Given name & surname
Leonora
“the shining light”
Leonora is a variant of Lenore. In Greek use, Lenore carries the interpretation “the shining light.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Leonora is a variant of Lenore. In Greek use, Lenore carries the interpretation “the shining light.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Leonora connects to the Eleanor name family through Lenore. Eleanor reached English through an Old French reshaping of the Old Provençal name Alienor. Eleanor’s deeper linguistic origin is uncertain, despite the well-documented medieval route into England.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In Italian usage, Leonora is a diminutive of Eleonora. In English usage, Leonora is a short form of Eleonora. Leonora connects to the Eleanor name family through Lenore. The shared background comes through Eleanor: The clearest sequence is Alienor into an Old French form and then English Eleanor. Beyond that, the suggested Helen connection competes with a possible Germanic origin; similarity to a familiar name is not enough to resolve the question.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Leonora connects to the Eleanor name family through Lenore. The history of Eleanor gives this family its wider story. Eleanor of Aquitaine, who married Henry II, brought the name from southwestern France to England in the twelfth century. Eleanor of Provence married Henry III, and Eleanor of Castile married Edward I. This succession of royal bearers gives the name a concrete English history independent of the debate over its meaning.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Leonora through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 7,504
- 0 boys · 7,504 girls
- Most popular year
- 1924
- 138 babies
- 2025
- 114
- #1,772 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +63%
- Rising fast
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 114 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,772 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 63.0% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 138 in 1924. In 2025, New York had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (17). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 5,625 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Leonora’s family of names
Leonora has a short form in Nora. Leonora shares a linguistic root with Leonore. Leonora has a related form in Lenore.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Leonora has relatives in 6 languages.
5 related names in 6 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 2
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Leonora
- Leonora CarringtonBritish-born Mexican artist, painter and novelist (1917–2011)
- LeonoraDanish singer and figure skaterborn 1998
- Leonora Christina UlfeldtDanish countess1621–1698
- Leonora DoriItalian noble1568–1617
- Nora SwinburneBritish actress (1902-2000)
- Leonora FaniItalian actressborn 1954
- Leonora SpeyerAmerican poet (1872–1956)
- Leonora RuffoItalian actress1936–2007
- Eleonora KaminskaitėSoviet rower1951–1986
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Leonora, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Leora
“the shining light”
>99% girls
Eleanore
“shining light”
>99% girls
Wilhelmina
“determined protector” · “one who is protected”
>99% girls
Hellen
“flat rock”
>99% girls
Louise
“a famous warrior”
>99% girls
Ida
“a king”
>99% girls
Nell
“the son of Neil; the son of a champion” · “the shining light”
>99% girls
Nellie
“the shining light” · “from the canal; a channel”
>99% girls