Given name & surname
Norah
In English use, Norah is a diminutive of Honora. One Latin interpretation is “having a good name and integrity; an honorable woman.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Norah is a diminutive of Honora. One Latin interpretation is “having a good name and integrity; an honorable woman.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In English use, Norah is a diminutive of Honora. An origin associated with Honora is Latin.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English usage, Norah is a diminutive of Nora. In English usage, Norah is a diminutive of Eleonora.
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.
From dated birth records
Norah through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 33,998
- 129 boys · 33,869 girls
- Most popular year
- 2017
- 2,156 babies
- 2025
- 1,191
- #262 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −26%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 1,191 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 262 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 25.9% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 2,156 in 2017. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (111). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 23,775 as a first name in 2020; 250 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Norah’s family of names
In English usage, Norah is a diminutive of Nora. Norah has a related form in Nora. In English usage, Norah is a diminutive of Eleonora.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 4
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 4
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Norah
- Norah JonesAmerican musician (born 1979)
- Norah VincentAmerican writer (1968–2022)
- Norah JerutoKenyan female steeplechase runnerborn 1995
- Norah Al FaizSaudi deputy education minister (born 1956)born 1954
- Norah LangeArgentine author (1905–1972)
- Norah O'DonnellAmerican television journalist who is currently a senior correspondent on CBS News and contributing correspondent on 60 Minutesborn 1974
- Norah Neilson GrayBritish artist of the Glasgow School (1882-1931)
- Norah BaringEnglish actress (1905-1985)
- Norah ElamBritish suffragist (1878-1961)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Norah, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Nova
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5% boys · 95% girls
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Nyla
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Zara
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Samara
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>99% girls
Mira
“one who is prosperous” · “a peaceful woman”
>99% girls
Elora
“God is my light”
>99% girls