Plenty of names have been worn by royals, but few choices are as clearly associated with a queen.
Thanks to Nessa and JNE for suggesting the Name of the Day: Eleanor.
Nessa originally suggested the slightly more feminine Eleanora. There’s also Elinor and Eleonora - the last used by Edgar Allen Poe in a short story. Regardless of the variant in question, we can trace her origins back to one woman: the influential Eleanor of Aquitaine.
Born Aénor in 1122, the future queen of France and England was named after her mother. It’s possible the family had an inventive naming streak – Eleanor’s grandmother was known as Dangereuse.
As a girl, Eleanor was called alia Aénor – the other Aénor – to distinguish her from her mother. (Families still do this today – ever met a grown man called Little John?) The phrase became Aliénor – and stuck.
By all reports, the well-born Eleanor boasted both good looks and book smarts. Just as importantly, she was set to inherit swaths of land. Little wonder she ended up a royal bride twice – first Queen of France and then England. While spelling is slippery in the twelfth century, Eleanor eventually became the most common Anglicized version of her name.
The name was bestowed on many a well-born girl, including:
- Eleanor’s daughter was also Eleanor, and Queen of Castile by marriage;
- Eleanor of Provence became Queen of England by marriage. She was also sister to three other queens – Marguerite of France, Beatrice of Sicily and Sancha, who married the Holy Roman Emperor.
- In the 13th century, Leonor of Castile married Edward I of England and became yet another Queen Eleanor.
By the thirteenth century, Eleanor was in steady use. She’s become a classic, nearly rivaling Elizabeth, Mary and Katherine for her enduring presence.
Elinor Dashwood lends the name literary flair. She’s the practical sister in Jane Austen’s 1811 novel Sense and Sensibility. First lady and activist Eleanor Roosevelt inspired plenty of parents, too.
There’s a musical link, too, though the Beatles’ single “Eleanor Rigby” is quite somber. Paul McCartney claimed that the name came from Eleanor Bron, an actress in their 1965 movie Help! Years later, the grave of Eleanor Rigby was discovered in a cemetery near Paul’s childhood home. She was apparently a scullery maid. Today, it’s a frequent stop for Beatles’ fans visiting Liverpool.
You can still catch Eleanor Powell tap dancing in 1930s Hollywood hits on Turner Classic Movies; the female companions of Alvin and the Chipmunks are Brittany, Jeanette and Eleanor; Karl Marx used the name for his youngest daughter; and JRR Tolkien created an Elvish version of the name – Elanor. Indie rockers Franz Ferdinand recorded “Eleanor Put Your Boots On” in 2006.
Today, Eleanor sounds smart, capable, and perfectly modern. Thanks to the rise of Ella names, she’s far more popular than you might imagine, reaching #271 in 2007. While she’ll probably be called Ellie – or possibly Nora or even Nell – odds are that you’ll meet a small Eleanor in the near future. But with such a time-honored and lasting appellation, it remains a great choice even as it becomes more common.
I absolutely adore Eleanor! It’s smart, sassy, feminine, but not frilly – an all-around fantastic name… My husband does not like it. Period. No discussion. It makes me sad. My only reservation about using the name, other than the staunch opposition from the other half, is that it was my grandmother’s name. She is gone now, but while I was pregnant with Imogen, she asked me to name her Eleanor. I told her I would not use a family name… and I generally wouldn’t… except that I love the name! My grandmother no longer being around makes using the name a little less awkward, although I’m still not a fan of naming after… but with such a great name, I could make an exception! And Imogen and Eleanor make a good sibset, I believe… Getting the hubby to agree would be the major hurdle… For me, this name is probably my top girl name currently.
I prefer literary Elinor & Elanor, I knew a nasty E;eanor as a kid & I’m off that spelling forever. I still occasionally have nightmares with her in them. I do admire Eleanor Roosevelt and Eleanor Rigby is one of three Beatles tunes I like. Eleanor gets a :thumbsup: from me! JNE, too bad your Hubby nixed Eleanor, she’d make the perfect sister for Imogen!
I love Eleanor and Tolkien’s Elanor. The former is so pretty and has so much dignity. I like the nns Nora and Nell (but not Nellie- it will always be Nellie Oleson!). The latter is beautiful (in LOTR, it is a flower, I believe), but my fear is that my prospective child will spend her entire life correcting people’s spelling of her name.
Both are wholeheartedly endorsed by me!
Oh JNE I feel for you, Imogen and Eleanor would make a great sibling set. Really classy, feminine but no frills names. Has your husband given any reasons for his dislike? My OH infuriates me with his lack of explanation at times, he just says ‘nah, don’t like it’ or ‘not happening’ and that’s it, end of discussion!
