Declining since 2018, #262 for girls today.
Popularity of Norah since 1880
Babies named Norah per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 125 |
| 1890s | 146 |
| 1900s | 114 |
| 1910s | 177 |
| 1920s | 197 |
| 1930s | 129 |
| 1940s | 206 |
| 1950s | 234 |
| 1960s | 213 |
| 1970s | 238 |
| 1980s | 327 |
| 1990s | 357 |
| 2000s | 4,459 |
| 2010s | 17,744 |
| 2020s | 9,203 |
Meaning & origin
Norah has been in use since at least 1880, when it first appeared in U.S. records. After a peak in rank 262 in 2017, its popularity has been falling since 2018. Today, about 1 in 1,350 newborn girls are named Norah. It remains a classic, seen most often in Rhode Island, North Dakota, and New Hampshire. The spelling with an 'h' distinguishes it from the more common Nora and lends a slightly old-fashioned yet refined feel.
Norah is a variant of Nora, itself a short form of Honora (from Latin 'honor') and Eleanor (from Old French 'Alienor', of debated origin). It was popularized in the English-speaking world in the 19th century, partly thanks to the character Nora in Henrik Ibsen's play 'A Doll's House' (1879). The spelling Norah, with an 'h', became common in the late 19th century.
Where Norah is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Norah” around the world
Where Norah lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
275
babies in 2024
Ireland
13
babies in 2025
New Zealand
21
babies in 2025
Quebec
39
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Nora, Nori
Sibling names for Norah
Names that share Norah's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Norah
Names whose popularity has moved with Norah's over the last 50 years.
