"woman of honor"
Origin: Irish
Language: English
Nora
Pronunciation: [ n-AWR-uh ]
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A quiet classic with a feminist soul
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Meaning & Origin
"honor, reputation"
Origin: Latin
Language: Irish
"light"
Origin: Arabic
Language: Arabic
"honor"
Origin: Latin via Irish
Language: English
"bright, shining light"
Origin: Greek via Irish
Language: English
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The Story of Nora
Nora is an Irish short form of Honora (from the Latin honor) or a diminutive of Eleanor (from Old French and Greek, bright light or foreign). In Ireland it was used as an anglicization of Irish Gaelic names. The name was common in medieval Ireland and remained popular through the 19th and 20th centuries. Henrik Ibsen's 1879 play A Doll's House features Nora Helmer as one of drama's first modern feminist protagonists.
Nora has experienced a remarkable comeback since the 2000s after decades of decline. It returned to the top 30 in the US by the 2010s as parents embraced short, two-syllable names ending in -a that felt classic but not fussy. Its association with Nora Ephron, the beloved filmmaker, added literary credibility.
Nora Helmer in A Doll's House was revolutionary — a woman who walks out on her husband and children to find her own identity. The play caused a scandal across Europe in 1879. Nora Roberts is the bestselling romance novelist of all time. In Ireland, Nora has been in continuous use for centuries.
Historical Record
Nora first appeared in US Social Security records in 1950.
Over 123,041 babies have been named Nora in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Nora is rising quickly in popularity , currently ranked #22 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Nora Helmer in A Doll's House (1879) is considered one of drama's first feminist protagonists — her exit is one of theater's most famous endings
- Nora Roberts has sold over 500 million books, making her the bestselling romance novelist in history
- Nora is consistently a top-3 girl name in Norway and Sweden
Nora in Other Languages
Irish
Nóra
German
Nora
Italian
Nora
Spanish
Nora
Swedish
Nora
Norwegian
Nora
Popularity Over Time
#22
Current Rank
Rising
Trend
Rising Fast
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Nora
N
Norah Jones
Musician
1979
American singer, songwriter and pianist who has sold more than 50 million albums worldwide
N
Nora Roberts
Writer
1950
American author and the bestselling romance novelist of all time with over 500 million books sold
N
Nora Ephron
Writer
1941
American filmmaker and writer of When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, and countless celebrated essays
N
Nora Helmer Fictional
Other
Protagonist of Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House (1879), one of drama's most iconic feminist characters
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Compare Nora with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #22
- Total SSA Count
- 6,128
- Cultural Origins
- Irish English American Scandinavian
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Popular in These States
Top states by rank · 2024
Common Nicknames
Nor
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, Irish heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
Middle Names
Middle Names for Nora
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
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Also a Boy Name
Nora is also used as a boy name, ranked #19726.
View Nora as a boy name →Similar Names
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Compare Nora with...
Same Origin Names (Irish)
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"one who will rise again"
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Old English origin
"son of Emery, brave and powerful"
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Roman mythology origin
"the dawn goddess"
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Frequently Asked Questions About Nora
What does the name Nora mean?
"woman of honor" (from Irish). "honor, reputation" (from Latin). "light" (from Arabic). "honor" (from Latin via Irish). "bright, shining light" (from Greek via Irish). Nora is an Irish short form of Honora (from the Latin honor) or a diminutive of Eleanor (from Old French and Greek, bright light or foreign). In Ireland it was used as an anglicization of Irish Gaelic names. The name was common in medieval Ireland and remained popular through the 19th and 20th centuries. Henrik Ibsen's 1879 play A Doll's House features Nora Helmer as one of drama's first modern feminist protagonists.
What is the origin of the name Nora?
Nora has Irish, Latin, Arabic, Latin via Irish, Greek via Irish, English, American, and Scandinavian origins. In Irish, it means "woman of honor". In Latin, it means "honor, reputation". In Arabic, it means "light". In Latin via Irish, it means "honor". In Greek via Irish, it means "bright, shining light".
Is Nora a boy or girl name?
Nora is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #22. As a boy name, it is ranked #19726. Nora is more commonly used as a girl name.
How do you pronounce Nora?
Nora is pronounced n-AWR-uh.
How popular is the name Nora?
Nora is currently ranked #22 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Nora?
Common nicknames for Nora include Nor.
What are good middle names for Nora?
Popular middle name pairings include Nora Grace, Nora Jane, Nora Claire, Nora Rose, Nora Kate, Nora Faye, and Nora Beth.
What are good sibling names for Nora?
Names that pair well with Nora as siblings include Finn, Declan, Ellie, Jack, Sienna, Liam, and Maeve.
How many syllables does Nora have?
Nora has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Nora a common or rare name?
Nora is a very popular name, ranked #22 among girl names in the United States.
What girl names are similar to Nora?
About the Name Nora
Nora is a girl name with Irish, English, American, and Scandinavian origins . The name means "woman of honor" in Irish .
Is Nora a boy or girl name? Nora is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #22 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #19,726. Nora is more commonly used as a girl name.
Nora is currently ranked #22 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Nora has 2 syllables and is pronounced n-AWR-uh, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Nora include Nor. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Nora include Norah, Nori, Norma, Normani . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
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Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis