Eleanor
First Name Meaning, Usage, Popularity & Related Names
Eleanor is a Greek name meaning “mercy”. It is a popular name, overwhelmingly used for girls, with 99.98% female usage.
Meaning & Origin of the name Eleanor
Eleanor is a name of Occitan and Greek origin, linked to the name Aliénor. While its exact etymology remains a subject of debate among onomasticians, it is frequently associated with the Greek element 'eleos', meaning 'mercy'. The name rose to significant historical prominence through Eleanor of Aquitaine, whose influence as a queen consort in the twelfth century ensured its long-standing presence in European royal lineages.
Meaning Comments
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Gender Usage of the Name Eleanor
Overall Gender Classification Methodology
Eleanor is overwhelmingly used as a name for girls. Approximately 99.98% of recorded bearers are female. This classification is supported by extensive records and is considered highly reliable.
Popularity of the Name Eleanor
Eleanor is among the Top 32 Trending Girls’ name in the United States for 2026
Eleanor is among the Top 19 Trending Girls’ name in the United Kingdom for 2026
Eleanor is among the Top 24 Trending Girls’ name in Canada for 2025
Note: Green bars show popularity (% of births); the violet line shows historical ranking. Data is based on official government birth records. Click any chart to view details by year and region.
Overall PopularityMethodology
Eleanor is listed under Popular Girl Names worldwide. Its popularity is relatively consistent across the available regional markets.
| Region | Popularity | Birth Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Popular | 1 in every 634 births |
| United Kingdom | Popular | 1 in every 2.2K births |
| Canada | Popular | 1 in every 1.2K births |
| Australia | Popular | 1 in every 379 births |
Ranking OverviewMethodology
Eleanor ranked #24 on the Popular Girls’ Names Worldwide List (2025). Its rank is unchanged from 2024. A widely recognized choice, Eleanor has maintained a steady Top-100 presence.
Historically, its best recorded position was #24, achieved in 2024 and 2025. Its lowest recorded position was #629 in 1980. Over the last 5 years (2020–2025) the name rose 19 places (from #43 to #24).
Name StyleMethodology
Eleanor is classified as Timeless Girl Names because it appears across 100% of recorded years, averages 3,071 births per year over its full timeline, and still averages 8,438 births per year recently.Characteristics of the Name Eleanor
Pronunciation & StructureMethodology
- Phonetic Source
- CMU
- Syllables
- 3 syllables — Three-Syllable Girl Names
- Length
- 7 letters — Long Girl Names
- Starts with
- E — Girl Names Starting with E
- Ends with
- r — Girl Names Ending in “r”
Name AestheticMethodology
Eleanor is a three-syllable name defined by a trochaic stress pattern. It maintains an Elegant & Timeless aesthetic due to its historic usage by figures such as Eleanor of Aquitaine and Eleanor Roosevelt. The combination of resonant consonants and open vowels creates a regal, enduring profile.
Middle Names For Eleanor
Middle names used with EleanorMethodology
Eleanor is most frequently used with these girl middle names: Eleanor Marie · Eleanor Ann · Eleanor Louise · Eleanor Grace · Eleanor ElizabethView all 777 girl middle names.
- Total 1,180 middle names used with Eleanor
- 85 boy middle names used with Eleanor
- 285 unisex middle names used with Eleanor
Middle name suggestions for EleanorMethodology
Based on observed first-middle-name pattern combinations, Eleanor is most frequently associated with girl middle names that have Strong stress pattern, 5 letters, and a starting sound of “m”.
Examples: Eleanor Moore · Eleanor Mills · Eleanor Marsh · Eleanor Marks · Eleanor Moose. View all 101 suggested middle names.
Associations of the Name Eleanor
Royal UsageMethodology
Featured among Royal Girl Names, Eleanor has been used by 14 members of European royal families, including:
- Mary Eleanor (Bowes) (1749–1800)
- Eleanor (1318–1355)
Names Similar to Eleanor
Sound Like Eleanor Finder
Names with the exact same overall pronunciation and sound: Elinor · Elnora · Eleanore · View all 43 names
Same Starting Sound Finder
Names that begin with a similar phonetic sound: Emily · Emma · Evelyn · View all Top 100 names
Rhymes With Eleanor Finder
Names that share similar ending sounds and rhymes: Claire · Skylar · Clare · View all Top 100 names
Same Rhythm & Syllables Finder
Names with matching syllable stress and pronunciation rhythm: Jennifer · Barbara · Margaret · View all Top 100 names
Dictionary & Etymology of “Eleanor”
Dictionary Meaning of "Eleanor"Methodology
A female given name
Examples
- Nay, Eleanor, then must I chide outright: / Presumptuous dame! ill-nurtured Eleanor! / Art thou not second woman in the realm, / And the protector's wife, belov'd of him?
- When you hear a young lady called Eleanor, you think of a tall, beautiful, interesting creature directly - the very opposite of me! With my personal appearance, Eleanor sounds ridiculous - and Neelie, as you yourself remarked, is just the thing. No! no! don't say any more - - -
Translations
The name Eleanor has 24 translations, for example: in Spanish it is rendered as female given name, etc..
More Info
How to Spell Eleanor in ASL
- E
- l
- e
- a
- n
- o
- r
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