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Norah

♀ Girl

Pronounced NOR-uh /ˈnɔːr.ə/High

Meaning: Honor; from Irish Nóra, a short form of Honora (Latin honor) or EleanorHigh

In 30 seconds: A graceful Irish classic, short for Honora or Eleanor, meaning 'honor.' The Norah spelling adds a literary flair and is associated with jazz singer Norah Jones.
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Origin HighIrish, Arabic
MeaningHonor; from Irish Nóra, a short form of Honora (Latin honor) or Eleanor
Peak year2017
Total births (all-time)≈ 20,658

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201718802017

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Norah is an Irish anglicization of the Gaelic Nóra, itself a short form of Honora (from Latin honor) or of Eleanor (Old French/Arabic, 'the other Aenor' or 'God is my light'). Honora was a popular name in medieval Ireland. The spelling Norah (with final h) is used to differentiate it from the slightly more common Nora.

Norah / Nora has been widely used in Ireland and among Irish diaspora communities for centuries. In the broader English-speaking world it rose sharply in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, dipped in the mid-20th century, and has experienced a vigorous revival since the 2000s. It is now consistently in the U.S. top 50 girls' names.

Did you know? Jazz and pop star Norah Jones, born Geethali Norah Jones Shankar in 1979, helped make this spelling fashionable when her debut album Come Away with Me won eight Grammy Awards in 2003.

Variations

NoraNoorahHonoraEleanor

Nicknames

Nor

Famous Bearers

  • ★Norah Jones (b. 1979)
    American singer-songwriter, eight-time Grammy winner for her debut album <em>Come Away with Me</em>.

If you like Norah…

Nora— the same name with the more common spelling
Eleanor— one of the possible source names for Norah
Clara— another short, elegant vintage classic on the same revival wave
Cora— rhymes closely and shares the same vintage-chic appeal

Frequently Asked

What does the name Norah mean?

Norah is an Irish short form of Honora or Eleanor, meaning 'honor' from Latin or 'light' in some interpretations.

How do you pronounce Norah?

Norah is pronounced NOR-uh (/ˈnɔːr.ə/) — two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Norah a boy or girl name?

Norah is used exclusively as a girl's name.

How popular is Norah?

Norah has been climbing the U.S. charts since the 2000s and is now consistently in the top 50 girls' names.