Norah
Girl name · #262 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Norah? In official American birth records, Norah has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Norah is currently the #262 girl name in the United States — 1,191 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #159, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,511 girls born in 2025 was named Norah.
The 145-year story
Norah first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 9 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2017, when 2,156 girls were named Norah — good for #136 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. 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 Norah per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Norah against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Norah in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Norah is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Norah is most common
Geography matters for names, and Norah is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Norah is most common in KY (1.6 per 1,000), OR (1.6 per 1,000), WI (1.5 per 1,000), UT (1.5 per 1,000), MA (1.5 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.9 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Norah is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Norah
Statistically, parents drawn to Norah tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Nylah, Amirah, Selah, Lilah, and Alayah.
NylahAmirahSelahLilahAlayahAriahAliyahAmiyah
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Norah | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,191 | #262 |
| 2024 | 1,384 | #223 |
| 2023 | 1,488 | #201 |
| 2022 | 1,539 | #192 |
| 2021 | 1,791 | #160 |
| 2020 | 1,810 | #152 |
| 2019 | 1,975 | #144 |
| 2018 | 2,013 | #140 |
| 2017 | 2,156 | #136 |
| 2016 | 2,026 | #154 |
| 2015 | 2,032 | #159 |
| 2014 | 2,007 | #163 |
| 2013 | 1,725 | #188 |
| 2012 | 1,502 | #210 |
| 2011 | 1,217 | #263 |
| 2010 | 1,091 | #298 |
| 2009 | 959 | #343 |
| 2008 | 666 | #476 |
| 2007 | 689 | #468 |
| 2006 | 591 | #515 |
| 2005 | 558 | #523 |
| 2004 | 476 | #590 |
| 2003 | 303 | #815 |
| 2002 | 96 | #1853 |
| 2001 | 64 | #2438 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Norah?
In official American birth records, the name Norah first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 9 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Norah a popular girl name?
Norah ranked #262 among girls in 2025 with 1,191 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #159.
When was the name Norah most popular?
Norah peaked in 2017, when 2,156 American girls received the name (ranked #136 that year). Since 2017 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Norah?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,511 newborn American girls was named Norah. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.