Norah
NOR-ah · 2 syllables
♀ Female ◎ Latin / Greek / Irish ◈ 2 syllables
"Honor, light"

From Latin / Greek / Irish

Norah is Nora with a sigh — that added H softens the ending like a breath, giving the name a gentler, more lyrical quality. It carries the same Irish roots (from Honora, meaning honour) and the same literary pedigree (Ibsen's A Doll's House), but the H-spelling sets it slightly apart. Norah Jones, with her velvet voice and Come Away with Me, gave this spelling its modern identity.

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Norah at a glance
MeaningHonor, light
OriginLatin / Greek / Irish
GenderFemale
Syllables2
NumerologyLife Path 2
US Rank (today)#166
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Why parents love Norah
  • Norah Jones' voice gives this spelling a specific, intimate musical identity.
  • The H-ending feels softer and more lyrical than the plain Nora.
  • Five letters, two syllables — simple and complete.
  • The meaning honour carries genuine virtue.
  • It's a subtle way to stand out from the more common Nora spelling.
The vibe of Norah
gentlelyricalmusicalIrishintimatesofthonourablemelodic
Origin & history of Norah
Latin honor (honour) Irish Honora Irish Nóra H-spelling Norah
1
Latin / Greek / Irish roots
Norah is a variant spelling of Nora, the Irish short form of Honora (from the Latin honor). The H-ending was historically common in Ireland and Britain and gives the name a slightly different visual and phonetic personality. Norah Jones (born Geethali Norah Jones Shankar), daughter of Indian sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar, released Come Away with Me in 2002, which won eight Grammy Awards including Album of the Year. Her smoky, intimate vocal style gave the Norah spelling a specific musical identity distinct from the Ibsen-associated Nora. The H-spelling has its own chart presence in the US.
2
First recorded
Earliest known use: Variant spelling of Nora; Norah has been used alongside Nora for centuries.
3
Today
Norah remains a beloved choice, ranking #166 in the US. 32,790 babies have been named Norah since 1880.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, SSA data
How popular is Norah?
2017 peak year
Norah reached its widest reach during the 2010s. In 2017, 2,156 babies received the name (ranked #137). In the present decade it sits around #166, with about 1,820 babies given the name annually. Norah's usage has held roughly steady recently. The all-time total comes to roughly 32,790 registrations.
Year-by-year registrations 1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
2,156 Babies named in peak year
(ranked #137)
1,820 Avg. per year
(last decade)
18,200 Total registrations
last 10 years
32,790 All-time total
(since 1880)
Popularity in the US today (rank #166) Very popular
→ Holding steady in recent years
📊 Check all names registered in the United States →
Numerology of Norah
2
Life path number
The Peacemaker
Diplomacy, harmony and deep empathy.

Norah's Life Path 2 is the peacemaker's number — a gentle vibration matching the name's softened, lyrical quality. People named Norah tend to be harmonious, intuitive, and gifted at creating intimate spaces. Their honour is expressed through gentleness.

Creates intimate spaces
Harmonious presence
Intuitive and gentle
Honour through tenderness
Melodic soul
N5
O6
R9
A1
H8
Sum: 29 → Life path 2
Personality of Norah
🕊️
Peaceful
They bring calm to every room.
💞
Deeply loving
Their love runs deep and steady.
🎭
Intuitive
They read people with extraordinary accuracy.
🎵
Artistic soul
Beauty speaks to them powerfully.
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Middle names for Norah

The right middle name turns Norah into a complete story. Explore options for first-and-middle pairings, then last-name flow.

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Numerology life path calculator

Enter any full name and date of birth to discover the life path number — a core numerological indicator of personality, purpose and destiny.

First name
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Last name
Date of birth
7
Life path number

How we calculated this
Norah is a beautiful choice.
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