Fun Facts About the Name Eleanor
- Back among the favorites: Eleanor returned to the U.S. top 100 in 1883 and stayed there for 12 consecutive years, through 2025.
- More than 337 thousand babies named Eleanor: U.S. records list 337,284 babies given the name Eleanor from 1880 through 2025. Even 645 boys received the name Eleanor - about 1 boy for every 522 girls.
What Does the Name Eleanor Mean?
Eleanor is a female given name of uncertain meaning. It entered English from the Old French form Alienor or Elienor, which came from the Occitan name Alienòr. The ultimate origin is debated. One explanation traces it to a Germanic name built from the elements adal (noble) and nord (north), which would give a literal sense like "noble north." Another explanation derives it from the Occitan name Aenor with the Latin word alia (other), meaning "other Aenor," supposedly to distinguish a younger Eleanor from her mother, also named Aenor. Neither explanation is confirmed. The name is not related to the Greek word for light, though it is sometimes associated with light in modern symbolic interpretations.
Eleanor Name History & Origins
The name Eleanor is an English form of the Old French Alienor, which itself comes from the Occitan Alienòr. It is closely associated with Eleanor of Aquitaine (c. 1122 - 1204), who was queen of France and then England, and it is from the 12th century that the name becomes widely recorded. Through her and other noblewomen, the name spread across the royal families of Europe. It was used by Eleanor of Castile, Eleanor of Provence, and Eleanor of Portugal, among others. In England, the name was established by the 13th century and has been used continuously since. The English spelling Eleanor is one of several forms; others include Elinor, Eleanora, and Leonor in Spanish and Portuguese, Eleonora in Italian, and Eleonore in German. The name also appears in literature, such as in Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility (1811), where the character is spelled Elinor. However, the literary use is not the name's earliest documented appearance, which is in medieval records.
How Popular is the Name Eleanor?
Eleanor has a rich multi-era history in the U.S. top 100, spanning 59 total years and enjoying its modern revival from 2014 to 2025.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #12 | 7,649 | 0.4759% |
| 2024 | #14 | 7,127 | 0.4418% |
| 2023 | #14 | 6,757 | 0.4216% |
| 2022 | #16 | 6,925 | 0.4226% |
| 2021 | #15 | 7,097 | 0.4328% |
| 2020 | #22 | 6,378 | 0.3948% |
| 2019 | #27 | 6,198 | 0.3695% |
| 2018 | #32 | 5,727 | 0.3368% |
| 2017 | #36 | 5,549 | 0.3215% |
| 2016 | #41 | 5,139 | 0.2901% |
| 2015 | #60 | 4,439 | 0.2487% |
| 2014 | #78 | 3,740 | 0.2094% |
| 2013 | #106 | 3,013 | 0.1717% |
| 2012 | #134 | 2,383 | 0.1353% |
| 2011 | #150 | 2,084 | 0.1185% |
| 2010 | #166 | 1,851 | 0.1041% |
| 2009 | #218 | 1,486 | 0.0809% |
| 2008 | #255 | 1,343 | 0.0710% |
| 2007 | #266 | 1,272 | 0.0662% |
| 2006 | #270 | 1,221 | 0.0642% |
| 2005 | #264 | 1,237 | 0.0669% |
| 2004 | #301 | 1,063 | 0.0579% |
| 2003 | #308 | 1,007 | 0.0551% |
| 2002 | #319 | 961 | 0.0535% |
| 2001 | #359 | 826 | 0.0459% |
| 2000 | #375 | 771 | 0.0425% |
| 1999 | #404 | 688 | 0.0388% |
| 1998 | #386 | 720 | 0.0407% |
| 1997 | #465 | 537 | 0.0309% |
| 1996 | #490 | 487 | 0.0278% |
| 1995 | #544 | 437 | 0.0249% |
| 1994 | #585 | 390 | 0.0218% |
| 1993 | #537 | 445 | 0.0246% |
| 1992 | #585 | 395 | 0.0214% |
| 1991 | #583 | 394 | 0.0210% |
| 1990 | #599 | 378 | 0.0199% |
| 1989 | #600 | 357 | 0.0194% |
| 1988 | #642 | 309 | 0.0174% |
| 1987 | #649 | 290 | 0.0167% |
| 1986 | #693 | 263 | 0.0153% |
| 1985 | #670 | 270 | 0.0157% |
