NORA too close to NOAH???

My husband and I both love the name NORA, but one of our boys names is Noah (2 yrs. old). These sound really close unfortunately.... :(


Also both like CORA (close to Nora, but varies a little more from Noah). Only problem with this is I believe Cora stems from Greek Mythology... Wouldn't be a huge deal except that the rest of the family (including my husband and I) have very strong Hebrew names.

Opinions on both or either of the above???

Also, ANY OTHER GIRL NAME suggestions that are older sounding but not super trendy would be great in case Nora or Cora don't work... Thanks!

Thanks!

For me, Nora and Noah would be too close. I love Cora, but understand that you'd like to try to stick with Hebrew names.

Hebrew names you may like:

Eva
Eve
Eliana
Eliora (has Nora's ending sound)
Leora (ditto)
Miriam (nn Miri)
Raphaela
Ruth
Susannah
Talia

Non-Hebrew ideas similar in style to Nora and Cora:

Eleanor (Nora is a nickname, and you could call her this and fall back on Eleanor)
Amelia
Cordelia
Celia
Eliza
Flora
Iris
Isadora
Juliet
Julia
Louisa
Lydia
Phoebe
Stella
Tess
Violet
Willa

Good luck! :-)

For Hebrew names, one of my favorites is Yona, which I still believe too close to Noah. :(

Other Hebrew names I have heard on actual people (not necessarily babies) - that sound a little like Nora to me:

Abra (abe-ra)
Leah
Naomi
Mara (mahr-uh)
Raina or Rayna (ray-na, rah-een-a, or rye-nah)

Other names I found in the search for names, narrowed to F. Hebrew names - that sound a little like Nora to me:

Jora
Jola
Joelle
Neila
Niva
Dalia
Dara
Erela
Sada
Zara

I will try to think some more for other names. It looks like you are looking for a shorter name. You don't really say how strongly or ethnically Hebrew your name is or the other names in your family that you are trying to match. I'm not saying it isn't, but if it's Elizabeth or Sarah or Rachel, then a Cora would not be out of place.

Some names that have gained popularity throughout the culture and mix very well with other popular names from other sources. Cora is not so popular at this time, but it has been, so people are apt to recognize it. Noah is also currently popular and apt to be chosen for its relevance as well as despite, as well as any John or Michael or David.

Noah may be a little on the edge, so that it will mix with uncommon Hebrew names as well as common, as well as names that are not Hebrew. Depending on how ubiquitous your own names might be, Cora would fit in, or it may stand apart if you really would like to stick to the theme and the other names are very uncommon.

Nora would have been a great name - I love Nora. However, like Cora, it is also Greek according to Nameberry, as well as according to another source, Irish/English/Scandinavian/German - not Hebrew either - based of English Eleanor. You may have other references to go by. Some names are sourced simultaneously from two different languages with two different meanings, especially may be the case where the source is in another alphabet and the name has been approximated in the transliteration and relatively modern to the ears after evolving for centuries. So perhaps Nora is a Hebrew name and I'm just unaware.

I think this here is a start, though. If you want a lot more Hebrew names, click on the left column "Search for Names," tick "girls" and choose "Hebrew" from the ORIGINS menu to get all Hebrew girl names (over 300 but you won't miss any). You can also fine-tune your search for meanings and popularity, as well as "starts with" and "ends with" and style. Good luck finding a nice match for Noah and your family. :)

Really appreciate the feedback so far!!! Thank you so much.

To the question on what our other family names are.... they are John (husband), Sara (myself), James (5), and Noah (2).

I didn't know Nora was Greek, too, we just liked it so miuch :) It's not absolutely essential that we choose a biblical or Hebrew name, but I just didn't know how big of a deal it was since the rest of our names seem to have a pattern going... not sure how a non-biblical or non-common name would sound with the rest of our names... but none of the really popular girl names are standing out for me... tend to favor the older, vintage, or classic names.

All of our names also seem to be very short and simple. Wish naming a child was easier!!! :)

Once again, I really really appreciate everyone's time in responding! Thank you SO MUCH!!! Look forward to more replies!

Hi there! :-) I love your sons' names, and think another classic (or vintage) name would work beautifully. Because James is regularly paired with classics like Edward and Andrew, I don't think you need a Hebrew name to make your children's names match in style.

James, Noah, and:

Audrey
Annabelle
Alice
Blythe
Charlotte
Caroline
Clara (although names with two syllables and ending in
Claire
Diana
Frances
Grace (popular, though)
Josephine
Katherine
Lucy
Margaret (nn Maisie or Daisy)
Sally (a classic diminutive of your name, Sarah)
Tess (has James' ending though, so if this bothers you, there's also Tessa)
Tabitha (actually Biblical, nn Tibby)

Good luck! :-)

Thanks! I also love Tess, but hubby doesn't. Maisie is really cute, too, but can't get my husband to go for that one either! He likes very simple names like Anna, Emma (he LOVES this one)... I've tried Emmaline, Emery, etc... on him since not as popular, but he's sticking close to original.

My husband's mom also passed away unexpectedly last November, and her name was Leslie Sharon (went by Sharon). We're talking about Sharon for a middle name, but John also likes Grace for middle name. Wonderful meaning and beautiful. So first name suggestions that would go with Sharon or Grace....

I'm just having a difficult time convincing my hubby of names... her name would be Emma if I wasn't in the picture :) Just too popular for me...

Zelia (and its derivative Zaylia, which I love) = Hebrew, meaning ardent or zealous.

Zahara is Hebrew, meaning flower.

Abigail / Abbie / Abby - I love Abby and Noah.

You might also consider Zora (not Hebrew), meaning dawn's light.

Or, if you can't give up Nora you can give it as a middle name, and not many will be the wiser.

Also, Noreen is a good alternative to Nora.

Some suggestions that MIGHT be too cutesy:

Noah and Hannah
Noah and Naomi
Noah and Sarah

Jill, I loved the suggestion of Eleanor. Very smart!

You all are wonderful! And soooo helpful!!!

Hannah is very cute, but our last name is Anderson.. and there's that popular clothing manufacturer 'Hannah Andersson' (Great clothes by the way!!!)

ELEANOR has always been one of my very favorite names, but my husband has a close cousin, in which their daughter's name is Eleanor. Husband doesn't love the idea of using a name that's already amongst the relatives. Not sure how big a deal that is?

I too am a Sarah, husband is Joshua and we have a Noah and a Norah. Everyone finds it cute.... they are certainly unique and memorable. They also have nice reasonable middle names to fall back on as teens if necessary. So obviously, my advice is to go for it!

BTW: Nora has hebrew origins in meaning "light" think of the word "menorah"; it just wasn't used as a hebrew name