Eleonor
A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "shining light" or "bright one".
Name Census estimates that about 466 living Americans carry the first name Eleonor. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Eleonor today is around 18 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Eleonor births was 2024 (50 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Eleonor. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
466
~ 1 in 735,524 Americans
Peak year
2024
50 babies that year
Average age
18
years old
2024 SSA rank
#3,176
Tracked since 1909
Popularity
Eleonor: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Eleonor from the 1900s through to the 2020s, spanning 13 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 169 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Eleonor by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Eleonor during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Eleonors live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. California, Texas, Florida recorded the most babies named Eleonor, while Florida, Texas, California recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 27 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Eleonor
The name Eleonor has its origins in the Old French form "Elienor", derived from the Occitan word "Aliénor". This name traces its roots back to the Germanic name "Adualnore", composed of the elements "adual" meaning "other" and "nore" meaning "honor". The earliest recorded spelling of the name can be found in the 12th century.
Eleonor gained widespread popularity due to its association with the influential Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122-1204), one of the most powerful and prominent figures of the Middle Ages. As the Duchess of Aquitaine and later as the Queen of England, she played a significant role in the affairs of medieval Europe.
Another notable bearer of the name was Eleanor of Castile (1241-1290), the first wife of King Edward I of England. She accompanied her husband on the Eighth Crusade and was renowned for her courage and devotion.
In the 14th century, Eleanor of Woodstock (1318-1349), the daughter of King Edward II of England, was a prominent figure known for her involvement in the baronial rebellion against her uncle, King Edward III.
The name Eleonor also gained recognition through the life of Eleanor of Portugal (1328-1348), who was the Queen of Aragon and played a significant role in the political and cultural affairs of the Iberian Peninsula.
In the 15th century, Eleanor of Navarre (1426-1479) was a notable figure who served as the Queen of Navarre and played a crucial role in the struggle for independence against the Kingdom of Aragon.
Throughout history, the name Eleonor has been associated with strength, nobility, and influence, reflecting the legacy of its illustrious bearers. Its enduring popularity can be attributed to its rich historical significance and its connection to powerful and influential women who left an indelible mark on the course of events.
People
Eleonor + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Eleonor as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with E
Other first names starting with E with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Eleonor: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Eleonor?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 466 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Eleonor going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 735,524 US residents.
Is Eleonor a common name?
We classify Eleonor as "Very Rare". It ranks above 83.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 725 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Eleonor most popular?
The single biggest year for Eleonor was 2024, when 50 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Eleonor is about 18 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Eleonor a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Eleonor in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.