Given name
Leora
“the shining light”
Leora is a variant of Lenore. In Greek use, Lenore carries the interpretation “the shining light.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Leora is a variant of Lenore. In Greek use, Lenore carries the interpretation “the shining light.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Leora 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
Leora 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.
Explained through its name family
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. Leora 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
Leora through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 12,125
- 6 boys · 12,119 girls
- Most popular year
- 1921
- 255 babies
- 2025
- 163
- #1,356 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +29%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 163 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,356 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 29.2% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 255 in 1921. In 2025, New York had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (23). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 4,545 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.
Leora’s family of names
Leora has a related form in Lenore. In English usage, Leora has a related form in Liora.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Leora
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Leora, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Leonora
“the shining light”
>99% girls
Lenora
“the shining light” · “shining light”
>99% girls
Eleanore
“shining light”
>99% girls
Louise
“a famous warrior”
>99% girls
Ida
“a king”
>99% girls
Wilhelmina
“determined protector” · “one who is protected”
>99% girls
Hellen
“flat rock”
>99% girls
Nellie
“the shining light” · “from the canal; a channel”
>99% girls