The nameNora
Nora is a short girl's name of Irish and Latin origin, a pet form of Honora or Eleanor. It is rising again in the United States and Scandinavia.
- Girl's name
- Irish and Latin
Meaning
Nora is a short form of Honora, from the Latin honor, "honour", or of Eleanor. In Ireland it is also a form of Nóra.
Origin
Irish and Latin. The name was long common in Ireland.
History
Nora Helmer, heroine of Ibsen's play A Doll's House (1879), made the name famous. It came back strongly in the 2010s, reaching the American top 30, and it is very popular in Norway.
Did you know?
- Nora Ephron wrote the screenplay of When Harry Met Sally... (1989).
Famous people named Nora
- Nora Ephron, writer and director
- Nora Roberts, novelist
- Nora Barnacle, wife of James Joyce
- Nora Helmer, heroine of A Doll's House
Popularity of the name Nora
Nora in the United States
Nora was most popular in the United States in the 2010s, with 44,086 births over the decade, 24% of all recorded babies named Nora. Its rise began around 1884, and it peaked in 2021. Half of all babies named Nora in the United States were born before 1984, although it is popular again today. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 6,031 births a year.
Nora in the United Kingdom
Nora was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2020s, with 3,200 births over the decade, 61% of all recorded babies named Nora. Its rise began around 2012, and it peaked in 2025. Half of all babies named Nora in the United Kingdom were born before 2021, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been rising: 566 births a year on average, against 290 in the five years before.
Nora in Ireland
Nora in France
Nora in Belgium
Nora in Switzerland
Nora in Austria
Nora in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Nora
Names from the same generation as Nora, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Nora? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Nora with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Nora side by side with the name of your choice.
Nora in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Nora mean?
Nora is a short form of Honora, from the Latin honor, "honour", or of Eleanor. In Ireland it is also a form of Nóra.
What is the origin of the name Nora?
Irish and Latin. The name was long common in Ireland.
Is Nora a girl's or a boy's name?
Nora is a girl's name.
How popular is the name Nora?
In 2024, Nora was the 22nd most popular name for baby girls in the United States, with 6,128 births.
What are the variants of the name Nora?
Variants and related names of Nora include Eleonore, Noora and Norah.
What are good sibling names for Nora?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Scarlett, Charlotte, Eleanor and Emery for a sister, Finn, Weston, Declan and Ronan for a brother.
Who are famous people named Nora?
Nora Ephron, writer and director; Nora Roberts, novelist; Nora Barnacle, wife of James Joyce; Nora Helmer, heroine of A Doll's House.