Girl Irish / Latin 2 syllables

Nora

NOR-ah /ˈnɔːrə/

"Woman of honor" — a name of quiet dignity and literary grace

Nora is a short form of both Honora (from Latin honor) and Eleanor/Leonora (light). It has been a beloved Irish and Scandinavian name for centuries, associated with quiet strength, warmth, and literary sensibility. Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House (1879) gave Nora one of literature's first great feminist heroines — a woman who chooses her own freedom over social convention. That Nora changed theatre history. Today, the name is having a major revival as parents seek simple, classic names with real substance.

Quick Facts

Letters4

SyllablesNo-ra

GenderGirl

OriginIrish / Latin

Root WordHonora / Leonora

MeaningHonor; light

PopularityPopular

Peak Year2023

Trend ↑ Rising

Name DayJanuary 31

Nicknames NorNorie

About the Name Nora

Nora means 'honor' (from Honora) or 'light' (as a short form of Eleanor/Leonora). Both meanings reflect its dignified, luminous quality.

Yes — Nora has deep roots in Irish culture as a form of Honora, and it remains a popular Irish name to this day.

Nora Helmer in Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House (1879) is one of literature's first great feminist characters, making the name synonymous with independence.

Nora Grace, Nora Jane, Nora Rose, and Nora Claire are all timelessly elegant.

Nora is experiencing a strong revival and is now in the US top-30 girl names, having risen steadily since 2010.

Personality of Nora

Perceived character traits commonly associated with people named Nora

creativity 80%

elegance 85%

independence 92%

intelligence 90%

strength 82%

warmth 88%

Famous People Named Nora

Nora (A Doll's House)

Ibsen's revolutionary heroine who leaves her husband to find her own identity

Nora Ephron

Beloved American writer and filmmaker, known for When Harry Met Sally

Nora Roberts

Bestselling American romance novelist, one of the world's most successful authors

Middle Names for Nora

Beautiful combinations that flow well with Nora

Nora Grace Nora Rose Nora Jane Nora Claire Nora Mae Nora Kate Nora Ann Nora Hope Nora Pearl Nora Beth

Names Similar to Nora

Similar Sound

Cora Flora

Similar Meaning

Eleanor Lenora

Sibling Name Ideas

Finn Owen Declan Maeve Fiona

History of Nora

Medieval Ireland

Honora/Nora widely used in Irish families, associated with dignity and virtue

1879

Ibsen's A Doll's House premieres; Nora Helmer becomes literature's feminist icon

1981

Nora Roberts begins publishing; her pen name becomes synonymous with bestselling fiction

1999

Nora Ephron writes the screenplay for You've Got Mail, cementing her cultural influence

2020s

Nora leads a major naming revival, entering the US top-30

Numerology & Symbolism of Nora

Destiny Number

Sum of all letters

Soul Urge

Sum of vowels

♍

Zodiac Affinity

Capricorn

Lucky Number

Personal power digit

🎨

Lucky Color

Forest Green

💎

Lucky Stone

Malachite

🌸

Lucky Flower

White Heather

Nora Around the World

How Nora is written in different languages and scripts

نورا

Arabic

ノーラ

Japanese

Нора

Russian

노라

Korean

诺拉

Chinese

Νόρα

Greek

नोरा

Hindi

נורה

Hebrew

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