Norah

The girl's name Norah is considered an English and Irish variant of Nora, a short form of the name Eleonora. This first name goes back to Aliénor of Aquitaine, a significant queen of France and England in the Middle Ages.

What does the name Norah mean?

The girl's name Norah is considered an English and Irish variant of Nora, a short form of the name Eleonora. This first name goes back to Aliénor of Aquitaine, a significant queen of France and England in the Middle Ages. Its origin is still not clearly defined today. A comprehensive explanation of the possible derivations exists on the name page of Alienor. The name means roughly 'the other Aenor', derived either from the Germanic element alja or the Latin term ali. Both expressions translate to 'other' or 'foreign'. The second element was Aenor, a previously unknown Germanic name. This combination was chosen earlier to distinguish her from her mother, who was also named Aenor. Furthermore, Norah is associated with the Arabic name Aḷḷāhu nūrī (أَلْلّٰهُ نُورِي), which translates to 'God is my Light'. Since the 19th century, there has also been a connection to the ancient Greek word éleos (ἔλεος), which stands for 'mercy', 'compassion', and 'kindness'. Name researchers interpret the name in this context with the meaning 'the Merciful'. Sometimes, Norah is also a spelling variant of Helene ('the Radiant', 'the Beautiful', 'the Sunny'), although this connection is considered rather unlikely in name research. Other variants include Norina, Norine, Noreen, Norena, Noirin, and Noortje.

Where does the name Norah come from?

Etymology Norah is a female first name of Old French and Provençal origin with meanings such as 'the Other' or 'the Foreign' and others.

How do you pronounce Norah?

Sound & Pronunciation of Norah: The name Norah is two syllables and rounded. In pronunciation 'No-rah' [ˈnoːʁa], it begins with a long, darker 'o' that conveys calmness. The second syllable sounds soft and open. The soft 'h' provides a gentle transition. Norah thus appears harmonious and friendly - present, modern, and melodious.

When is the name day of Norah?

The name day of Norah is February 11 and June 25.

Popularity

Norah is a very popular first name in Germany. Currently, it ranks 989th on the list of the most common female baby names. Its best placement was in 2005 at 618th. In the last ten years, Norah has been given as a first name about 430 times, placing it 944th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 953rd.

Nicknames & pet names

Noir / Nor / Norchen / Nori / Nory

Famous people

• Norah Baring (British actress)
• Norah Burke (novelist)
• Norah Hoult (Irish writer)
• Norah Howard (British actress)
• Norah Isaac (author)
• Norah Jones (American singer)
• Norah Lange (Argentinian writer)
• Norah Lofts (author from England)
• Norah McClintock (Canadian writer)
• Norah McGuinness (Irish painter and illustrator)
• Norah Neilson Gray (Scottish portrait painter)
• Norah Nelson Napaljarri (Australian artist)
• Norah Simpson (Australian modern painter)
• Norah Smallwood (editor)
• Norah Vincent (American writer)
• Norah Zapata-Prill (Bolivian poet)