Elleanor
A feminine name of English origin meaning "shining light".
Name Census estimates that about 630 living Americans carry the first name Elleanor. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Elleanor today is around 10 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Elleanor births was 2020 (57 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Elleanor. 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
630
~ 1 in 544,055 Americans
Peak year
2020
57 babies that year
Average age
10
years old
2024 SSA rank
#3,701
Tracked since 1915
Popularity
Elleanor: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Elleanor from the 1910s through to the 2020s, spanning 8 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 293 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
Elleanor 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 Elleanor during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Elleanors live
The SSA's state-level files cover 5 states and territories. Texas, California, Tennessee recorded the most babies named Elleanor, while Ohio, Louisiana, Tennessee recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 8 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Elleanor
The name Elleanor has its origins in the medieval French language and culture, derived from the Germanic elements "ali" meaning "other" and "arn" meaning "eagle". It emerged as a feminine form of the name Eleanor, which was popularized throughout Europe during the Middle Ages.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Elleanor can be traced back to the 12th century. Elleanor of Aquitaine, a powerful and influential figure in French history, ruled as the Duchess of Aquitaine and later became the Queen of France through her marriage to King Louis VII. Her life and reign had a significant impact on the political and cultural landscape of the time.
In the realm of literature, the name Elleanor gained prominence through the works of English playwright William Shakespeare. In his play "King John," a character named Elleanor, the widow of King Henry II, plays a pivotal role. This literary reference contributed to the name's enduring legacy and recognition.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Elleanor. One such figure was Elleanor of Provence (1223-1291), the wife of King Henry III of England and an influential political figure in her own right. Another prominent Elleanor was Elleanor of Castile (1241-1290), the wife of King Edward I of England and a renowned patron of arts and architecture.
In the realm of arts and culture, Elleanor Duse (1858-1924) was an Italian actress widely regarded as one of the greatest performers of her time. Her work helped shape modern acting techniques and influenced generations of actors to come.
Moving to more recent times, Elleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962), the wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, left an indelible mark on history. She was a renowned humanitarian, diplomat, and advocate for human rights, and her impact extends far beyond her role as the First Lady of the United States.
These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals who have carried the name Elleanor throughout history, each leaving their unique mark on their respective fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of cultural heritage associated with this name.
People
Elleanor + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Elleanor 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
Elleanor: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Elleanor?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 630 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Elleanor 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 544,055 US residents.
Is Elleanor a common name?
We classify Elleanor as "Very Rare". It ranks above 86.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 671 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Elleanor most popular?
The single biggest year for Elleanor was 2020, when 57 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Elleanor is about 10 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Elleanor a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Elleanor 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.