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Home › Baby Names Directory › Nora

Nora

♂ Boy

Pronounced NOR-uh /ˈnɔːr.ə/High

Meaning: Overwhelmingly a girl's name, from Honora ('honor') or Eleanor ('light'). Separately it is an Albanian masculine name and a Hungarian short form. Used here for a boy, which we flag plainly.Low

In 30 seconds: A name that reads mainly as a girl's: Nora comes from Honora ('honor') or Eleanor ('light') (said 'NOR-uh'). Here it is a boy's — we flag the strong cross-sex lean plainly.
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Origin LowLatin, Albanian, Hungarian
MeaningOverwhelmingly a girl's name, from Honora ('honor') or Eleanor ('light'). Separately it is an Albanian masculine name and a Hungarian short form. Used here for a boy, which we flag plainly.
U.S. rank (2020)#11589 ↘ Falling
2020 U.S. births6 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1920
Total births (all-time)≈ 778

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 192018802020

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

Nora is best known as a girl's name, short for Honora ('honor') or Eleanor ('light; bright'). It is also an Albanian masculine name and a Hungarian short form. Used here for a boy, it runs strongly against the usual grain, which we flag plainly — extremely rare for boys (said 'NOR-uh').

For boys it appears only extremely rarely in the U.S., against overwhelmingly female use. Rare and firmly cross-sex.

Did you know? Nora is overwhelmingly a girl's name — from Honora ('honor') or Eleanor ('light') — though it also exists as an Albanian masculine name and a Hungarian short form; used here for a boy, which we flag plainly (said 'NOR-uh').
Overall data confidence 50%
References — Nora — Honora/Eleanor (girl) / Albanian masculine / Hungarian short form

Variations

NorahNooraNora

Nicknames

NorNoro

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Nora…

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Nolan— a like N-o- boy's name
Nero— a like short vowel-bright pick
Niko— a like crisp N- name

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Nora mean?

Nora comes from Honora ('honor') or Eleanor ('light'); it is also an Albanian masculine name and a Hungarian short form.

How do you pronounce Nora?

It's said NOR-uh /ˈnɔːr.ə/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Nora a boy or girl name?

Nora is overwhelmingly a girl's name; used here for a boy, which we flag plainly. It is also an Albanian masculine name.

How popular is Nora?

Nora is very common for girls but extremely rare for boys in the U.S.

💬 Ask Nia