What does Eleanor mean?
A name of debated origin, long associated with the Greek for “light” or “bright.” Borne by medieval queens.
What does Ariana mean?
Usually traced to the Greek Ariadne, “most holy.”
Eleanor vs Ariana
Which is more popular?
Eleanor is more popular than Ariana today: about 7,649 US babies were given the name Eleanor in 2025, compared with 2,219 named Ariana.
| Eleanor | Ariana | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Of uncertain origin, often “light” | Most holy |
| Origin | Greek | Greek |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | EL-uh-ner | ar-ee-AH-nuh |
| Syllables | 3 | 4 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1957 |
| Peak year | 1920 (8,497) | 2014 (5,504) |
| In 2025 | 7,649 | 2,219 |
| Trend | Rising | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Eleanor
Ariana
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Eleanor | Ariana |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 41,966 | 16,532 |
| 2010s | 40,129 | 41,342 |
| 2000s | 11,187 | 38,010 |
| 1990s | 4,871 | 18,864 |
| 1980s | 2,789 | 4,685 |
| 1970s | 2,750 | 788 |
| 1960s | 5,938 | 154 |
| 1950s | 11,065 | 5 |
| 1940s | 23,761 | 0 |
| 1930s | 46,379 | 0 |
| 1920s | 74,760 | 0 |
| 1910s | 54,163 | 0 |
| 1900s | 10,030 | 0 |
| 1890s | 4,754 | 0 |
| 1880s | 2,136 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Eleanor or Ariana more popular?
Eleanor is more popular than Ariana today: about 7,649 US babies were given the name Eleanor in 2025, compared with 2,219 named Ariana.
What is the difference between Eleanor and Ariana?
Eleanor means Of uncertain origin, often “light” (Greek origin), while Ariana means Most holy (Greek origin).
Which name is older, Eleanor or Ariana?
In US records, Eleanor first appears in 1880 and Ariana in 1957, so Eleanor has the longer recorded history.