The Baby Name Wizard

Reader Contributions

Contribute to, or edit, this collection of community wisdom on the name Elinor!

Comments and insights on the name Elinor: | Edit

My middle daughter, born 1993, is named Elinor after my paternal grandmother, born 1900. There must be something to the name as my grandmother was known for her strong and independent personality, as is my daughter. Recalcitrant comes to mind, and is a word I have been told was often used by my great grandmother to describe her daughter, my grandmother.

Personal experiences with the name Elinor: | Edit

My husband's grandmother is named Elinor. She was born in 1924. My husband and I decided to name our daughter Elinor after her great grandmother. We call her Ella. I love my daughter's classic name.

elinor is my most favorite name. i wanted to name my eldest (born 1991) elinor, but her dad said we should name her after my mother, who is catherine. elinor was my paternal grandmother (born 1900). she was the most colorful and beautiful woman, full of life and very creative. she was the perfect grandmother. my second daughter (born 1993) is elinor and she is truly beautiful, strong and independent, creative and full of life. my grandmother was called elie as a young girl and el as an adult. i call my daughter mostly by her given name, but her dad calls her el. she likes to be called nora.

Nicknames for Elinor: | Edit

Elle, Ellie, Ella, Nora, elie, el

Meanings and history of the name Elinor: | Edit

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Famous real-life people named Elinor: | Edit

Elinor Ostrom - First woman to receive Nobel Prize for Economics (2009)
Daughter of Katie Couric

Elinor in song, story & screen: | Edit

Elinor Dashwood, a character in Jane Austen's "Sense and Sensibility"
Chareles Dickens' "Little Nell" from "The old curiosity shop". Her real name is Elinor
Song "Elenore" by the Turtles, (featured in Richard Curtis' movie "The boat that rocked.")