Eleanor
Say it: EL-a-nor
Girl7 letters3 syllables
#106
in Ireland (2025)
44
babies in 2025
#93
best rank (1968)
2,762
babies since 1964
Up 66
10-year rank change
Eleanor through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 44 | #106 |
| 2024 | 36 | #128 |
| 2023 | 37 | #127 |
| 2022 | 41 | #130 |
| 2021 | 34 | #147 |
| 2020 | 34 | #146 |
| 2019 | 40 | #136 |
| 2018 | 39 | #144 |
| 2017 | 44 | #130 |
| 2016 | 39 | #145 |
| 2015 | 33 | #172 |
| 2014 | 30 | #180 |
| 2013 | 40 | #148 |
| 2012 | 37 | #157 |
| 2011 | 43 | #140 |
| 2010 | 43 | #144 |
| 2009 | 41 | #150 |
| 2008 | 31 | #185 |
| 2007 | 40 | #153 |
| 2006 | 26 | #178 |
| 2005 | 40 | #123 |
| 2004 | 32 | #140 |
| 2003 | 45 | #113 |
| 2002 | 36 | #123 |
| 2001 | 30 | #140 |
| 2000 | 31 | #132 |
| 1999 | 37 | #109 |
| 1998 | 30 | #127 |
| 1997 | 36 | #137 |
| 1996 | 42 | #128 |
| 1995 | 41 | #126 |
| 1994 | 44 | #119 |
| 1993 | 35 | #143 |
| 1992 | 37 | #144 |
| 1991 | 29 | #165 |
| 1990 | 39 | #132 |
| 1989 | 36 | #141 |
| 1988 | 31 | #162 |
| 1987 | 38 | #143 |
| 1986 | 30 | #173 |
| 1985 | 33 | #166 |
| 1984 | 45 | #142 |
| 1983 | 60 | #115 |
| 1982 | 59 | #130 |
| 1981 | 62 | #123 |
| 1980 | 55 | #140 |
| 1979 | 64 | #121 |
| 1978 | 52 | #136 |
| 1977 | 68 | #116 |
| 1976 | 68 | #119 |
| 1975 | 59 | #123 |
| 1974 | 68 | #115 |
| 1973 | 61 | #128 |
| 1972 | 71 | #110 |
| 1971 | 56 | #124 |
| 1970 | 50 | #127 |
| 1969 | 53 | #122 |
| 1968 | 74 | #93 |
| 1967 | 55 | #110 |
| 1966 | 56 | #109 |
| 1965 | 58 | #108 |
| 1964 | 64 | #98 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Eleanor mean?
Uncertain
Old French, from the Occitan Aliénor, first known from Eleanor of Aquitaine.
Say it right
ELanor
The story of Eleanor
Eleanor comes from the Old Provençal name Aliénor, and its first known bearer is Eleanor of Aquitaine, who lived in the 12th century. The meaning is uncertain. One old explanation is that it means “the other Aenor”, after her mother Aenor, with alia, other, in front. An Arabic root meaning “light” has also been suggested. It is often said to be a form of Helen, but that link is a mistake.
Eleanor of Aquitaine brought the name to England when she married King Henry II, and two later English queens, Eleanor of Provence and Eleanor of Castile, kept it in royal use.
Eleanor has been given in Ireland throughout the CSO records, usually to a few dozen girls a year. Its busiest year was 1968, when 74 girls were named Eleanor and it reached number 93. It has edged up again recently: in 2025 it was number 106, with 44 girls. In Northern Ireland its best place was number 139 in 2021.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Eleanor (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Eleanor
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby Names in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Nicknames
NellEllie
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Eleanor | 44 | 2,762 |
In Northern Ireland
#154 in 2025 with 12 babies. Best rank #139 (2021); 229 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.