Eleanor sits comfortably in the UK charts at #56 in 2025 — recognisable but not overwhelming. Your child may occasionally share their name.
Origin & Meaning
Greek/Old French — Bright, shining one
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UK Rank 2025
#56
US Rank #12
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About the Name Eleanor
Eleanor ranked #56 in 2025, down from its peak of #18 in 1999 — still a familiar name, but past its high point. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996. It has spent 30 of the last 30 years inside the UK top 100 — a mark of enduring mainstream appeal.
Etymologically, Eleanor comes from Greek/Old French, where it means "Bright, shining one". Names with strong etymological stories tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles.
Eleanor is a very popular name in the UK — yet a class of 28 is small enough that your child will very likely be the only Eleanor on the register.
In the US it ranks even higher at #14, where it enjoys a particularly strong following.
⭐ Famous People Named Eleanor
Eleanor Matsuura — Eleanor Matsuura is a British actress best known for her roles as Yumiko in The Walking Dead, Hannah Santo in Spooks: The Greater Good, Bev in Utopia and as PC Donna Prager in Cuffs.
Eleanor (singer) — Eleanor Academia, or simply known as Eleanor, is a dance music singer and producer.
Eleanor of Provence — Eleanor of Provence was a Provençal noblewoman who became Queen of England as the wife of King Henry III from 1236 until his death in 1272.
Biographical summaries are shortened from Wikipedia and are used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence; those summaries remain available under that same licence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Eleanor
Unlikely. With around 776 UK babies named Eleanor per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Eleanor in their class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Eleanor has been fairly steady, ranked #56 in 2025 against #53 in 2020. Its best recorded position was #18 in 1999.
The name Eleanor has Greek/Old French origins and means "Bright, shining one". Names with clear etymological roots tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles and give children a story to tell about their name.
Notable people named Eleanor include: Eleanor Matsuura and Eleanor (singer). Short summaries for each appear below.
Yes — Eleanor is very popular in the United States, ranked #12 in 2025. It's a transatlantic favourite used widely on both sides of the Atlantic.
776
UK babies named Eleanor (2025)
~0.0
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.3
In a school of 600
↓ 3 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Eleanor
Almost certainly the only Eleanor in the class
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UK Popularity (1996–2025)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2025)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Eleanor
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Eleanor Matsuura is a British actress best known for her roles as Yumiko in The Walking Dead, Hannah Santo in Spooks: The Greater Good, Bev in Utopia and as PC Donna Prager in Cuffs.
Eleanor of Aquitaine (French: Aliénor d'Aquitaine or Éléonore d'Aquitaine; Occitan: Alienòr d'Aquitània [aljeˈnɔɾ dakiˈtanjɔ]; Latin: Helienordis, Alienorde or Alianor; c. 1124 – 1 April 1204) was duchess of Aquitaine from 1137 to 1204, queen of France from 1137 to 1152 as the wife of King Louis VII, and queen of England from 1154 to 1189 as the wife of King Henry II.
Eleanor of Toledo (Spanish: Leonor Álvarez de Toledo y Pimentel-Osorio, Italian: Eleonora di Toledo; 11 January 1522 – 17 December 1562) was a Spanish noblewoman who became Duchess of Florence as the first wife of Cosimo I de' Medici.