Eleanor
/EL-ə-nor/
Eleanor is a girl name of Provençal origin, meaning Uncertain; possibly "the other Aenor.
- GenderGirl
- OriginProvençal
- StyleOriginal
- Syllables3
- US rank#21
What does Eleanor mean?
Uncertain; possibly "the other Aenor
Eleanor comes from the Old Provençal Alienor. The traditional explanation is that Eleanor of Aquitaine was named alia Aenor, "the other Aenor", to distinguish her from her mother. That story is medieval rather than modern, and it may be a folk etymology; the origin is not settled. The connection to Greek eleos, "mercy", is a later invention.
The story behind the name
Eleanor of Aquitaine is one of the extraordinary lives of the Middle Ages: Duchess of Aquitaine in her own right, Queen of France, then Queen of England, mother of Richard the Lionheart and King John, imprisoned by her second husband for sixteen years, and still governing at eighty.
Eleanor of Castile, who married Edward I, is commemorated by the Eleanor crosses - Charing Cross in London is a Victorian replica of the last of them.
In America the name belongs to Eleanor Roosevelt, who redefined what a First Lady could be and chaired the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The name has risen steeply since 2010 and is back in the American top twenty.
Notable people named Eleanor
- Eleanor of Aquitaine
- Eleanor Roosevelt, diplomat and First Lady
- Eleanor Ostrom, Nobel laureate in economics
How popular is Eleanor?
Popularity in the United States
Eleanor has been given to 301,600 babies in the United States since 1880, peaking in the 1920s. It has been climbing over the last two decades.
About 1 in 260 babies born in the United States were given this name in the most recent year on record.
Popularity in France
Eleanor has been given to 686 babies in France since 1989, peaking in the 2010s. It has been climbing over the last two decades.
Variants and related names
Other spellings: Elinor, Eleanore, Leonor, Eleonora
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Start swiping - it's freeFrequently asked questions about Eleanor
What does the name Eleanor mean?
Eleanor means Uncertain; possibly "the other Aenor. It is of Provençal origin.
Is Eleanor a boy's or a girl's name?
Eleanor is most often given to girls.
How do you pronounce Eleanor?
Eleanor is pronounced EL-ə-nor.
How popular is the name Eleanor?
Eleanor has been given to 301,600 babies in the United States since 1880, peaking in the 1920s. It has been climbing over the last two decades.
What are other spellings of Eleanor?
Common variants include Elinor, Eleanore, Leonor, Eleonora.