Meaning and Orgin of the Name Elinor

Elinor is the Welsh spelling of Eleanor, which is a girls’ name that originated in France. It also has roots in Germany and Greece. The original spelling of the Elinor name is “Aliénor”. Elinor may also have originated from the name Helen.

The meaning of Elinor is “foreign” – coming from another, unfamiliar place – and “other”.

Popularity

Eleanor was a popular name in Europe during the 12th and 13th centuries, and became popular again in the United States during the early 20th century, particularly the 1910s and 1920s. However, the popularity of Elinor as a name has decreased since the 1920s in both the United States and in the United Kingdom. However, some variations of Elinor such as Ella continue to be very popular across the globe.

Famous People Called Elinor

Some celebrities named Elinor include politician, economist, and Nobel Prize winner Elinor Ostrom and poet and novelist Elinor Wylie. Elinor Jones is the famous Welsh presenter on S4C. Elinor Crawley is an actress who featured in the films Bridgend and Submarine.

Famous fictional Elinors include Elinor Dashwood from Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen and Queen Elinor, the mother of Merida in the animated film Brave.

Useful Resources

• Discover the meaning and popularity of other Welsh girl’s names on our website