I love Eleanor’s time honoured feel and her look, although I actually prefer the cleaner looking Elinor, the ‘nor’ sound is so regal and elegant isn’t it? I’m not keen on the inevitable nickname Ellie though, Ellie’s abound in England – sometimes they are Eleanor’s but more often than not, they’re just Ellie’s. The popularity isn’t really the issue though, it’s more that for me, Ellie has become synonymous with some of the spoilt/naughty little girl’s I’ve known with the name. Although this issue taints Eleanor/Elinor, I think it could be avoided. The nicknames Nora and Nell are much more sassy, engaging and unusual and lend a whole new dimension to the name.
I really love Eleanor, and even Elinor. Not a fan of Tolkein’s Elanor… Just seems like it’s missing something. I think it helps that I’ve known so many fabulous women bearing the name. It’s even inspired us to use a variation as our next daughter’s middle name. Love it!
I like Eleanor; its number 7 on my short list. It’s very regal sounding, and like you all have said, feminine, yet not frilly. It does despair me to see her so high on the charts–and likely to rise–and although I’d never use it if it ever were to make its way into the top 100, I’d love to meet more litle Eleanors. No Ellies or Ellas; that’s been done to death, or at least it will be before long. Nora is probably the one I’d use, but I like Nell/Nellie too. As for the alternative spellings, I like Elinor, but not Elanor, despite being a Tolkein fan. It ust looks all wrong to me. I wouldn’t use Elinor; it doesn’t give off as much of a regal impression as Eleanor does, but I’d love to see it on someone else’s kid.
Oh man, this is so exciting! I had NO idea that Eleanor of Aquitaine was the first bearer of the name, she and Eleanor of Provence are the reason I started considering this name in the first place! I’m directly descenced from both of them, so I thought it would be awesome to name a girl after two incredible women that she’s actually got ties to. Before you posted this, my hubby said the same thing everyone else’s did “no, I don’t like it” (why do men dislike Eleanor so?) But now he seems a lot more interested… we’ll see
I think I prefer Eleanora, it’s just a bit more girly, which I like. She would certainly be called Nora over any of the other nicknames.
Thank you so much for this one!
Eleanor has made my top 10 recently (well, to be more accurate, probably my top two), so I’m excited to see her as Name of the Day. I was looking for good Katherine substitutes — it’s a name I’ve loved forever, but I fear it’s too common, and my husband doesn’t like it — and Eleanor is the name that comes closest to Katherine’s “feel.” My husband likes Eleanor, and he thinks the nickname Nora is sweet. If I had twin daughters tomorrow, they’d be Clara and Eleanor.
Nessa — you have GOT to use Eleanora, considering the family connection. Good luck talking your husband into this one. I’m behind you 100%!
It’s funny, Verity, this is one that seems to be high up on a lot of your readers’ lists. I think Nora is in photoquilty’s top two as well. Wouldn’t it be funny if three or four of us ended up having little Noras/Eleanors someday?
Eleanor was my number one name choice for my soon-to-arrive baby girl, but my husband — foolishly in my opinion — vetoed the suggestion. I’m still hoping that I’ll have a second opportunity to suggest the name and that it will then have a better reception.
Yes, Eleanor’s a wonderful name. I’d use it or Eleanora and if I used a nickname it would be Nora. Just shows how tastes change – 20 years ago I wouldn’t have even thought of it. I have an aunt by this name but her family pronounced it ELL-a-ner. Far more elegant when the last syllable is pronounced nor.
Nessa, what a great family tree! I’d use Eleanor in a heartbeat if I were you.
JNE, that’s a funny thing about family names. If you use them, there’s pressure to keep going. If you don’t, well … it’s kind of like the Jolie-Pitt kids. How come #5 and #6 suddenly get *family* names? It feels unbalanced.
Paige, I think you’re right about Nellie always being the mean girl.
Charlotte, too bad about your husband’s veto. It often feels like the baby naming dynamic is that mothers generate ideas and fathers shoot them down. I’m jealous of every woman who reports her partner is interested in choosing names.
And Emmy Jo, I think a mini-boom in Eleanors and Noras would be a great thing!
I wonder if the name Leonor has any relation to Eleanor. My aunt is named Leonor, those close to her call her Leo. I don’t know the origin, but we are hispanic so it could be that. We call her Tia Nor, tia meaning aunt in spanish.
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My name is Eleanor. I was named after many generations of Eleanors in the family and I have loved my name from the day I could say it. I hated beig called “Nellie” as a child so as soon as I could “put my foot down”, I have used my proper name….Eleanor. I have a young cousin who also has Eleanor for her name. To possess this name is a blessing and I thank God that I have it.
Eleanor Barrucand.. Edmonton, Canada.
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My husband loves Eleanora. I’m happy I married a man with good taste in names but I just don’t like it. I prefer Annora to Eleanor(a). A major reason for that being is it has no known meaning.
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My name is Eleanor. I used to really hate my name, but when I started looking up meanings it actually started to grow on me. Now I’m proud to carry it.
I get so many variations of my name, the most common being Nelly, then Nell, one person calls me Ellie, and one calls me “Spaganella”. I really don’t know where that came from!
I love that I share a name with Eleanor Roosevelt, and aspire to be like her one day.
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