Nora Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Nora is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Nora?
Nora is spelled N-O-R-A. The name has 4 letters.
Nora at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Nora may derive from Honora, meaning “honor” in Latin, or from the Greek-derived name Eleonora, meaning “light.”
- Origin
- Nora is commonly associated with English and Irish naming traditions and may be a diminutive of Honora or Eleonora.
- Pronunciation
- NOR-uh · 2 syllables
Nora Popularity in 2025
Rank#20
Recorded Births6,380
Rank#10,695
Recorded Births6
- Girls usage rose 2 places to #20 and recorded 232 more births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage fell 90 places to #10,695 and recorded the same number of births compared with 2020.
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 Nora Mean?
Nora may derive from Honora, meaning “honor” in Latin, or from the Greek-derived name Eleonora, meaning “light.”
Origin: Nora is commonly associated with English and Irish naming traditions and may be a diminutive of Honora or Eleonora.
How Do You Pronounce Nora?
PronunciationNOR-uh
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Nora?
- History
- The name Nora has been historically used in Irish and English records in various forms.
Nora Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2006 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 6,380 | #20 |
| 2025 | Boys | 6 | #10,695 |
| 2024 | Girls | 6,148 | #22 |
| 2023 | Girls | 6,027 | #24 |
| 2022 | Girls | 6,148 | #28 |
| 2021 | Girls | 6,281 | #27 |
| 2020 | Girls | 5,583 | #30 |
| 2020 | Boys | 6 | #10,605 |
| 2019 | Girls | 5,936 | #29 |
| 2018 | Girls | 5,837 | #30 |
| 2018 | Boys | 7 | #9,670 |
| 2017 | Girls | 6,067 | #29 |
| 2016 | Girls | 5,593 | #36 |
| 2015 | Girls | 5,330 | #41 |
| 2014 | Girls | 4,741 | #49 |
| 2014 | Boys | 5 | #12,108 |
| 2013 | Girls | 3,508 | #83 |
| 2012 | Girls | 2,890 | #108 |
| 2011 | Girls | 2,235 | #137 |
| 2010 | Girls | 1,939 | #159 |
| 2009 | Girls | 1,670 | #198 |
| 2008 | Girls | 1,560 | #216 |
| 2007 | Girls | 1,474 | #242 |
| 2006 | Girls | 1,385 | #245 |
When Was Nora 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.
2025 · Girls
6,380 recorded births
National rank #20
2021 · Girls
6,281 recorded births
National rank #27
2024 · Girls
6,148 recorded births
National rank #22
2022 · Girls
6,148 recorded births
National rank #28
Where Nora 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 |
|---|---|---|
| MN | #4 | 194 |
| VT | #4 | 22 |
| MT | #5 | 37 |
| NH | #6 | 51 |
| WI | #7 | 185 |
| SD | #7 | 31 |
| MA | #8 | 223 |
| CT | #8 | 99 |