Elinor

Spelling variation of Eleanor, English, French

Elinor Origin and Meaning

The name Elinor is a girl's name of French, English origin.

A sleek, literary alternative to Eleanor, this stripped back form of Eleanor is a well-established spelling. It notably appears in Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, borne by Elinor Dashwood, along with George Eliot's Middlemarch and Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind , as a middle name.

Ultimately a form of the Occitan Alienòr, a name that means "the other Aenor", Aenor referring to a an early bearer's mother, Elinor was a popular choice in the US back in the 1910s and 20s, but fell out of favor in the 50s. A recent year saw it given to 140 babies, making it a familiar, though quietly used spelling option.

On and off the UK charts since the 90s, Elinor could make a stand-out alternative to Eleanor, Ellie, and Ellen, or it could do visually at least. Sound-wise, they are often said identically to Eleanor, though Elinor might get you more emphasis on the final nor sound in England, at least.

Notable bearers include political economist Elinor Ostrom, Olympic cyclist, Elinor Barker. actress Elinor Lawless, and poet Elinor Wylie

Elinor Rank in US Top 1000

# 946 in the US

Elinor Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

# 1534 on Nameberry

Popularity of the name Elinor

• 1534 Nameberry 2025
• 502 Unique 2024
• 884 Future 2028
• 865 England 2016

20 Names Similar to Elinor

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Elinor.

• Mathilde
• Mathilda
• Marian
• Marta
• Margery
• Matilde
• Eleonore
• Gwendolen
• Leonore
• Marion
• Leonor
• Cecile
• Frieda
• Francis
• Brigitte
• Béatrice
• Lucile
• Elsbeth
• Liesl
• Liesel

Famous People Named Elinor

• Mary Eleanor "Elinor" Donahue American actress
• Elinor Morton Wylie American poet and novelist
• Elinor Regina Patricia Smith American aviator
• Elinor Claire "Lin" Ostrom American economist; winner of the Nobel Prize
• Elinor Sutherland Glyn British novelist
• Elinor Caplan Canadian MP
• Elinor Jane Barker Welsh cyclist
• Elinor Lipman American novelist
• Gladys Eleanor May "Elinor" Brent Dyer, English novelist
• Elinor Tully "Ellie" Couric daughter of newscaster Katie Couric
• Elinor Fair American silent film actress

The name Elinor in Pop Culture

• Elinor Dashwood character in "Sense and Sensibility" by Jane Austen
• Elinor Merida's mother in Pixar's "Brave"
• Elinor characterin "Inkheart" by Cornelia Funke
• Elinor Joddrel character in "The Wanderer" by Fanny Burney
• Elinor character in Ally Condie's "Atlantia"
• Elinor Carlisle character in Dame Agatha Christie's "Sad Cypress"