Eleanor \e-lea-nor\ as a girl's name is pronounced EL-a-nor. It is of Greek origin, and the meaning of Eleanor is "sun ray, shining light". Variant of Helen. Also possibly from the Greek name "eleos" meaning "compassion", or from German "ali" meaning "other, foreign". History: Eleanor of Aquitaine (12th century) was heiress to a large part of France, wife of two kings and mother of two more (Richard the Lionhearted and John). Her powerful personality, intelligence, and energy made her unique then. Literary: Jane Austen's Eleonora Dashwood in "Sense and Sensibility". First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt; Italian actress Eleonora Duse; actress Elinor Donahue; women's rights activist Eleanor Smeal.

Eleanor has 78 variant forms: Aleanor, Alenor, Aleonore, Aline, Allinor, Eileanoir, Eileen, El, Elaine, Elanor, Eleanora, Eleanore, Elen, Elena, Eleni, Elenor, Elenora, Elenore, Eleonor, Eleonora, Eleonore, Elianora, Elianore, Elienora, Elienore, Elinor, Elinore, Ella, Elladine, Elle, Elleanor, Elleanora, Ellen, Ellene, Ellenor, Ellenora, Ellenore, Elleonor, Elli, Ellie, Ellin, Elliner, Ellinor, Ellinore, Elly, Ellyn, Elna, Elnora, Elora, Elyn, Enora, Heleanor, Heleanor, Helen, Helena, Helene, Helenora, Leanora, Lena, Lenora, Lenore, Leonor, Leonora, Leonore, Leora, Lina, Nelda, Nell, Nelle, Nelley, Nelli, Nellie, Nelly, Nonnie, Nora, Nore, Norah and Norina.

For more information, see also the related name Ronelle.