The name Eleanor...

I wanted to take a minute to write about the name we've carefully chosen for our daughter. Several years ago, around 2003, we decided that if we ever had a girl we would name her Leni (b/c we like the name Lenny but it's too masculine for a girl with that spelling). After some years went by and Heidi Klum (wife of Seal) named her daughter Leni and their son Henry, we decided to think beyond that name. That and the famous Nazi filmmaker having that name also bothered us. So eventually, and just like with the name Henry, I don't know where it came from, it just seemed to pop into our minds and it was mutually adored and I can't say when it happened, it just did. We tend to like classic, older names that everyone has heard of but no one has. Henry is proving to be very popular now though..it's moved up to 58 on the list of most common names in 08, so it's probably higher now. I've met no less than 10 Henry's in Austin Texas, under the age of 5, in the time since my Henry was born.

Before writing anymore about the responses I've gotten to the name Eleanor, I want to write down some of the most popular names right now (2009), just to put the name Eleanor in context.

1. Isabella
2. Olive/Olivia
3. Ava/Eva
4. Ruby
5. Alice
6. Lily
7. Sophia/Sophie
8. Stella
9. Iris
10. Rose
11. Josephine
12. Violet
13. Ester
14. Mary
15. Enid
16. Lucy
17. Tess
18. Meredith
19. Sadie
20. Scarlett

Click here to see more. Other names going around (up and coming, if you will) are Astrid, Josie, and Vera.

So the main thing these names have in common is 1. They're not new 2. None of us went to school with girls with these names. Our friends names were Christie, Amy, Michelle, Jennifer, Amanda, etc. Each generation does it's damnedest to give their children a name that does not conjure up a familiar face from their past. I have never known anyone with any of the names listed above (except Mary) and I have never known an Eleanor, which is why I LOVE the name. It's mine...all mine. I'm sorry if anyone older than 60 thinks it sounds like an old lady name...I can TOTALLY understand that you probably knew people your parents age with that name, but we didn't! I understand the sentiment--it's the same reason I'm not naming my daughter Betty, Carol, or Joyce, etc. It sounds like an old lady's name.

To explore any concerns (especially re. name-teasing--which is not my concern but seems to be for baby-boomers), I posted our name choice on my local mom list-serve, to see what people thought. This is a place where mom's in Austin go to ask questions, seek advice, plan play groups, look for support, etc. Here are some of the responses I got:


I don't imagine Eleanor is any more likely than most other names to be made fun of. I think it's a great name.

Congratulations on the exciting news! I love the name Eleanor too.

I love Eleanor. Go for it.

My (35 yo) best friend's name is Eleanor. It's a wonderful name. It was very uncommon among our peer group, and I don't think she was made fun of because of it. Her biggest challenge has been to get people to spell it "correctly" rather than Elinor.

I don't think Eleanor is on the far end of the spectrum at ALL! Don't worry about it.

Diane, I love the name Eleanor. I can't imagine that anyone would make fun of it. It
reminds me of when my cousin named her son Elijah and my aunt and my
mom thought it was super strange and that he'd be made fun of for it.
I told them that it might not have been a name they grew up hearing,
but it wasn't considered unusual anymore.

After Vera was born, a friend from high school was in town visiting
and she made the comment to me and my other friend (whose daughter is
Esther Fay) that "Wow! Well, they'd better be cute when they grow up!"
WTF? She's kinda that way, so I didn't internalize it, but really,
when someone has labored over a name choice and selected one, it's
obviously because they love it and think it's beautiful. Why would
anyone possibly make fun of it? Crazy.

Eleanor is a great name. Don't worry!

I wanted to name my first daughter Eleanor... but I was overruled. :) She's Bethany... (I still think she'd have been a fine Eleanor.)

Eleanor is a beautiful name. I had an old name back when the favorite names were Susan and Becky. and it wasn't shortened either. My name was Frances and not Fran or Frannie or Frankie. I don't remember anyone ever making fun of it. Granted I do remember wanting a short cute hip name (like Susan or Becky or ?) but now, I kind of like my name. Its the name my parents gave me and for that, its just cool w/ me.

I can't for the life of me figure out a way to make fun of the name Eleanor.

Eleanor is totally a noble queen of the universe name!

Kierstin who used to be on this list has a daughter named Eleanor. We all called her Eleanor, no nicknames. It is a beautiful name. But, we also know some Ellies and Ellas. All very beautiful names.

Personally, if a kid wants to tease another kid and can’t use the name they will find something else. And, kids are so creative that even if we as grown ups thought we had the fool proof no teasing name. We would be wrong:)

I think Eleanor is a beautiful name... as someone said I think of strong amazing women when I hear that name...

I love the name Eleanor! My mother was baffled by my love of the name
Rose, which we didn't ultimately go with but not b/c of her
bafflement. There is an Eleanor at my daughter's preschool and
everyone loves the name.

FWIW, "Elinor" is simply an alternate spelling and used by Jane Austen
in Sense and Sensibility. Also lovely.

Eleanor is a LOVELY name! And coming back in popularity too!