| 1984 | #687 | 244 | 0.0145% |
| 1983 | #656 | 263 | 0.0157% |
| 1982 | #671 | 265 | 0.0156% |
| 1981 | #657 | 270 | 0.0162% |
| 1980 | #677 | 258 | 0.0155% |
| 1979 | #630 | 276 | 0.0172% |
| 1978 | #624 | 269 | 0.0176% |
| 1977 | #689 | 228 | 0.0149% |
| 1976 | #609 | 257 | 0.0175% |
| 1975 | #650 | 234 | 0.0161% |
| 1974 | #665 | 228 | 0.0155% |
| 1973 | #591 | 266 | 0.0182% |
| 1972 | #555 | 300 | 0.0197% |
| 1971 | #554 | 325 | 0.0195% |
| 1970 | #522 | 366 | 0.0209% |
| 1969 | #518 | 360 | 0.0213% |
| 1968 | #475 | 408 | 0.0249% |
| 1967 | #451 | 443 | 0.0268% |
| 1966 | #431 | 473 | 0.0280% |
| 1965 | #372 | 603 | 0.0342% |
| 1964 | #377 | 648 | 0.0342% |
| 1963 | #376 | 667 | 0.0346% |
| 1962 | #341 | 763 | 0.0388% |
| 1961 | #348 | 748 | 0.0371% |
| 1960 | #328 | 826 | 0.0409% |
| 1959 | #315 | 865 | 0.0427% |
| 1958 | #305 | 864 | 0.0430% |
| 1957 | #292 | 962 | 0.0470% |
| 1956 | #263 | 1,044 | 0.0520% |
| 1955 | #257 | 1,043 | 0.0533% |
| 1954 | #242 | 1,117 | 0.0575% |
| 1953 | #227 | 1,254 | 0.0667% |
| 1952 | #219 | 1,249 | 0.0674% |
| 1951 | #210 | 1,296 | 0.0720% |
| 1950 | #199 | 1,371 | 0.0800% |
| 1949 | #183 | 1,517 | 0.0887% |
| 1948 | #169 | 1,664 | 0.0980% |
| 1947 | #158 | 1,853 | 0.1045% |
| 1946 | #139 | 1,933 | 0.1230% |
| 1945 | #130 | 1,876 | 0.1435% |
| 1944 | #122 | 2,190 | 0.1650% |
| 1943 | #107 | 2,729 | 0.1956% |
| 1942 | #87 | 3,165 | 0.2343% |
| 1941 | #78 | 3,250 | 0.2690% |
| 1940 | #68 | 3,584 | 0.3134% |
| 1939 | #63 | 3,810 | 0.3474% |
| 1938 | #60 | 4,049 | 0.3669% |
| 1937 | #53 | 4,275 | 0.4018% |
| 1936 | #47 | 4,341 | 0.4173% |
| 1935 | #48 | 4,166 | 0.3973% |
| 1934 | #44 | 4,718 | 0.4518% |
| 1933 | #38 | 5,106 | 0.5066% |
| 1932 | #45 | 4,836 | 0.4532% |
| 1931 | #40 | 5,255 | 0.4936% |
| 1930 | #39 | 5,823 | 0.5172% |
| 1929 | #38 | 5,865 | 0.5253% |
| 1928 | #36 | 6,535 | 0.5666% |
| 1927 | #33 | 6,963 | 0.5839% |
| 1926 | #32 | 7,305 | 0.6162% |
| 1925 | #31 | 7,724 | 0.6345% |
| 1924 | #29 | 8,193 | 0.6560% |
| 1923 | #28 | 7,772 | 0.6442% |
| 1922 | #28 | 7,852 | 0.6538% |
| 1921 | #29 | 8,054 | 0.6532% |
| 1920 | #25 | 8,497 | 0.7091% |
| 1919 | #30 | 7,611 | 0.6735% |
| 1918 | #26 | 8,176 | 0.7063% |
| 1917 | #26 | 7,669 | 0.7093% |
| 1916 | #27 | 7,406 | 0.7092% |
| 1915 | #28 | 7,036 | 0.7151% |
| 1914 | #28 | 5,374 | 0.7056% |
| 1913 | #34 | 3,938 | 0.6305% |
| 1912 | #39 | 3,120 | 0.5590% |
| 1911 | #49 | 2,035 | 0.4865% |
| 1910 | #55 | 1,798 | 0.4535% |
| 1909 | #57 | 1,460 | 0.4205% |
| 1908 | #65 | 1,302 | 0.3895% |
| 1907 | #67 | 1,155 | 0.3626% |
| 1906 | #67 | 1,088 | 0.3684% |
| 1905 | #73 | 1,041 | 0.3570% |
| 1904 | #80 | 868 | 0.3152% |
| 1903 | #79 | 840 | 0.3206% |
| 1902 | #79 | 837 | 0.3170% |
| 1901 | #84 | 686 | 0.2866% |
| 1900 | #88 | 753 | 0.2512% |
| 1899 | #94 | 575 | 0.2468% |
| 1898 | #95 | 620 | 0.2396% |
| 1897 | #95 | 559 | 0.2387% |
| 1896 | #102 | 493 | 0.2072% |
| 1895 | #98 | 544 | 0.2328% |
| 1894 | #108 | 450 | 0.2019% |
| 1893 | #111 | 397 | 0.1865% |
| 1892 | #116 | 389 | 0.1832% |
| 1891 | #103 | 376 | 0.2027% |
| 1890 | #117 | 351 | 0.1844% |
| 1889 | #123 | 312 | 0.1749% |
| 1888 | #128 | 288 | 0.1612% |
| 1887 | #122 | 247 | 0.1692% |
| 1886 | #114 | 271 | 0.1875% |
| 1885 | #119 | 222 | 0.1668% |
| 1884 | #124 | 198 | 0.1535% |
| 1883 | #114 | 185 | 0.1647% |
| 1882 | #117 | 174 | 0.1613% |
| 1881 | #142 | 110 | 0.1196% |
