Eleanor
Girl name · #12 in 2025 · Uniqueness 30/100
In 2025, 7,649 baby girls were named Eleanor, placing it at #12 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #60, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 235 girls born in 2025 was named Eleanor.
The 145-year story
Eleanor first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 129 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1920, when 8,497 girls were named Eleanor — good for #25 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Eleanor per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Eleanor against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Eleanor in class?
Eleanor scores 30 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "popular" band. A low score means broad familiarity: teachers will spell it right, and your child may share it with a classmate. For many families that's a feature, not a bug.
Where Eleanor is most common
Geography matters for names, and Eleanor is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Eleanors were TX (604), CA (513), OH (376), FL (323), NC (315). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Eleanor
Statistically, parents drawn to Eleanor tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Evelyn, Hazel, Eliana, Josephine, and Harper.
EvelynHazelElianaJosephineHarperVioletElsieEsther
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Eleanor | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7,649 | #12 |
| 2024 | 7,147 | #14 |
| 2023 | 6,765 | #14 |
| 2022 | 6,927 | #16 |
| 2021 | 7,099 | #15 |
| 2020 | 6,379 | #22 |
| 2019 | 6,198 | #27 |
| 2018 | 5,728 | #32 |
| 2017 | 5,549 | #36 |
| 2016 | 5,140 | #41 |
| 2015 | 4,442 | #60 |
| 2014 | 3,740 | #78 |
| 2013 | 3,013 | #106 |
| 2012 | 2,383 | #134 |
| 2011 | 2,085 | #150 |
| 2010 | 1,851 | #166 |
| 2009 | 1,486 | #218 |
| 2008 | 1,343 | #255 |
| 2007 | 1,272 | #266 |
| 2006 | 1,221 | #269 |
| 2005 | 1,237 | #264 |
| 2004 | 1,063 | #301 |
| 2003 | 1,007 | #308 |
| 2002 | 961 | #319 |
| 2001 | 826 | #359 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Eleanor a popular girl name?
Eleanor ranked #12 among girls in 2025 with 7,649 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #60.
When was the name Eleanor most popular?
Eleanor peaked in 1920, when 8,497 American girls received the name (ranked #25 that year). Since 1920 the name has recovered some ground.
How rare is the name Eleanor?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 235 newborn American girls was named Eleanor. It scores 30/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "popular".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.