Girls · #20 in 2025
Nora: Meaning, Origin & Popularity
- Origin
- English and Irish usage; short form of Honora or Eleanor
- Meaning
- Honor through Honora; uncertain through Eleanor
- Pronunciation
- NOR-uh
- Nickname options
- Nori
Origin and meaning
Nora can be a short form of Honora or Eleanor. The Honora connection brings the meaning honor, while Eleanor's deeper origin is uncertain. The history therefore depends on which longer name, if any, a family has in mind.
U.S. popularity
Nora ranked #20 for girls in the United States in 2025, with 6,380 girls given this spelling. Its highest recorded U.S. rank was #20, reached in 2025. Historical coverage: 1880–2025. Peak refers to rank, not the largest number of births.
Source: Social Security Administration; historical peaks calculated from its national name files. Rankings count each spelling separately within the listed sex.
The Hello Baby Names take
Nora feels self-contained and self-assured. It has a little vintage charm without being overly ornamental, and its rounded sound makes it easy to pair with both traditional and modern middle names.
Things to consider
Nora and Norah are distinct spellings of the same everyday sound. Choose the one you enjoy writing, rather than expecting the extra letter to change familiarity.
If you love Nora, consider…
- Clara: Shares the compact, composed feeling.
- Cora: Keeps the rhythm with a brighter opening.
- Eleanor: Offers a formal name behind Nora.
- Hazel: Adds a warmer, more botanical mood.
- Alice: Keeps the quiet vintage style.
- Iris: Gives the short classic a sharper finish.
- Naomi: Adds an extra syllable and more vowels.
- Ella: Softens the consonants while preserving simplicity.