Is Elinor a boy, girl, or unisex name?

Elinor is commonly used as a Girl name.

How popular is Elinor?

It’s currently ranked #806 in the U.S. Recent trend: Stable.

How do you pronounce Elinor?

EL-ih-nor · IPA: /ˈɛlɪnɔːr/

Elinor Girl

Popularity: #806 · Trend: → Stable

Origin(s)

PronunciationEL-ih-nor / ˈɛlɪnɔːr

Hebrew; English; French

Meaning

Hebrew: God is my light; English: bright, shining light; French: variant of Eleanor

Historical & Cultural Background

Elinor is a variant of Eleanor, which has roots in the Old Provençal name Alienor. The name gained popularity in medieval Europe, particularly in England and France. It has been borne by several notable historical figures, including queens and saints. The name has maintained a presence in various cultures and languages over the centuries.

Trend Summary

Elinor has seen a resurgence in popularity in the United States, particularly in the 21st century.

Variants

Eleanor
Elinore
Ellinor

International Variants

Eleanor (English)
Elena (Spanish)
Elinora (Italian)

Famous people named Elinor

Elinor Ostrom was an American political economist who won the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 2009.

Elinor Dashwood is a character in Jane Austen's novel 'Sense and Sensibility', known for her rationality and sense of duty.

Elinor Wylie was an American poet and novelist active in the early 20th century, recognized for her lyrical style.

Elinor Glyn was a British novelist and screenwriter, known for her works in the early 1900s that often explored themes of romance.

Fictional characters named Elinor

Elinor is a character in the animated film 'The Secret of Kells', serving as a brave and adventurous girl.

Elinor is a character in the video game 'The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim', known for her role in the questline involving the Thieves Guild.

Sibling Suggestions

Eleanor Elena Ella Lila Clara Nora Mira

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Elinor was first seen in the United States in 1880. Elinor has ranked as high as #430 nationally, which occurred in 1920, and has been most popular in New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, California, and Illinois. In the past 5 years the name Elinor has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Elinor (2024)

Year:

State	Births	Share
CA	11	13%
IL	10	12%
PA	8	9%
TX	8	9%
FL	8	9%
NC	7	8%
NY	6	7%
UT	6	7%
VA	6	7%
IN	5	6%
AZ	5	6%
WA	5	6%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

Year	Births
1880	9
1881	8
1882	10
1883	7
1884	13
1885	18
1886	16
1887	11
1888	21
1889	24
1890	23
1891	20
1892	15
1893	34
1894	27
1895	24
1896	34
1897	34
1898	39
1899	27
1900	52
1901	41
1902	34
1903	40
1904	52
1905	61
1906	69
1907	100
1908	91
1909	116
1910	133
1911	176
1912	268
1913	279
1914	358
1915	508
1916	580
1917	548
1918	571
1919	589
1920	656
1921	612
1922	539
1923	556
1924	595
1925	542
1926	607
1927	604
1928	523
1929	527
1930	509
1931	466
1932	377
1933	441
1934	409
1935	354
1936	340
1937	298
1938	301
1939	267
1940	285
1941	255
1942	262
1943	204
1944	162
1945	121
1946	155
1947	131
1948	129
1949	125
1950	87
1951	110
1952	121
1953	100
1954	76
1955	90
1956	80
1957	65
1958	55
1959	53
1960	68
1961	57
1962	48
1963	48
1964	41
1965	40
1966	31
1967	26
1968	26
1969	32
1970	26
1971	27
1972	30
1973	9
1974	23
1975	18
1976	11
1977	21
1978	28
1979	24
1980	21
1981	28
1982	18
1983	14
1984	28
1985	17
1986	26
1987	24
1988	24
1989	32
1990	22
1991	31
1992	27
1993	32
1994	27
1995	54
1996	44
1997	48
1998	54
1999	66
2000	49
2001	57
2002	71
2003	64
2004	71
2005	65
2006	75
2007	83
2008	102
2009	96
2010	105
2011	99
2012	134
2013	120
2014	144
2015	165
2016	171
2017	165
2018	159
2019	162
2020	144
2021	172
2022	175
2023	164
2024	144