Elnor
A girl's name of Greek origin with 843 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
At 5 letters and two syllables, Elnor hits the middle ground most parents look for: long enough to feel complete, short enough for everyday use. It has been used as a girl's name in the U.S. since 1904, with 843 total recorded births.
Elnor is not in the current top 1,000, which means your child is unlikely to share the name with a classmate — a plus for parents who value distinctiveness.
Elnor is not in the current top 1,000 girl names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Elnor is a girl's baby name of Greek origin, a variant spelling of Elinor or Eleanor, derived through Old French from the Greek Helenē, meaning 'bright, shining light' or possibly linked to eleos, meaning 'mercy.'
Eleanor has been one of the great names of English history — worn by Eleanor of Aquitaine, Eleanor Roosevelt, and countless queens and nobles across eight centuries. Elnor is a spare, unadorned variant that appeared in early American records, trading the name's courtly elegance for a frontier simplicity.
EtymologyShow more
The ending of a name often carries more etymological information than the beginning. Elnor's final sounds are strong, decisive — carrying a Latin or Old English feel. In English-language naming, many feminine names end on open vowels or soft consonants, creating a melodic, approachable quality. Elnor breaks from that pattern, giving it a more distinctive edge.
Explore the ending-based name pages on this site to find names that share Elnor's suffix pattern — names with similar endings often share a style and era, even when they come from different linguistic backgrounds.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Elnor has 46+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1904.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 22 | #4433 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 90 | #3315 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 190 | #1890 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 292 | #1532 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 215 | #1434 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 34 | #1898 | — |
The Story of Elnor
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1924, Elnor is a name steeped in history. Girls named Elnor are most likely born between 1914 and 1934.
How rare is Elnor?
With 843 total births on record, Elnor remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1904, peaked in the 1920s with 292 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Elnor by the numbers
- Would fill 18 school buses
- Meeting one Elnor per day would take 2.3 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(46 years, 1904–1952)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1952 | 8 | #4234 |
| 1951 | 6 | #5008 |
| 1950 | 8 | #4056 |
| 1948 | 5 | #5480 |
| 1947 | 8 | #4093 |
| 1946 | 11 | #3090 |
| 1945 | 6 | #4173 |
| 1943 | 11 | #2913 |
| 1942 | 25 | #1675 |
| 1941 | 14 | #2297 |
| 1940 | 10 | #2797 |
| 1939 | 10 | #2777 |
| 1938 | 15 | #2142 |
| 1937 | 23 | #1588 |
| 1936 | 15 | #2071 |
| 1935 | 23 | #1563 |
| 1934 | 16 | #2021 |
| 1933 | 20 | #1739 |
| 1932 | 27 | #1461 |
| 1931 | 19 | #1818 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Elnor a boy's or girl's name?
When was Elnor most popular?
How popular is the name Elnor?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1904–1952