25,439
MA		0	#1,193	7	20,986
TR		0	#1,202	10	19,440
DZ		0	#1,229	6	20,130
IT	Girls	0	#1,305	142	9,415
SA	Boys	0	#1,689	3	28,008

Eleanor is popular in 77 countries — most recent births per country:

Ireland

Scotland, United Kingdom

France

Canada

England & Wales, United Kingdom

Switzerland

United States

Sweden

New South Wales, Australia

Germany

Belgium

Flanders, Belgium

New York City (White, non-Hispanic), United States

Wallonia, Belgium

New York City (Asian & Pacific Islander), United States

Brussels, Belgium

Germany

Spain

Finland

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Eleanor as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Eleanor

What is the meaning of the name Eleanor ?

Eleanor has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Eleanor

Eleanor of Anjou, Queen of Sicily

Eleanor, Fair Maid of Brittany

Eleanor of Arborea

Eleanor Coppola

Eleanor Bron

Eleanor Matsuura

Eleanor Audley

Eleanor Worthington Cox

Celebrity babies named Eleanor

Eleanor – Popularity by country

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