| 1880 | #127 | 129 | 0.1418% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #12,559 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2024 | #7,884 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2023 | #11,213 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2022 | #11,254 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2021 | #12,670 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2019 | #10,033 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2018 | #12,696 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2009 | #13,024 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1989 | #6,417 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1953 | #3,212 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1946 | #3,276 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1944 | #2,230 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1943 | #2,608 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1942 | #2,299 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1941 | #1,709 | 17 | 0.0014% |
| 1940 | #1,443 | 22 | 0.0019% |
| 1939 | #1,660 | 17 | 0.0015% |
| 1938 | #1,493 | 21 | 0.0019% |
| 1937 | #1,777 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1936 | #1,431 | 22 | 0.0021% |
| 1935 | #1,505 | 21 | 0.0020% |
| 1934 | #2,048 | 13 | 0.0013% |
| 1933 | #2,128 | 12 | 0.0012% |
| 1932 | #1,940 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1931 | #1,261 | 30 | 0.0029% |
| 1930 | #1,439 | 26 | 0.0024% |
| 1929 | #1,691 | 20 | 0.0019% |
| 1928 | #1,360 | 29 | 0.0026% |
| 1927 | #1,327 | 31 | 0.0028% |
| 1926 | #1,811 | 19 | 0.0017% |
| 1925 | #1,825 | 19 | 0.0017% |
| 1924 | #1,592 | 24 | 0.0021% |
| 1923 | #2,047 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1922 | #1,665 | 22 | 0.0020% |
| 1921 | #2,283 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1920 | #2,824 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1919 | #2,729 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1918 | #2,590 | 11 | 0.0011% |
| 1917 | #2,208 | 13 | 0.0014% |
| 1916 | #2,599 | 10 | 0.0011% |
| 1915 | #1,900 | 15 | 0.0018% |
| 1914 | #1,899 | 12 | 0.0018% |
| 1913 | #2,333 | 7 | 0.0014% |
| 1912 | #2,357 | 6 | 0.0014% |
| 1911 | #1,590 | 6 | 0.0027% |
| 1910 | #1,663 | 5 | 0.0026% |
| 1908 | #967 | 9 | 0.0058% |
| 1906 | #1,292 | 5 | 0.0038% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Eleanor
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
Revived Favorite Girl Names
Explore More Lists with Name Eleanor
Most Popular Girl Names That Start with E
How the Name Eleanor Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are fine when in harmony but changeable when in discord, because many of your best qualities are then reversed. You are entertaining but may be impulsive. Freedom is a necessity, and you find it difficult to settle down. Your versatility results in many changes, and often brings travel. Your fine intellect is capable of high honors if applied seriously. You are capable of inspired thinking applied to material things. You can be restless, changeable, and very sexy. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You are very intuitive. You have a reservoir of inspired wisdom combined with inherited analytical ability, which could reward you through expressions of spiritual leadership, business analysis, marketing, artistic visions, and scientific research. Operating on spiritual side of your individuality can bring you to the great heights, and drop you off if you neglect your spiritual identity. You are always looking for an opportunity to investigate the unknown, to use and show your mental abilities, to find the purpose and meaning of life. You want to grow wise and to understand people and things. You need privacy to replenish your energy. You have a unique way of thinking, intuitive, reflective, absorbing.
✦ Eleanor's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Eleanor's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.