What Does the Name Eleanor Mean?
Eleanor is a girl's name of Old French (from Occitan) origin meaning “uncertain; possibly 'the other Aenor'.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Eleanor |
|---|---|
| Gender | female |
| Origin | Old French (from Occitan) |
| Meaning | uncertain; possibly 'the other Aenor' |
| Variants | Elinor, Eleanore, Eleonora, Leonor, Ellie |
| Popularity | Top 25 US girls' name in the early 2020s following a strong revival. |
The meaning and origin of Eleanor
The name Eleanor means “uncertain; possibly 'the other Aenor'” and has Old French (from Occitan) origins. From the Old French Aliénor, of uncertain origin, often explained as 'the other Aenor.' Brought to England by Eleanor of Aquitaine in the 12th century, it has been a royal and aristocratic name ever since.
Variants and related names
Eleanor is related to several other names you may recognize: Elinor, Eleanore, Eleonora, Leonor, Ellie. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Eleanor?
Top 25 US girls' name in the early 2020s following a strong revival.
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Eleanor mean?+
The name Eleanor means “uncertain; possibly 'the other Aenor'” and is of Old French (from Occitan) origin.
What is the origin of the name Eleanor?+
Eleanor originates from Old French (from Occitan).
Is Eleanor a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Eleanor has trended in the US over time.
Eleanor by gender
More girl's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press