How Many People Are Named Eleanor?

Complete statistics for the name Eleanor: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.

Eleanor
Rare
Greek

Eleanor, a rare female name with roots in Greek, means 'light' or 'radiance'. That's just 1 in 2,431 Americans who carry this beautiful name, making it quite exclusive. With 70% of people named Eleanor being over 60, it definitely has an older-generation vibe.

~135,759
Living in US
1 in 2,431
Americans
1920
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
Light, radiance
🌐
Origin
Greek
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 7
Personality Traits
Wise Compassionate
7
Life Path Number

Traditionally, life-path number 7 symbolizes introspection, wisdom, and spiritual growth.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

135,759
Worldwide Bearers
#3,487
Global Rank
🇦🇺 Australia
3,050
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Wales
2,876
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
1,247
🇳🇿 New Zealand
1,178
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
1,107
🇹🇭 Thailand
925
🇯🇲 Jamaica
735
🇨🇲 Cameroon
719
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
572
🇳🇬 Nigeria
458

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
115 (0%)
♀ Female
135,644 (100%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 74
87,583
Would be under 30 (27%)
10,155
Would be 30–60 (3%)
231,763
Would be over 60 (70%)

All 329,501 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).

📈 Popularity Over Time

Peak: 1920

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Rising

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
100
Classic Feel
100
Modern Appeal
20
International
5

Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency

📜 Eleanor Through the Generations

Eleanor has seen its popularity rise and fall over the decades, peaking in 1920 with 8,507 births. Today, there are 135,759 people named Eleanor living in the US, with most over 60 years old. This age skew paints a picture of a classic, old-school name that's now enjoying a resurgence among younger generations.

📍 State Distribution (Top 10)

New York 36,994
Pennsylvania 33,189
Massachusetts 18,712
Illinois 18,096
California 17,262
Ohio 15,263
New Jersey 13,975
Michigan 12,932
Texas 10,184
Minnesota 7,416

✨ Similar Names to Eleanor

🌿 Related Names by Origin

Other names sharing Eleanor's Greek roots

📄 About the Name Eleanor

How Many People Have the Name Eleanor?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 135,759 people in the United States currently share the name Eleanor. That works out to roughly 1 in every 2,431 Americans, placing it in the Rare category.

Is Eleanor a Common or Rare Name?

Eleanor is classified as Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.

What Does the Name Eleanor Mean?

Eleanor means "light, radiance" and comes from Greek origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 7.

Gender Breakdown

Of all recorded bearers of Eleanor in SSA data, approximately 0% are male and 100% are female.

When Was Eleanor Most Popular?

The name Eleanor reached peak popularity in 1920, with 8,507 babies registered that year. Current trend: Rising.

How Is This Data Calculated?

All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many people are named Eleanor?

Approximately 135,759 people named Eleanor live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 329,501. That works out to roughly 1 in 2,431 Americans.

Is Eleanor a rare name?

Eleanor is classified as Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 2,431 Americans has this name.

What does the name Eleanor mean?

Eleanor means "light, radiance" and comes from Greek origins.

Is Eleanor more male or female?

Based on SSA records, 0% of people named Eleanor are male and 100% are female.

When was Eleanor most popular?

Eleanor peaked in 1920 with 8,507 births that year. Current trend: Rising.

How accurate are these statistics?

All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.

Disclaimer: All results are statistical estimates based on aggregated SSA birth records and modeling. Not exact counts of individuals. Data source: SSA National Baby Names dataset.
Quick Stats
Living in US135,759
All-Time Births329,501
1 in X1 in 2,431
RarityRare
GenderFemale
Avg Age74
Peak Year1920
World Rank#3,487
Male %0%
Female %100%

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Data Source

Powered by the SSA National Baby Names dataset, birth registrations from 1880 to present.

All counts are statistical estimates. See the methodology page.