Eleanor - Name Meaning and Origin

The girl's name Eleanor \e-lea-nor\ is pronounced EL-a-nor. It is of Greek origin, and its meaning is "shining light". Variant of Helen. History: Eleanor of Aquitaine (12th century) was heiress to a large portion of France, wife of two kings and mother of two more (Richard the Lionhearted and John). Her powerful personality, intelligence, and inexhaustible energy made her unique in her time. Literary: Jane Austen's Elinor Dashwood in "Sense and Sensibility". Actress Elinor Donahue.

Eleanor has 9 variant forms: Eleanora, Eleni, Eleonora, Eleonore, Elinor, Ella, Elnora, Leonora and Nelly.

For more information, see also related names Lenore and Leora.

Baby names that sound like Eleanor are Eleanore and Aleanor.

Eleanor is a very popular female first name and a very rare surname (source: 1990 U.S. Census). Displayed below is the baby name popularity trend for the girl's name Eleanor. Click here to compare Eleanor with related baby names.