Eleanor

At a Glance

Meaning

Uncertain; traditionally 'the other Aenor' (a compound with her mother's name)

Origin

Old French/Provençal (from Alienor)

Gender

Girl

Pronunciation

EL-uh-norListen

Eleanor is a classic name with roots in Old French and Provençal, coming from the earlier form Alienor. You may have heard it said to mean 'shining light' — that's actually a folk-etymology mix-up with Helen; the meaning is genuinely uncertain, with the leading theory being 'the other Aenor,' a name built from her mother's name. It's pronounced EL-uh-nor.

Meaning & Origin of Eleanor

Meaning: Uncertain; traditionally 'the other Aenor' (a compound with her mother's name).

Origin: Old French/Provençal (from Alienor).

A common claim: Eleanor is widely said to mean 'shining light'. Actually: This is a folk-etymology conflation with Helen. The traditional explanation is instead 'the other Aenor', a compound referencing her mother's name.

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Eleanor

Popularity of Eleanor

Eleanor held at #14 in both 2023 and 2024, with the number of babies given the name rising from 6,757 to 7,127 over that year.

Names Like Eleanor

These names share Eleanor’s style, era or origin.

• Alena
• Alina
• Araceli
• Aurora
• Blanca
• Cassandra

FAQ

What does the name Eleanor mean?

Uncertain; traditionally ‘the other Aenor’ (a compound with her mother’s name). (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Eleanor?

Eleanor is pronounced EL-uh-nor (IPA: /ˈɛlənɔːr/).

Is Eleanor a popular name right now?

Eleanor is near its all-time peak (#14 in 2023), ranked #14 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

Make Eleanor Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Eleanor, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.