A 1940s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Noreen since 1892
Babies named Noreen per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 5 |
| 1900s | 50 |
| 1910s | 313 |
| 1920s | 1,068 |
| 1930s | 2,197 |
| 1940s | 4,376 |
| 1950s | 5,187 |
| 1960s | 4,269 |
| 1970s | 1,078 |
| 1980s | 592 |
| 1990s | 338 |
| 2000s | 227 |
| 2010s | 258 |
| 2020s | 150 |
Meaning & origin
Noreen first appeared on U.S. records in 1892 and reached its peak in 1948, when it was most frequently given to baby girls. After declining, the name began rising again in 2007, and as of 2025 it ranks 4265th. New York was the top state for the name during its height in the 1940s, reflecting its strong Irish-American roots. The name Noreen is one of several Irish feminine diminutives (like Maureen and Colleen) that were widely adopted in the mid-20th century. Its current revival suggests a renewed interest in vintage Irish names, though it remains relatively rare today, given to about 1 in every 48705 girls.
Noreen is most likely an Anglicized spelling of the Irish Nóirín, which is a diminutive of Nóra, itself a variant of Honora. Honora derives from the Latin 'honor', meaning 'honor, esteem'. The name was popularized in the English-speaking world through Irish immigrants, particularly in the 19th and 20th centuries. It saw its greatest use in the United States in the 1940s, often given to girls of Irish descent.
Where Noreen 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.
“Noreen” around the world
Where Noreen lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Nora, Nory, Reenie
Sibling names for Noreen
Names that share Noreen's style, for a brother or sister.
