Note: my apologies for the lack of content. A few days ago, I thought I published something, but sadly, I must’ve not clicked the button hard enough, because the article is not there and is instead rotting in my draft folder. Well, not anymore if you're reading this! Enjoy!
Stately first lady turned retro favorite, Eleanor is all poise and grace, a traditional name that boasts years of plentiful use. If you’re in the market for learning a bit more about the name Eleanor, then I suggest you look no further than this article. As you may know, today we’ll be taking a look at the pros and flaws of the name Eleanor, as well as getting the inside scoop on meaning, associations, predictions, and a sprinkle of opinions and analogies. Eleanor is a name that has been getting quite a bit of press lately, so I thought I’d do a deep dive on her to quench the thirst of the namenerds hanging out here (hi!) and perhaps convince a couple expecting families to shortlist this one. Okie dokie friends, that’s about all you need to know for now, so it’s on to the positives!
Pros
First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt is very fondly remembered by the public, American public in particular. Although she was born Anna, she is almost completely recalled by people today as Eleanor, making her one of the most influential Eleanors and primary associations, at least in the United States. Roosevelt was an incredibly bold character who tossed the petty everyday affairs a First Lady was expected to tend to and established a role similar to what we have today: a strong, authoritative figure who advocates for their own personal beliefs alongside their partner in office. Eleanor was a strong advocate for women’s rights and against racial discrimination, making Eleanor a lovely choice if Eleanor Roosevelt is an association you have. A daughter with a confidence about her and the grit to stick to her convictions is certainly something to desire for plenty of families, so Roosevelt’s influence in the feel and personality of the name makes her very interesting and appealing to many. Speaking of associations, there’s the song Eleanor Rigby by the Beatles, which is another beloved association. The Beatles are and have been a very popular music group, making this name’s connection to a song of theirs one that many parents and grandparents are smiling down at when they bestow the moniker Eleanor on their daughters. Despite the song presenting Eleanor as a very lonely woman, the Beatles-themed aspect as well as the catchy tendency and pleasant rhythm of the song (I do not regret listening, it was very good) make this association a positive one for me. Not only that, Eleanor is truly a classic. True, she’s gaining in use as of late. But in the 119 years that the SSA has been recording the use of the baby name Eleanor, she has never dipped into the 700s or lower, proving how traditional she really is. Fluctuation is normal for baby names, and Eleanor is no exception. However, she’s been loved and adored for so long, she still manages to maintain a fairly steady popularity that doesn’t pin her to one generation like names like Lesley or Arlene.
And I could spend days discovering nicknames and short forms for the name Eleanor. If you're looking for something current and cute, there’s Ellie, Leni, Nori, or even Ella. If you’re more in the mood for something with just as much vintage spark as Eleanor, Nellie or Nell functions beautifully. If you want a nickname that functions just as smoothly in the workplace as it does at daycare, try Nora or Elle. If you have a middle name picked out, you give yourself a billion more infinite options. If she’s Eleanor Victoria (E.V), try Evie. Eleanor Samantha or Eleanor Catherine (El.C)? You’ve got yourself an Elsie! Anyway, the wide variety of Eleanor nicknames is certainly impressive, and if you find yourself interested in a name with plenty of short forms, then Eleanor might be a good place to start.
Cons
The 100 year rule. Honestly, it should be called the 110 year rule. Sure, the names come back pretty routinely around a century later. But for the majority of people to view a name as fresh and new? That could take a decade or two longer. As is the case of Eleanor. The name peaked in 1920, and surprise surprise, is now two spots away from that previous peak in 2019. Chances are, she’ll hit that achievement and overcome her past in this new revival in the year 2020, making Eleanor a poster child for the reliability of the 100 year rule. But just because parents think that the name is ripe for use and perfect for their little one does not mean that everyone agrees. I’ve seen many comments demeaning the name as an old lady name, or a name that feels as if she would belong to an unattractive old woman. So not everyone is on board, despite a revival. And it would be crushing to have even just one friend at your baby shower snicker when you announce your name and insult it with the assertion that it’s old and ugly. Eleanor may be back, but that’s not a guarantee that everyone, or even your baby-naming partner, will understand that.
Elinore is my favorite. Eleanor is the most traditional. Elinor is the most slim and trim. Elanor is the most phonetically correct. Elleanore is the most dramatic. But regardless of which spelling you choose, I doubt you’ll be getting away without plenty of “How do you spell that?”s and a handful of incorrect variations as your child grows. That might sound okay right now, but when you get the third “Ellenor” of the day when your little one is Elenore or after your upteenth attempt to try and convince the childcare worker that your little girl’s name is indeed spelled with an I instead of an EA, you may feel a bit different. I have a name that barely has any viable alternative spellings, but I have had it misspelled twice, and was very surprised at how frustrating that is. In addition to this, Eleanor’s origin is quite cloudy. Some sources say that the name derived from the Provençan form of Helene, whereas others call it the Provençan form of Ailenor. Yet more sources insist that Eleanor does not claim roots in Provença at all, and instead is an Occitan name used to distinguish an Aenor from her daughter, also Aenor. Either way, the origin isn’t clear, and that might tick off some name-obsessed parents or any family who values a concrete origin. On top of that, Eleanor’s meaning isn’t solid either, with ideas varying from “Shining one,” to “Other Aenor” to “Foreign” and more. Even if you’re not a namenerd by any means, a lack of a meaning to tell your little one about when they grow could irk any parent on a quest for the perfect baby name.
Finally, Eleanor is popular. Not just top 100 popular. Not even top 50 popular. She currently ranks at #27 and has been climbing like crazy over the past few years, making her a real popularity liability. If you wouldn’t be comfortable choosing a name as common as Chloe or Samuel, then I wouldn’t opt for Eleanor based on popularity. Chloe is only 3 spots above Eleanor, and Samuel only 5 spots out of reach, both achievements that are completely possible for Eleanor in the near future, so that gives you an idea of how extremely popular she truly is.
Combos
Eleanor Iris
Eleanor Mae (Emmie?)
Clara Eleanor
Calista Eleanor
Predictions For Eleanor:
It’s evident that Eleanor has been rising exponentially for a long while. And I don’t believe she’ll plateau in 2020 data. In fact, I predict that this beauty will surpass her past 1920s achievement of #25 in the next set of stats, though I’d love to hear your take on the matter in the comments below. Eleanor is a gorgeous name with strong namesakes and adorable nicknames, but to me, the hype she gets on naming forums and sites both led me to love her and led to her downfall in my mind. At a certain point, a name that is discussed so often loses it’s mysterious sparkle, and that was Eleanor to me. I still find the sounds appealing, but she doesn’t quite retain that glimmer she once had for me. Thank you for reading, friends, and I hope you have a wonderful rest of your day!
Sincerely,
-Delphina Moon
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