Elinor
How to say it: EL-ih-ner · /ˈɛlɪnər/
Medieval English form of Eleanor, ultimately from Old French/Provençal, meaning 'bright, shining one'.
Elinor was the 17th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 142 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1920s, its births are up about 69% in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #12 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #17 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 142 |
| Share of births | 1 in 417 |
| Peak decade | 1920s |
| Change over 10 years | +69% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #12 |
| In France, 2025 | #156 among girls’ names, 20 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Once at its height in the 1920s, Elinor now sits far below that peak yet remains in strong use. An increase is projected for the near term.
What goes with it
Quiet and smooth with soft sounds, it feels gentle with a literary past. Clara fits beside it, and Nell serves as a nickname.
Parents who love Elinor also love
Nicknames
- Eli
- Ellie
- Nell
- Nora
Honouring a Elinor in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Elinor is about 1 in 18.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Danish, English, Finnish, French, Norwegian, Swedish, Welsh.
In France: #156 for girls in 2025.
Famous people named Elinor
- Elinor Ostrom (1933–2012)American political economist
- Elinor Barker (born 1994)Welsh racing cyclist
- Elinor Donahue (born 1937)Actress
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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