Norah

Pronunciation: [ n-AWR-uh ]

Girl Name #223 Most Popular Rising 2 Syllables

Honors the light — timeless Irish grace

Irish English Arabic Scandinavian

Vintage Elegant Classic Gentle Sophisticated

Meaning & Origin

"honor, honorable"

Origin: Latin via Irish

Language: English

"light"

Origin: Arabic

Language: Arabic

The Story of Norah

Norah (also spelled Nora) has a dual heritage. In Irish tradition, it is a short form of Honora or Leonora — both ultimately from Latin 'honor.' In Arabic, Nora (نورا) comes from 'nur,' meaning light. This dual meaning of honor and light makes Norah particularly resonant across cultures. The Irish form was popularized by Henrik Ibsen's 1879 play A Doll's House, in which the protagonist Nora Helmer became an iconic figure of feminist literature.

Norah (and its variant Nora) experienced a dramatic renaissance in the 2000s and 2010s after decades of being seen as an 'old lady name.' Singer Norah Jones, who burst onto the scene in 2002 with Come Away with Me, brought enormous cool to the spelling Norah. It has been climbing the charts steadily since.

Nora Helmer in Ibsen's A Doll's House (1879) is one of literature's most revolutionary female characters — her slamming of the door at the play's end became a symbol of women's liberation. In Ireland, Nora/Norah has been a beloved given name for centuries.

Fun Facts

Norah Jones won 8 Grammy Awards in a single night in 2003, making her a household name
Nora Helmer in Ibsen's A Doll's House is one of feminism's earliest literary heroines
In Arabic, Nora (نورا) means light — giving the name two completely different beautiful meanings

Norah in Other Languages

Irish Nóra

Arabic نورا

French Nora

Hebrew נורה

Spanish Nora

Norwegian Nora

Famous People Named Norah

Norah Jones

Musician

1979

American singer-songwriter who won 8 Grammy Awards in one night in 2003 for her debut album Come Away with Me

Nora Ephron

Writer

1941

American journalist, author, and filmmaker known for When Harry Met Sally and Sleepless in Seattle

Nora Helmer Fictional

Other

The groundbreaking protagonist of Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House (1879), whose door-slam became a symbol of women's liber...

The groundbreaking protagonist of Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House (1879), whose door-slam became a symbol of women's liberation

Quick Facts

Gender: Girl
Syllables: 2
Popularity Rank: #223
Total SSA Count: 1,374
Cultural Origins: Irish English Arabic Scandinavian
Pronunciation: Easy
Formality: Moderate
Cross-Cultural Ease: High

Alternative Spellings

Nora #22

Common Nicknames

Nor

Pairs Well With

Norah Grace Norah Jane Norah Louise Norah Elizabeth Norah Claire Norah Mae Norah Kate

Sibling Names

Finn Liam Maeve Declan Clara Oliver Hazel Ronan

Also a Boy Name

Norah is also used as a boy name, ranked #17093.

View Norah as a boy name →

Similar Names

Clara Cora Laura Dora Nora Flora Augusta Dorothy

Playground Safety

Kid-Friendly

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Frequently Asked Questions About Norah

What does the name Norah mean?

"honor, honorable" (from Latin via Irish). "light" (from Arabic). Norah (also spelled Nora) has a dual heritage. In Irish tradition, it is a short form of Honora or Leonora — both ultimately from Latin 'honor.' In Arabic, Nora (نورا) comes from 'nur,' meaning light. This dual meaning of honor and light makes Norah particularly resonant across cultures. The Irish form was popularized by Henrik Ibsen's 1879 play A Doll's House, in which the protagonist Nora Helmer became an iconic figure of feminist literature.

What is the origin of the name Norah?

Norah has Latin via Irish, Arabic, Irish, English, and Scandinavian origins. In Latin via Irish, it means "honor, honorable". In Arabic, it means "light".

Is Norah a boy or girl name?

Norah is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #223. As a boy name, it is ranked #17093. Norah is more commonly used as a girl name.

How do you pronounce Norah?

Norah is pronounced n-AWR-uh.

How popular is the name Norah?

Norah is currently ranked #223 in popularity for girl names in the United States.

What are common nicknames for Norah?

Common nicknames for Norah include Nor.

What are good middle names for Norah?

Popular middle name pairings include Norah Grace, Norah Jane, Norah Louise, Norah Elizabeth, Norah Claire, Norah Mae, and Norah Kate.

What are good sibling names for Norah?

Names that pair well with Norah as siblings include Finn, Liam, Maeve, Declan, Clara, Oliver, Hazel, and Ronan.

How many syllables does Norah have?

Norah has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.

Is Norah a common or rare name?

Norah is a popular name, ranked #223 for girls. It is well-known without being overused.

About the Name Norah

Norah is a girl name with Irish, English, Arabic, and Scandinavian origins . The name means "honor, honorable" in Latin via Irish .

Is Norah a boy or girl name? Norah is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #223 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #17,093. Norah is more commonly used as a girl name.

Norah is currently ranked #223 in popularity for girl names in the United States.

The name Norah has 2 syllables and is pronounced n-AWR-uh, making it easy to pronounce and remember.

Common nicknames for Norah include Nor. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.

Alternative spellings of Norah include Nora . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.