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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Girl Name

29 replies

BePearlLemur · 22/10/2025 16:26

I love the name Eleanor for a girls name, I've asked opinions most people say it's nice but some say they associate it with the older generation. What are some other potential names I could use that sound similar or have a similar vibe (Elena, Eliana, Alana, Eliza I'm not sure)

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GoldenRosebee · 22/10/2025 16:35

Ellen/Elaine - I think it's due comeback already, but might be too old still
Eliska (czech name)
Ellery
Eloise

Catpiece · 22/10/2025 16:35

I love it. It’s the name of my niece x

CharlieKirkRIP · 22/10/2025 16:37

Elena.

HarryVanderspeigle · 22/10/2025 16:37

Just use Eleanor and don't ask for opinions. It's lovely and not as old fashioned sounding as quite a few of the popular granny names around at the moment.

BePearlLemur · 22/10/2025 16:46

CharlieKirkRIP · 22/10/2025 16:37

Elena.

How would you pronounce it

OP posts:
BePearlLemur · 22/10/2025 16:47

Catpiece · 22/10/2025 16:35

I love it. It’s the name of my niece x

So cute

OP posts:
BePearlLemur · 22/10/2025 16:48

HarryVanderspeigle · 22/10/2025 16:37

Just use Eleanor and don't ask for opinions. It's lovely and not as old fashioned sounding as quite a few of the popular granny names around at the moment.

Thank you and I've never met or seen an Eleanor most old people I know are called 'Julie, Joyce, Rudith, Mary' so I think Eleanor is a bit different to them

OP posts:
Bitzee · 22/10/2025 16:52

Beautiful but if you combine it with similar names like Ellie, Ella, Elise and Elle then that’s a third of my 8YO DD’s class (all girls school). Not that’s that necessarily a bad thing. And actually it does seem less popular with my 4YO’s age group. But worth thinking about!

JillyGiraffe · 22/10/2025 17:12

Eleanor is a lovely, traditional name! Go for it!

Junebrick · 22/10/2025 17:14

I would say Eleanor is a classic that's pretty timeless.

Elephantangel1991 · 22/10/2025 17:15

Eleanor is a good name. The oldest i know is 40ish and the youngest primary school age. Not an old lady name.

PevenseygirlQQ · 22/10/2025 17:18

What about Eleonora?

Emanwenym · 22/10/2025 17:19

I've asked opinions most people say it's nice but some say they associate it with the older generation. That's where you are going wrong.
You love the name, use it.

Not keen on Elena, Eliana, Alana or Eliza.
Elena and Alana have several pronunciations, and Eliana seems faddy.

Eleonora looks made up and a jumble of vowels. It's 5 syllables.

Moreteaandchocolate · 22/10/2025 18:50

Eleanor hasn’t left the top 60 names for the past 30 years, so it’s been pretty popular for a long time - certainly not just an old lady name. It’s a beautiful, elegant classic. The only disadvantage is that there are quite a lot of Ellie’s around (Eleanor, Eloise, Eliana etc) but I’d say the peak for that trend has past and it’s more Evie / Ivy / Ava / Eve / Eva now.

MirandaBlu · 22/10/2025 19:03

In 2024 Eleanor was #67 (ranked by number of times used) in England & Wales and #14 in the USA according to BehindTheName, so not terribly old fashioned! I'd use it if you love it, there are various ways to shorten it for everyday if you want including Nora or Nori if you don't want to go the El(lie) route. I really like Elise too, but Eleanor feels more classic and substantial.

Emanwenym · 22/10/2025 19:05

I don't like Elise. I don't dislike it but with so many El- names around it seems faddy, but I know Eleanors/Elinors of all ages.
(The Elinors are Welsh-speakers.)

bellocchild · 22/10/2025 19:15

It'll be wonderful when she's older - teenage and grown up. Very special name.

Mandarinaduck · 22/10/2025 20:53

Eleanor is a nice, classic name and suits all ages - I know a few young ones.

You could consider
Leonor(e)
or
Lenora
or
Honor

Mumofgirls2017 · 22/10/2025 21:15

I don’t think Eleanor is dated! However alternatives….

eloise
penelope
elsie
lena
nellie
elora
evelyn
emmeline

Alexandrine · 22/10/2025 22:56

Eleanor is still in the Top 100 so I can’t see how it could be an “older” persons name. That’s a bit like them thinking Olivia is an older persons name just because it was also used by Shakespeare 100’s of years ago or because famous celebs like Olivia Colman are middle aged - when actually it’s still the top choice for baby girls.

Eleanor is a beautiful classic, albeit one that had the very height of its popularity in the late 90’s/early 2000’s. So yes there will be a larger number of Eleanor’s in their 20’s about, but most wouldn’t really think of them as an “older generation” as such. Plus they usually seem to be known as “Ellie” (another 2000’s staple name), so if you call your Eleanor by a trendier nickname- Nell springs to mind, then you are bang up to date.

ETA: Or an obvious alternative is pretty Helena - which afaik has never been in the Top 100 so couldn’t be called dated. And also has the same trendy “Nell” nickname option as Eleanor. But personally I’d stick with your first choice.

Calliopespa · 22/10/2025 23:01

I know a couple of youngish ones but they go by the (hugely popular) Ellie.

What about Helena?

Calliopespa · 22/10/2025 23:02

Alexandrine · 22/10/2025 22:56

Eleanor is still in the Top 100 so I can’t see how it could be an “older” persons name. That’s a bit like them thinking Olivia is an older persons name just because it was also used by Shakespeare 100’s of years ago or because famous celebs like Olivia Colman are middle aged - when actually it’s still the top choice for baby girls.

Eleanor is a beautiful classic, albeit one that had the very height of its popularity in the late 90’s/early 2000’s. So yes there will be a larger number of Eleanor’s in their 20’s about, but most wouldn’t really think of them as an “older generation” as such. Plus they usually seem to be known as “Ellie” (another 2000’s staple name), so if you call your Eleanor by a trendier nickname- Nell springs to mind, then you are bang up to date.

ETA: Or an obvious alternative is pretty Helena - which afaik has never been in the Top 100 so couldn’t be called dated. And also has the same trendy “Nell” nickname option as Eleanor. But personally I’d stick with your first choice.

Edited

Oops sorry, cross-posted! But I think Helena is pretty too. It avoids the overdone Ellie thing, and I think its quite elegant.

ChocolateCinderToffee · 22/10/2025 23:06

Eleanor is classic, not old-fashioned.

Kiwo · 22/10/2025 23:08

Eleanor is beautiful and much nicer than most of the alternatives.

It (and other El type names) are also not super common among babies for the last few years (at least around here) - which is a good thing!

I'd say go for it! And as pp says, don't ask for opinions!

LivingTheDreamish · 23/10/2025 01:56

I like Eleanor but it does have quite a classic vibe. Leonora is a pretty alternative.

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