About the name Eleanor
The origin of Eleanor is debated, and we couldn't confirm its meaning from a sourced etymology. A commonly cited theory links it to French roots, with the meaning “Of uncertain origin; often linked to "light"”. Treat that as a theory, not a settled fact.
Why we say this: we only state a meaning as fact when a sourced etymology (Wiktionary, with its references) supports it. For Eleanor we didn't find one we were confident in, so we show the popular explanation as a theory.
It has a vintage, classic feel. In 2025, Eleanor ranked #12 for girls in the US, with 7,649 babies given the name. Its peak year since 1940 was 2025. Since 2000, 100% of US babies named Eleanor were girls.
- US rank 2025
- #12
- In 2015
- #60
- Babies in 2025
- 7,649
Popularity of Eleanor, 1940–2025
Latest SSA data: 2025.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration national baby names (public domain; names given to at least 5 babies of one sex per year).
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Eleanor
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The Baby Kit
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Nicknames for Eleanor
Names similar to Eleanor
Name meanings marked or linked “Wiktionary” are adapted from Wiktionary by Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; each name page links its source entry.