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Nora

Diminutive of Honora or Eleonora, Latin
"honor or meaning unknown"
Sophie Kihm
By Sophie Kihm
Updated Mon Apr 22 2024

Nora Origin and Meaning

The name Nora is a girl's name of Irish origin meaning "honor or meaning unknown".

Nora is a lovely, refined name that conjures up images of Belle Epoch ladies in fur-trimmed coats skating in Central Park. Long seen as a quintessentially Irish name though its roots are not in Ireland, Nora is a quietly stylish favorite that's tiptoed to the top of the popularity ladder.

Nora has two separate origin stories, as a derivative of both Honora and Eleanor. The Irish and Anglo-Norman version derives from Honora, based on the Latin word honor. The Hungarians spawned Nora as a short form of Eleonora, a variation of Eleanor.

One of Nora's most prominent contemporary namesakes is the late witty writer Nora Ephron. Other notable Noras are the independent Ibsen heroine of A Doll's House, and the female half of the witty Nick and Nora Charles duo, adding up to a most desirable choice.

It can also be spelled Norah, as in Norah Jones.

# 28 in the US

Nora Rank in US Top 1000

# 16 on Nameberry

Nora Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

Nora Popularity

Famous People Named Nora

  • Nora FatehiIndian Actress and Dancer
  • Nora EphronAmerican film director/producer
  • Eleanor Marie "Nora" RobertsAmerican novelist
  • Nora Louise Kuzmabirth name of American actress Traci Lords
  • Nora EddingtonAmerican actress; wife of actor Errol Flynn
  • Nora IstrefiAlbanian Kosovar singer
  • Nora Alicia Oritz SalinasMexican actress
  • Nora MiaoHong Kong actress
  • Nora Connolly O'BrienIrish author and Senator
  • Nora Barnaclewife and muse of novelist James Joyce
  • Nora Lee Guthriedaughter of singer Woody Guthrie
  • Nora ArnezederFrench actress
  • Nora Janseninspiration for Alex Vause on TV's "Orange is the New Black"
  • Nora Lum aka AwkwafinaAmerican rapper
  • Nora Angela ZehetnerAmerican actress
  • Nora VolkowMexican,American psychiatrist; great,granddaughter of Soviet leader Leon Trotsky
  • Nora Aunor (born Nora Cabaltera Villamayor)Filipina actress
  • Nora KirkpatrickAmerican actress and musician
  • Nora Eloise DunnAmerican actress/comedienne
  • Norberta Elisabeth Maria Assunta Josefine Georgine et omnes sancti "Nora" Princess of Liechtenstein, Dowager Marquesa de Mariño
  • Nora Hewittmakeup artist and winner of Season 9 of "Face Off"
  • Nora Ellis (b. 2004)daughter of actor Tom Ellis
  • Nora Edman (b. 2008)daughter of footballer Erik Edman
  • Nora Torres (b. 2009)daughter of Spanish footballer Fernando Torres
  • Nora Kara Kennedy (b. 2013)daughter of American politician Patrick Kennedy
  • Nora Holroyd (b. 2015)daughter of actors Allison Munn and Scott Holroyd
  • Nora Elizabeth Egan (b. 2016)daughter of TV chef Kelsey Nixon and Robby Egan
  • Nora Anne QuoirinBritish Irish,French schoolgirl that disappeared from hotel and found dead n Malaysia

Nora in Pop Culture

  • Nora Allencharacter in DC Universe
  • Nora Friescharacter in DC Universe
  • Nora Arnoldcharacter in Enid Blyton's Secret Series
  • Nora Bakereldest child in the "Cheaper by the Dozen" films
  • Nora Bravermancharacter on TV's "Parenthood"
  • Nora Charlesmain character in "The Thin Man" movies
  • Nora Clarkcharacter in movie "Step Up"
  • Nora Claytoncharacter on TV's "Revolution"
  • Nora Dearlycharacter in "Dearly, Departed" series by Lia Habel
  • Nora Durstcharacter on TV series "The Leftovers"
  • Nora Estheimminor character in video game "Final Fantasy XIII"
  • Nora Gainesboroughcharacter on TV series 'True Blood'
  • Nora Grahamcharacter in "Ballet Teacher" by Lee Wyndham
  • Nora Greycharacter in the "Hush Hush" saga by Becca Fitzpatrick
  • Nora Helmercharacter in Henrik Ibsen's "A Doll's House"
  • Nora Montgomerycharacter on TV's "American Horror Story"
  • Nora Sergeantcharacter on TV's "Being Human"
  • Nora Thundermancharacter on animated series "The Thundermans"
  • Nora Valkyriecharacter voiced by Samantha Ireland on web series "RWBY"
  • Nora Walkermain character on TV's "Brothers and Sisters"
  • Nora Hildegardcharacter on TV series "The Vampire Diaries"
  • Noracharacter in the "St Clare" book series by Enid Blyton
  • Noracharacter in the anime "Noragami"
  • Noracharacter in Neil Simon's "Brighton Beach Memoirs"
  • Noracharacter in novel "The Nest"
  • Nora Martinezcharacter in film "The Strain"
  • The Noraa society in the video game "Horizon Zero Dawn"
  • Nora Césairecharacter in the animated series "Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir"
  • Nora de Laurentischaracter in The After Series by Anna Todd

Nora in Nameberry Blog Posts