Nora
Girl name · #20 in 2025 · Very well-known
How old is the name Nora? In official American birth records, Nora has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 6,380 baby girls were named Nora, placing it at #20 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #41, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 282 girls born in 2025 was named Nora.
The 145-year story
Nora first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 471 girls received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2025, with 6,380 babies and a rank of #20. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Nora per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Nora against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Nora in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Nora is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very well-known". A low score means broad familiarity: teachers will spell it right, and your child may share it with a classmate. For many families that's a feature, not a bug.
Where Nora is most common
Geography matters for names, and Nora is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Nora is most common in VT (23 per 1,000), NH (13 per 1,000), MT (13 per 1,000), RI (11 per 1,000), ME (11 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 4.9 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Nora is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Nora
Statistically, parents drawn to Nora tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Aurora, Isla, Aria, Luna, and Camila.
AuroraIslaAriaLunaCamilaNovaLucyEllie
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Nora | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6,380 | #20 |
| 2024 | 6,148 | #22 |
| 2023 | 6,027 | #24 |
| 2022 | 6,148 | #28 |
| 2021 | 6,281 | #27 |
| 2020 | 5,583 | #30 |
| 2019 | 5,936 | #29 |
| 2018 | 5,837 | #30 |
| 2017 | 6,067 | #29 |
| 2016 | 5,593 | #36 |
| 2015 | 5,330 | #41 |
| 2014 | 4,741 | #49 |
| 2013 | 3,508 | #83 |
| 2012 | 2,890 | #108 |
| 2011 | 2,235 | #137 |
| 2010 | 1,939 | #159 |
| 2009 | 1,670 | #198 |
| 2008 | 1,560 | #216 |
| 2007 | 1,474 | #242 |
| 2006 | 1,385 | #245 |
| 2005 | 1,197 | #276 |
| 2004 | 1,043 | #306 |
| 2003 | 830 | #367 |
| 2002 | 601 | #471 |
| 2001 | 622 | #448 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Nora?
In official American birth records, the name Nora first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 471 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Nora a popular girl name?
Nora ranked #20 among girls in 2025 with 6,380 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #41.
When was the name Nora most popular?
Nora peaked in 2025, when 6,380 American girls received the name (ranked #20 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Nora?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 282 newborn American girls was named Nora. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very well-known".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.