Eleanor
A girls’ name of Old French origin, meaning shining light.
How Eleanor has moved
View as table
| Year | US rank |
|---|---|
| 2015 | #60 |
| 2016 | #41 |
| 2017 | #35 |
| 2018 | #32 |
| 2019 | #27 |
| 2020 | #22 |
| 2021 | #15 |
| 2022 | #16 |
| 2023 | #14 |
| 2024 | #14 |
| 2025 | #12 |
Eleanor by the numbers
In 2025, 776 babies in England and Wales were named Eleanor. In the US, 5,519 were, though that figure is from 2017, the most recent full year we hold.
It is used at about the same rate on both sides of the Atlantic.
Its American peak was 8,498 babies in 1920, making it a 1920s name.
At its height, in 1915, about 1 in 150 American girls born that year was called Eleanor.
Names that come from Eleanor
Forms of Eleanor in other languages, names built from it, and names that mean a son or daughter of it. Not always the same sex.
- Elleshe; a form of Eleanor or Ellen828 in the US (2017)
- Ellybright one; a form of Eleanor144 in the US (2017)
- Nellybright light; diminutive of Eleanor121 in England and Wales (2025)
- Ellisun; a diminutive of Helen or Eleanor74 in the US (2017)
- Leonoralight, torch; a form of Eleanor71 in England and Wales (2025)
- Elleeshining light; a respelling of Ellie or Eleanor68 in the US (2017)
- Leonorbright light; a form of Eleanor28 in England and Wales (2025)
- Ellie-Maeforeign; more; a form of Eleanor and May40 in England and Wales (2025)
Spelled almost the same
Other names in the records within a letter or two of Eleanor. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.
- Eleanorabright light or sun ray; a form of Eleanor42 in England and Wales (2025)
- Eleanorebright light; a form of Eleanor99 in the US (2017)
- Elanorshining light; a modern respelling of Eleanor13 in England and Wales (2025)
- Elleanorbright light; a form of Eleanor30 in the US (2017)
- Eleonorbright light; form of Eleanor8 in England and Wales (2025)
- Elenorbright light; a form of Eleanor16 in the US (2017)
Sounds like Eleanor
Names that are said the same way as Eleanor, however they are written. Sounding alike does not mean they share a history.
- Elinorbright light; a form of Eleanor27 in England and Wales (2025)
- Ellinorbright torch; a form of Eleanor31 in the US (2017)
- Ellanorebright light; a variant of Eleanor21 in the US (2017)
- Elenorebright light or torch; form of eleanor20 in the US (2017)
- Ellenorbright light; a form of Eleanor3 in England and Wales (2025)
- Elinorebright light; a form of Eleanor16 in the US (2017)
Other names that mean light
Like Eleanor, each of these has light in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
Names about as common as Eleanor
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