Eleanor Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Eleanor is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Eleanor?
Eleanor is spelled E-L-E-A-N-O-R. The name has 7 letters.
Eleanor at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Eleanor may derive from the Old French name Aliénor, of uncertain meaning possibly related to “other” or “foreign.”
- Origin
- Eleanor is commonly associated with Old French and medieval European usage, with possible connections to names like Aliénor.
- Pronunciation
- el-uh-nor · 3 syllables
Eleanor Popularity in 2025
Rank#12
Recorded Births7,649
Rank#12,008
Recorded Births5
- Girls usage rose 2 places to #12 and recorded 502 more births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage fell 4,243 places to #12,008 and recorded 5 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Eleanor Mean?
Eleanor may derive from the Old French name Aliénor, of uncertain meaning possibly related to “other” or “foreign.”
Origin: Eleanor is commonly associated with Old French and medieval European usage, with possible connections to names like Aliénor.
How Do You Pronounce Eleanor?
Pronunciationel-uh-nor
Syllables3
What Is the History of the Name Eleanor?
- History
- Eleanor has been historically used among European nobility, notably in medieval England and France, though exact earliest uses are uncertain.
Eleanor Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2009 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 7,649 | #12 |
| 2025 | Boys | 5 | #12,008 |
| 2024 | Girls | 7,147 | #14 |
| 2024 | Boys | 10 | #7,765 |
| 2023 | Girls | 6,765 | #14 |
| 2023 | Boys | 6 | #10,821 |
| 2022 | Girls | 6,927 | #16 |
| 2022 | Boys | 6 | #10,863 |
| 2021 | Girls | 7,099 | #15 |
| 2021 | Boys | 5 | #12,146 |
| 2020 | Girls | 6,379 | #22 |
| 2019 | Girls | 6,198 | #27 |
| 2019 | Boys | 7 | #9,756 |
| 2018 | Girls | 5,728 | #32 |
| 2018 | Boys | 5 | #12,156 |
| 2017 | Girls | 5,549 | #36 |
| 2016 | Girls | 5,140 | #41 |
| 2015 | Girls | 4,442 | #60 |
| 2014 | Girls | 3,740 | #78 |
| 2013 | Girls | 3,013 | #106 |
| 2012 | Girls | 2,383 | #134 |
| 2011 | Girls | 2,085 | #150 |
| 2010 | Girls | 1,851 | #166 |
| 2009 | Girls | 1,486 | #218 |
When Was Eleanor Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1920 · Girls
8,497 recorded births
National rank #25
1924 · Girls
8,193 recorded births
National rank #29
1918 · Girls
8,176 recorded births
National rank #26
1921 · Girls
8,054 recorded births
National rank #29
Where Eleanor Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| WI | #2 | 195 |
| ME | #2 | 45 |
| IN | #3 | 265 |
| VT | #3 | 26 |
| MI | #4 | 294 |
| MO | #4 | 248 |
| MN | #4 | 194 |
| KS | #5 | 118 |