Norah
Norah is a girls' name of Irish origin meaning “honor.” It ranked #262 in the United States in 2025. A spelling of Nora, which began as a short form of Honora.
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how do you pronounce Norah?
NOR-uh
where does the name Norah come from?
A spelling of Nora, mainly a short form of Honora, an Anglo-Norman name from the Latin honor; the final h is a pseudo-Hebrew spelling. Nora also comes from Eleonora.
It returned to the US top 1,000 in 2003, the year after the singer Norah Jones released her debut album.
how popular is this name?
Norah has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 42 years since 1880, and fell outside it for 104. It peaked at #136 in 2017, and ranked #262 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #262 |
| 2024 | #223 |
| 2023 | #201 |
| 2022 | #192 |
| 2021 | #160 |
| 2020 | #152 |
| 2019 | #144 |
| 2018 | #140 |
| 2017 | #136 |
| 2016 | #154 |
| 2010 | #298 |
| 1900 | #885 |
| 1890 | #825 |
| 1880 | #580 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Norah fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Norah
The Irish Nóra is probably also a form of Honora. Norah was in the US top 1,000 in the 1880s and 1890s, disappeared for a century, returned in 2003, peaked in 2017 just inside the top 140, and ranked 262nd in 2025.
who are famous people named Norah?
- Norah Jones (singer-songwriter)
- Norah O'Donnell (television journalist)
- Norah Lofts (writer)
what are the nicknames and variants of Norah?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Norah?
what names go well with Norah?
Sibling names that share Norah's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Norah
What does the name Norah mean?
Norah means “honor”.
What is the origin of the name Norah?
Norah comes from the Irish naming tradition. Related forms include Nora, Noreen and Honora.
How popular is the name Norah?
Norah ranked #262 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 2017, at #136, and it has spent 42 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Norah a boy or girl name?
Norah is primarily a girls' name.
How do you pronounce Norah?
Norah is pronounced NOR-uh, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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