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Girl

Eleanor

Shining light

Origin

Greek

Used in

en

Origin and meaning of Eleanor

Eleanor is the English form of Eleonora, a name of debated origin: it reached England in the Middle Ages from the Provençal Aliénor and is traditionally traced back to Greek and read as 'shining light'. Made famous by Eleanor of Aquitaine, queen of France and England, it is much loved today in the English-speaking world. Parallel forms include Eleonora, Leonor and the pet names Nora and Leonora.

Variants around the world

How Eleanor sounds in other languages.

EleonoraAliénorLeonorLeonora

Famous people

  • Eleanor of Aquitaine— queen
  • Eleanor Roosevelt— statesman

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Frequently asked questions

What does the name Eleanor mean?

The name Eleanor means Shining light.

What is the origin of the name Eleanor?

Origin of Eleanor: Greek.

What are the international variants of the name Eleanor?

International variants of Eleanor: Eleonora, Aliénor, Leonor, and Leonora.