Meaning: Its source is Eleonora, an Italian name meaning "Compassion."

Languages: This girl's name is used in English, Italian, Czech, Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, Scots Gaelic and Irish Gaelic.

Nickname For: Eleanora, Honora, Leonora and Fionnuala

Nicknames: Nonie and Norry

Compound Forms: Noralee

Alternative Spellings: Norah

Variant Forms: Lanora, Noreen, Norene and Norine

Non-English Forms: Noora

Popularity: The name Nora ranked 442nd in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics and 266th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

This name is highly rated in the 1990 U.S. Census popularity survey of all ages, but after 1960 does not appear in the state data listing the most popular baby names.

Narrative: It developed as a short form of the names Eleonora, Honora and Leonora.

Though Nora is not Gaelic in origin, it has come to be especially associated with Ireland, and in Scotland is often used as a feminine form of Norman.