Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Nora
GirlIrish, Latin· “honor; short form of Eleanor or Honora”
- Meaning
- honor; short form of Eleanor or Honora
- Origin
- Irish, Latin
- Pronunciation
- NOR-uh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #20
- US babies 2025
- 6,380
- Best rank
- #20 (2025)
- Peak year
- 2025
Meaning and origin of Nora
Nora is an Irish and Latin name that means “honor; short form of Eleanor or Honora”.
Nora began as a short form of names such as Honora and Eleanor. Honora comes from the Latin honor, and the name has been especially loved in Ireland, where Nora and Noreen were long common. Henrik Ibsen gave the name to Nora Helmer, the heroine of A Doll's House, which made it a symbol of independence for many readers. After decades of relative quiet, Nora returned as a crisp, vintage-inspired choice. It is short but has substance, and it suits both playful and serious personalities. Norah with an h is a popular alternative spelling.
Other spellings with the same sound: Norah.
Popularity over time
Nora has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 146 different years. It is at its all-time high right now: 2025 brought both its best national rank, #20, and its highest count, 6,380 babies. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #157 in 1920, #225 in 1950, #400 in 1980, #502 in 2000, #159 in 2010, and #20 in 2025. Of the 193,138 US girls named Nora since records began, 23% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2020s come next, with 36,567 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Ellie, Lucy, Isla, Lainey, and Aurora.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Nora ranked highest in Vermont, Minnesota, and Montana.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Vermont | #4 | 22 |
| Minnesota | #5 | 194 |
| Montana | #5 | 37 |
| Wisconsin | #7 | 185 |
| Massachusetts | #8 | 223 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Nora is usually pronounced NOR-uh, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with N and ends in “-ra”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Norah.
Middle names for Nora
A few middle names that flow with Nora: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Nora
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Lists that include Nora
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Nora mean?
Nora is an Irish and Latin name that means “honor; short form of Eleanor or Honora”.
What is the origin of the name Nora?
Nora has Irish and Latin roots. Nora began as a short form of names such as Honora and Eleanor.
Is Nora a popular name?
Yes. Nora ranked #20 in the US in 2025, which makes it one of the 100 most popular names.
Is Nora a boy or girl name?
Nora is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Nora?
Nora is usually pronounced NOR-uh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings