Skip to content
Names Starting With N
GirlIrish#22 in 2025

Nora

Nora is a girls' name of Irish origin meaning “honor, light.” It ranked #22 in the United States in 2025.

pronunciation

NOR-uh

meaning & origin

The name Nora means “honor, light.” It comes from the Irish language tradition.

An Irish short form of Honora (from Latin 'honor') and of Eleanor/Leonora (from Greek 'light'). Nora Helmer, the protagonist of Henrik Ibsen's revolutionary 1879 play 'A Doll's House,' made the name a symbol of female independence.

popularity over time

#30
2020
#27
2021
#25
2022
#23
2023
#22
2024
YearRank
2024#22
2023#23
2022#25
2021#27
2020#30

Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset

famous people named Nora

  • Nora Ephron (writer/director)
  • Nora Jones (musician)
  • Nora (Ibsen's A Doll's House)

names similar to Nora

Trending in:short minimalistvintage

love Nora? get 10 more names curated for your family.

Popularity rankings and meanings are just the starting point. Our AI consultant finds names that match your heritage, style, and what matters most to you.

Completely free. No credit card required.

start free consultation