Norris Boy

Popularity: #923 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: NOR-iss //ˈnɔːrɪs//

Origin: English; Irish

Meaning: English: north; Irish: from the north

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Norris has its roots in the Old French word "noreis," which means "northern" or "from the north." This term was derived from the Latin "northernis," which also conveys a similar meaning. The name entered the English language during the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, when many Old French terms and names were adopted into English.

As a result, Norris emerged as a surname, initially denoting someone from the northern regions of France or England, and later evolved into a given name. Historically, the name Norris has been associated with various notable figures and families.

In medieval England, it was common for surnames to evolve into first names, and Norris was no exception. The name appears in historical records from the 13th century, with individuals such as Robert de Norreis documented in the early 1200s.

The name gained further prominence through notable families, such as the Norris family of Speke Hall in Lancashire, which dates back to the 16th century. Additionally, the name has been linked to various saints and religious figures, contributing to its historical significance.

Culturally, the name Norris has been associated with strength and resilience, reflecting its etymological roots in the northern regions. The name has also been used in literature and popular culture, often symbolizing characters with noble or adventurous traits.

A diminutive form, "Norrie," has been used affectionately in some contexts, although the primary form remains Norris. Overall, the name's historical and cultural resonance has allowed it to endure through the centuries, maintaining its connection to themes of origin and identity.

Fictional characters named Norris

The following list of fictional characters named Norris is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Norris is a fictional character from the film The Thing. He is a member of a research team in Antarctica who faces a shape-shifting alien threat.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Norris, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

HarrisWarrenEllisJarrisDavisMorris

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Norris. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

NolanNashNoelNilesNateNico

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Norris was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Norris has ranked as high as #703 nationally, which occurred in 1924, and has been most popular in Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, North Carolina, and Mississippi.

In the past 5 years the name Norris has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Norris is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Norris was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Norris.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 15 15 0
2024 14 14 0
2023 17 17 0
2022 28 28 0
2021 18 18 0
2020 19 19 0
2019 27 27 0
2018 24 24 0
2017 34 34 0
2016 17 17 0
2015 21 21 0
2014 35 35 0
2013 17 17 0
2012 25 25 0
2011 22 22 0
2010 25 25 0
2009 17 17 0
2008 25 25 0
2007 32 32 0
2006 20 20 0
2005 24 24 0
2004 36 36 0
2003 30 30 0
2002 27 27 0
2001 40 40 0
2000 33 33 0
1999 34 34 0
1998 43 43 0
1997 42 42 0
1996 44 44 0
1995 42 42 0
1994 52 52 0
1993 62 62 0
1992 55 55 0
1991 57 57 0
1990 69 69 0
1989 69 69 0
1988 82 82 0
1987 71 71 0
1986 70 70 0
1985 76 71 5
1984 77 77 0
1983 85 85 0
1982 71 71 0
1981 78 78 0
1980 81 81 0
1979 88 88 0
1978 92 92 0
1977 86 86 0
1976 76 76 0
1975 91 91 0
1974 92 92 0
1973 96 96 0
1972 94 94 0
1971 136 136 0
1970 116 111 5
1969 124 124 0
1968 122 122 0
1967 129 129 0
1966 116 116 0
1965 162 154 8
1964 159 159 0
1963 188 188 0
1962 221 221 0
1961 259 251 8
1960 253 246 7
1959 247 235 12
1958 227 227 0
1957 282 268 14
1956 291 283 8
1955 295 288 7
1954 252 244 8
1953 300 291 9
1952 292 286 6
1951 261 254 7
1950 252 244 8
1949 248 239 9
1948 242 233 9
1947 260 251 9
1946 247 241 6
1945 228 215 13
1944 219 208 11
1943 255 241 14
1942 234 225 9
1941 231 219 12
1940 216 205 11
1939 210 202 8
1938 258 252 6
1937 243 232 11
1936 262 248 14
1935 276 266 10
1934 253 240 13
1933 273 251 22
1932 266 256 10
1931 277 264 13
1930 241 228 13
1929 246 230 16
1928 243 234 9
1927 270 260 10
1926 243 230 13
1925 291 281 10
1924 323 308 15
1923 282 267 15
1922 273 260 13
1921 304 290 14
1920 234 228 6
1919 211 200 11
1918 231 226 5
1917 192 183 9
1916 210 203 7
1915 193 184 9
1914 150 150 0
1913 125 119 6
1912 112 104 8
1911 47 47 0
1910 55 48 7
1909 40 40 0
1908 39 39 0
1907 28 28 0
1906 26 26 0
1905 12 12 0
1904 25 25 0
1903 14 14 0
1902 19 14 5
1901 17 17 0
1900 18 18 0
1899 15 15 0
1898 14 14 0
1897 19 19 0
1896 13 13 0
1895 14 14 0
1894 13 13 0
1893 15 15 0
1892 14 14 0
1891 13 13 0
1890 16 16 0
1889 12 12 0
1888 14 14 0
1887 8 8 0
1886 9 9 0
1885 12 12 0
1884 18 18 0
1883 11 11 0
1882 10 10 0
1881 14 14 0
1880 12 12 0

Top States for Norris (2022)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 5
100%