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Elinor

“Variant of Eleanor — The other Aenor (from Latin alia); root sense riches and fame” — Old Provencal/Latin, ultimately Germanic; Arabic light also suggested origin

Girl's name · #1500 in the US (2025) · Comeback

Elinor has appeared in US records since 1880 — best rank #252 (1916) · 21,640 babies named Elinor all-time · 1 in 11,000 girls born in 2025.

Around the world: about 1 in 2,000 girls in Norway (2025) · about 1 in 5,700 girls in Switzerland (2024) · about 1 in 8,900 girls in Austria (2025).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 19 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Elinors

Elinor Ostrom — American political economist (1933-2012)
Elinor Glyn — British novelist and scriptwriter (1864-1943)
Elinor Barker — Welsh racing cyclist
Elinor Donahue — actress
Elinor Wylie — American poet (1885-1928)

In stories & tradition

Elinor Dashwood — Sense and Sensibility
Elinor "Ellie" Walker — character
Elinor Dammert — The Flood · The Levee

What Elinors become

Among 146 notable people named Elinor:

Artists & writers appear 1.81× more often than among typical names — e.g. Elinor Glyn, British novelist and scriptwriter (1864-1943).

Browse more girl names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.