Nora
Nora is a girl's name of Irish origin.
Meaning
Honor or light.
Origin and history
Nora originated as a short form of Honora or Eleanor, roots tracing back to Latin and Old French origins. It gained strong popularity in nineteenth-century Ireland and the English-speaking world. In recent years, Nora has experienced a significant revival in the United States, ranking among the top 30 female names.
Popularity in the United States
193,138 babies in the United States have been named Nora since 1880. It ranks #204 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #28.
States where it is most popular
- TX (8 %)
- CA (7.1 %)
- NY (6.7 %)
- IL (5.2 %)
- PA (4.8 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 6,521 |
| 1890-1900 | 8,293 |
| 1900-1910 | 7,172 |
| 1910-1920 | 11,063 |
| 1920-1930 | 12,298 |
| 1930-1940 | 8,926 |
| 1940-1950 | 9,405 |
| 1950-1960 | 11,540 |
| 1960-1970 | 9,521 |
| 1970-1980 | 5,770 |
| 1980-1990 | 5,532 |
| 1990-2000 | 5,532 |
| 2000-2010 | 10,922 |
| 2010-2019 | 44,076 |
| 2020-2029 | 36,567 |
Famous people named Nora
- Nora Ephron: Screenwriter, Director
- Nora Roberts: Author, Novelist
- Nora Jones: Singer, Songwriter
Fun facts
- Henrik Ibsen featured Nora Helmer as the protagonist in his famous 1879 play A Doll's House.
- Nora developed as an abbreviated form of both Honora (meaning honor) and Eleanor (meaning light).