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Elanor

♀ Girl

Pronounced ehl-AN-ohr /ɛl.ˈæn.oʊr/Medium

Meaning: Star sunMedium

In 30 seconds: Elanor is a girl's name from literature, meaning 'star sun'. It was coined by J.R.R. Tolkien for a flower of Middle-earth.
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Origin MediumLiterature
MeaningStar sun
U.S. rank (2024)#1787 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births112 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2023
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,802

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202319132024

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

History & Origin

Elanor comes straight from Tolkien's writing, where it joins the elvish elements for 'star' and 'sun' and names a small golden flower of Lothlorien. In The Lord of the Rings it is given to Elanor Gamgee, the eldest daughter of Samwise Gamgee, named after that very flower. The meaning 'star sun' reflects the invented language behind it.

Sitting close to the familiar Eleanor, Elanor has a slightly streamlined look while keeping a soft, lyrical sound. Its literary roots give it appeal for families drawn to Tolkien's world.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Elanor is 'star sun', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 70%
Behind the Name - Elanor — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Elanor Gamgee (fictional)
    Character in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, the eldest daughter of Samwise Gamgee, named for a golden flower of Lothlorien.

If you like Elanor…

Eleanor— The well-known name Elanor closely resembles in spelling and sound.
Arwen— Another girl's name from Tolkien's Middle-earth.
Eowyn— A Tolkien-coined girl's name from the same literary source.
Elora— Shares the soft 'El-' opening and lyrical flow.
Nellie— A pet form linked to the Eleanor family Elanor sits near.

Frequently Asked

What does the name Elanor mean?

Elanor is usually explained as meaning 'star sun' and is most often linked with Literature tradition.

How do you pronounce Elanor?

It's commonly said ehl-AN-ohr /ɛl.ˈæn.oʊr/.

Is Elanor a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Elanor is used as a girl name.

How popular is Elanor?

In 2024, Elanor ranked #1787 in the U.S. for girls, with 112 births recorded.