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Home › Baby Names Directory › Leonor

Leonor

♀ Girl

Pronounced leh-oh-NOHR /le.o.ˈnoɾ/Medium

Meaning: The other AenorMedium

In 30 seconds: Leonor is the Spanish form of Eleanor, traditionally read as 'the other Aenor' after the medieval Provençal name Aenor.
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Origin MediumSpanish, Portuguese
MeaningThe other Aenor
U.S. rank (2025)#2267 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births81 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2024
Total births (all-time)≈ 6,172

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202418852025

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

The name traces back to the older form Aenor, with Leonor understood to mean 'the other Aenor' as the name passed through Provençal and into Iberian use. It became a long-standing royal and aristocratic name in Spain and Portugal, and it stands beside fuller forms like Eleonora and the clipped Nora. Whatever the precise root, the name has carried noble associations for centuries.

Two short syllables give Leonor a steady, formal sound, and it can soften to Nora or Ella in everyday use. The Argentine-Italian surrealist Leonor Fini, who painted commanding female figures, is one striking bearer.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Leonor is 'the other Aenor ', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Leonor — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

EleonoraEllinorEllaNoraEllen

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Leonor Fini (1907–1996)
    Argentine-Italian surrealist painter and designer known for depictions of powerful women.
  • ★Leonor Rodríguez (1991–present)
    Spanish basketball player and Olympic silver medalist with Spain at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

If you like Leonor…

Eleonora— The fuller Italian form of the same Eleanor family that Leonor shortens.
Nora— A clipped form drawn directly from the end of Leonor.
Ella— A short pet form that grew out of the Eleanor group.
Ellen— An English relative within the broader Eleanor tradition.

Explore names like Leonor

By themespanishportuguese

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Leonor mean?

Leonor is usually explained as meaning 'the other Aenor ' and is most often linked with Spanish tradition.

How do you pronounce Leonor?

It's commonly said leh-oh-NOHR /le.o.ˈnoɾ/.

Is Leonor a boy or girl name?

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

How popular is Leonor?

In 2024, Leonor ranked #2075 in the U.S. for girls, with 93 births recorded.

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