Eleanor

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Eleanor

Gender: Feminine
Language: English
Etymology:
Eleanor is usually considered an elaborated form of Helen (although it may be based on different name entirely). Helen is a Greek name meaning “Light.”
-or-
Eleanor, from Alienor, comes from the Germanic world element “ali” meaning “Foreigner.”

History:
Eleanor was made famous by Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122-1204) (wife to King Louis VII of France and King Henry II of England) and her daughter, Eleanor of Castile (wife to King Edward II of England). It’s first appearance in England is as Alienora in 1199.

Pronunciation: ell-ah-norr.

Diminutives:
English: Elea, Ella, Elle, Ellie, Nell, Nellie, Nelly, Nora.

Alternates: Elanora, Eleanora, Elenora, Eleonor, Elinor, Elinora, Ellinore, Elnora, Lenorah, Lennora, Lennorah, Leora.
Breton: Azenor.
French: Aliénore, Éléanore, Éléonore, Leonore.
German: Eleonore. Leonore.
Hawaiian: Elenola.
Italian: Eleonora, Leonora.
Spanish: Leonor, Leonora.

See also: Ella, Ellie, Leonora, Nellie (Nell, Nelly), Nora.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Léonor Almeida de Portugal (1750-1839)
Portuguese poet.
Elinor Glyn (1864-1943)
English novelist.
Eleanor Hodgman Porter (1868-1920)
American novelist. Wrote Pollyanna.
Eleanor Farjeon (1881-1965)
English writer.
Elinor Wylie (1885-1928)
American poet.
Eleanor Alice Hibbert (1906 or 1910-1993)
English writer under the alias of Victoria Holt, Jean Plaid, Eleanor Burford, Elbur Ford, Kathleen Kellow, and Ellalice Tate, and Philippa Carr.
Léonor Fini (1908-1996)
Argentine artist.
Eléanore Marie Sarton (1912-1995)
American poet and author.

Educators, Scholars, and Social Workers:
Eleanor Clarke Slagle (1871-1942)
American social worker.

Fictional Characters:
Elinor Dashwood
The elder sister in Sense and Sensibility.

Political Figures:
Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962)
American fist lady. Wife to Franklin Roosevelt. She was a social activist and later a delegate to the U.N.
Eleanor Lansing Dulles (1895-1996)
American diplomat.

Royalty:
Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122-1204)
Duchess of Aquitaine, wife to King Louis VII of France, wife to King Henry II of England, mother to King Richard the Lion-Hearted, and King John of England.
Eleanor of Provence (French: Éléonore de Provence) (1223-1291)
Wife of King Henry III of England.
Eleanor of Castile (Spanish: Leonor de Castilla) (1246-1290)
Devoted wife to King Edward II of England. He erected Eleanor crosses in her memory after her death.

Singers and Entertainers:
Eleonora Duse (1858-1924)
Italian actress.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.150 % named Eleanor
0.101 % named Ella
0.089 % named Nellie
0.073 % named Nora
0.024 % named Lenora
0.021 % named Nell
0.014 % named Elnora
0.014 % named Lenore
0.012 % named Elinor
0.010 % named Leonor
0.008 % named Nelly
0.007 % named Eleanore
0.007 % named Leora
0.006 % named Ellie
0.005 % named Leonora
0.003 % named Eleanora
0.002 % named Elenora
0.002 % named Leonore
0.001 % named Eleonor
0.001 % named Elinore

Popularity of Eleanor:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1850: 274th most popular.
1875: 321st most popular.
1900-1910: 65th most popular.
1910-1920: 31st most popular.
1920-1930: 29th most popular.
1930-1940: 49th most popular.
1940-1950: 122nd most popular.
1950-1960: 267th most popular.
1960-1970: 403rd most popular.
1970-1980: 635th most popular.
1980-1990: 748th most popular.
1990: 618th most popular.
1991: 598th most popular.
1992: 584th most popular.
1993: 544th most popular.
1994: 582nd most popular.
1995: 540th most popular.
1996: 482nd most popular.
1997: 469th most popular.
1998: 398th most popular.
1999: 402nd most popular.
2000: 374th most popular.
2001: 359th most popular.
2002: 319th most popular.
2003: 309th most popular.

Popularity of Lenora:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 290th most popular.
1910-1920: 273rd most popular.
1920-1930: 281st most popular.
1930-1940: 299th most popular.
1940-1950: 370th most popular.
1950-1960: 429th most popular.
1960-1970: 522nd most popular.
1970-1980: 943rd most popular.
1980-2000: N/A

Popularity of Elnora:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1850: 369th most popular.
1875: 217th most popular.
1900-1910: 305th most popular.
1910-1920: 281st most popular.
1920-1930: 278th most popular.
1930-1940: 368th most popular.
1940-1950: 499th most popular.
1950-1960: 849th most popular.
1960-2000: N/A

Popularity of Lenore:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 346th most popular.
1910-1920: 348th most popular.
1920-1930: 333rd most popular.
1930-1940: 365th most popular.
1940-1950: 443rd most popular.
1950-1960: 599th most popular.
1960-1970: 741st most popular.
1970-2000: N/A

Popularity of Elinor:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 400th most popular.
1910-1920: 274th most popular.
1920-1930: 267th most popular.
1930-1940: 335th most popular.
1940-1950: 604th most popular.
1950-2000: N/A

Popularity of Leonor:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 626th most popular.
1910-1920: 641st most popular.
1920-1930: 671st most popular.
1930-1940: 592nd most popular.
1940-1950: 803rd most popular.
1950-2000: N/A

Popularity of Eleanore:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 459th most popular.
1910-1920: 258th most popular.
1920-1930: 266th most popular.
1930-1940: 436th most popular.
1940-1950: 897th most popular.
1950-2000: N/A

Popularity of Leora:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 392nd most popular.
1910-1920: 390th most popular.
1920-1930: 567th most popular.
1930-1940: 642nd most popular.
1940-1950: 817th most popular.
1950-2000: N/A

Popularity of Eleanora:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 600th most popular.
1910-1920: 624th most popular.
1920-1930: 614th most popular.
1930-1940: 962nd most popular.
1940-2000: N/A