Norah
Say it: NOR-a
GirlMeans honour5 letters2 syllables
#304
in Ireland (2025)
#308 with spellings combined
13
babies in 2025
#135
best rank (1964)
718
babies since 1964
Up 71
10-year rank change
Norah through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | #308 |
| 2024 | 14 | #298 |
| 2023 | 17 | #238 |
| 2022 | 10 | #384 |
| 2021 | 8 | #460 |
| 2020 | 14 | #292 |
| 2019 | 18 | #261 |
| 2018 | 13 | #333 |
| 2017 | 7 | #524 |
| 2016 | 11 | #392 |
| 2015 | 12 | #379 |
| 2014 | 11 | #404 |
| 2013 | 8 | #496 |
| 2012 | 11 | #416 |
| 2011 | 8 | #514 |
| 2010 | 6 | #594 |
| 2008 | 8 | #504 |
| 2007 | 4 | #704 |
| 2006 | 7 | #465 |
| 2005 | 4 | #588 |
| 2004 | 8 | #370 |
| 2003 | 3 | #655 |
| 2002 | 3 | #620 |
| 1998 | 4 | #426 |
| 1997 | 7 | #363 |
| 1996 | 4 | #471 |
| 1995 | 3 | #516 |
| 1994 | 5 | #411 |
| 1993 | 6 | #385 |
| 1992 | 4 | #455 |
| 1991 | 7 | #365 |
| 1990 | 5 | #409 |
| 1989 | 8 | #332 |
| 1988 | 9 | #329 |
| 1987 | 12 | #287 |
| 1986 | 13 | #275 |
| 1985 | 6 | #386 |
| 1984 | 9 | #320 |
| 1983 | 5 | #438 |
| 1982 | 10 | #324 |
| 1981 | 12 | #299 |
| 1980 | 12 | #297 |
| 1979 | 9 | #330 |
| 1978 | 18 | #239 |
| 1977 | 13 | #269 |
| 1976 | 19 | #229 |
| 1975 | 15 | #243 |
| 1974 | 13 | #271 |
| 1973 | 23 | #215 |
| 1972 | 19 | #220 |
| 1971 | 17 | #229 |
| 1970 | 21 | #200 |
| 1969 | 21 | #201 |
| 1968 | 33 | #155 |
| 1967 | 37 | #141 |
| 1966 | 31 | #151 |
| 1965 | 36 | #135 |
| 1964 | 34 | #135 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Norah mean?
Honour
A spelling of Nora, a short form of Honora (honour) or Eleonora.
Say it right
NORa
The "h" at the end is silent.
The story of Norah
Norah is a spelling of Nora, which began as a short form of Honora or of Eleonora. Honora comes from the Latin for honour, and in Ireland it was very common for centuries, in Irish as Onóra. The “h” on the end is a later English spelling habit, and it is silent.
In Ireland Norah was already in use when the CSO records begin, and it was at its best rank that first year, at number 135 in 1964. Its busiest year was 1967, with 37 babies. It became rare towards 2000, then picked up again in the 2010s, and 13 girls were named Norah in 2025.
The CSO counts Norah and Nora separately, and Nora is by far the more common. In Northern Ireland Norah reached its best rank at number 154 in 2025.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Norah (English proper noun)
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Norah | 13 | 718 |
In Northern Ireland
#154 in 2025 with 12 babies. Best rank #154 (2025); 101 babies since 2010.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.