Eleanor sits comfortably in the UK charts at #67 in 2024 — recognisable but not overwhelming. Your child may occasionally share their name.
Origin & Meaning
Greek/Old French — Bright, shining one
📊
UK Rank 2024
#67
US Rank #14
About the Name Eleanor
Eleanor is holding steady in the rankings at #67. It reached its peak of #18 in 1999 and has maintained consistent levels since — the hallmark of a name with lasting rather than trend-driven appeal. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996. It has spent 29 of the last 29 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 distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
In the US it ranks even higher at #14, where it enjoys a particularly strong following.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Eleanor
Unlikely. With around 672 UK babies named Eleanor per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Eleanor in her class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Eleanor has held a stable position around #67 for several years. It reached its recorded peak of #18 in 1999 and has maintained consistent levels since — suggesting lasting rather than trend-driven appeal.
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 — 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...; Eleanor (singer) — Eleanor Academia, or simply known as Eleanor, is a dance music singer and producer..
Yes — Eleanor is very popular in the United States, ranked #14 in 2024. It's a transatlantic favourite used widely on both sides of the Atlantic.
672
UK babies named Eleanor (2024)
~0.0
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.3
In a school of 600
↓ 14 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
Likely around 1 other Eleanor in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2024)
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 Provence was a Provençal noblewoman who became Queen of England as the wife of King Henry III from 1236 until his death in 1272. She served as regent of England during the absence of her spouse in France in 1253.
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.
Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was an American political figure, diplomat, and activist. She was the longest-serving first lady of the United States, during her husband Franklin D.
Jenny Julia Eleanor Marx, sometimes called Eleanor Aveling and known to her family as Tussy, was the English-born youngest daughter of Karl Marx. She was herself a socialist activist who sometimes worked as a literary translator.
Eleanor of Castile was Queen of England as the first wife of Edward I. She was educated at the Castilian court and also ruled as Countess of Ponthieu in her own right (suo jure) from 1279.
Eleanor Randolph Wilson McAdoo was an American writer and the youngest daughter of American president Woodrow Wilson and Ellen Louise Axson. Wilson had two sisters, Margaret Woodrow Wilson and Jessie Woodrow Wilson Sayre.
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. A keen businesswoman, she financed many of her husband's political campaigns and important buildings like the Pitti Palace.