Eleanor is a name of English origin, derived from the Norman French name Alienor, which itself comes from the Germanic elements alja, meaning "other" or "foreign", and hild, meaning "battle". Thus, Eleanor translates to "other battle".
The name Eleanor was popularized in England during the medieval period due to its use by members of the royal family. The most notable bearer of this name was Eleanor of Aquitaine (1124-1204), who was a Duchess of Aquitaine in southwestern France and later became queen consort of both France and England through her marriages to Louis VII of France and Henry II of England respectively.
Eleanor of Aquitaine is considered one of the most powerful and influential figures of the High Middle Ages. She was known for her intelligence, political acumen, and military leadership, as well as her patronage of the arts and culture. Her legacy continues to this day, with many places and institutions named in her honor.
The name Eleanor has been used consistently throughout history but experienced a resurgence in popularity during the late 20th century. Today, it remains a beloved choice for parents seeking a classic yet distinctive name for their daughters.
The name Eleanor has a rich history and has been popular among parents for many years. Looking at the statistics of its usage in the United States from 1880 to 2023, we can see several trends.
In the late 19th century, the name Eleanor was not particularly common. In 1880, there were only 129 births with this name, and it remained relatively low throughout the 1880s, ranging from 110 to 312 births per year.
However, starting in the 1890s, the popularity of Eleanor began to grow steadily. By 1900, there were 753 births with this name, and it continued to increase throughout the first two decades of the 20th century, reaching a peak of 2035 births in 1911.
The early 1910s marked a turning point for Eleanor's popularity. In 1912, there were 3120 births with this name, and it continued to rise dramatically over the next few years, reaching an all-time high of 8497 births in 1920.
Unfortunately, Eleanor's popularity began to decline after that peak year. Between 1921 and 1966, there were fewer than 500 births with this name each year on average. The lowest point was reached in 1966, with only 473 births.
However, since the late 1960s, Eleanor's popularity has been on an upswing once again. In 1978, there were 269 births with this name, and it continued to increase over the next few decades, reaching a new peak of 5727 births in 2018.
In recent years, Eleanor has remained consistently popular among parents in the United States. Between 2016 and 2023, there were an average of approximately 6800 births with this name each year.
Overall, Eleanor's popularity in the United States has followed a wave-like pattern over the past century and a half, with periods of growth and decline alternating with each other. Despite these fluctuations, Eleanor has remained a beloved and enduring name among parents throughout its history.