Etymology
The name derives from the Provençal name Aliénor which became "Eléanor" or "Eleonore" in the northern Langue d'oïl and from there also to English.
The origin and meaning of Aliénor is unknown, and several possible etymologies has been proposed. It may be a Provençal variation of the Italian Elena which in turn is a variation of the Greek Ἑλένη. It may also derive from Latin lenire, to soothe or to heal. Another suggested source may be the Germanic name Aldenor, "old north". Popular 'nicknames' for Eleanor include Ellie, Ella, Ellin/Ellen, Nellie/Nelly, Ennie/Enna, Leane/Liann, Elanne, Elea (El-ee), Leanor/Leanora, Lena/Leana and Anor/Anora/Anna.
As Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122?/1124?-1204) was the first high profile bearer of the name and as she was the daughter of Aénor de Châtellerault it has been suggested that the name Eleanor originated with Eleanor of Aquitaine, the postulation being that Eleanor of Aquitaine was named Aénor after her mother but referred to as Aliénor that name representing "Alia-Aénor" i.e. the other Aénor. However there is evident usage of the name Eleanor predating Eleanor of Aquitaine: while there are no evident sources contemporary with the personage later referred to as Eleanor of Normandy (b.1011?/1013?) which refer to her by name, there is no reason to question that Eleanor of Champagne (1102–1147) was in fact named Eleanor.
Cognates of the name in different languages include Leonor (Spanish, Portuguese), Eleonoora (Finnish), Eléonore (French), Eleonora (Czech, Italian, Polish, Swedish), Eleonóra (Hungarian, Slovak), Ellinor (Norwegian, Swedish), Leonora or Leonore (German), Lenora and Lenore. The similar Hebrew name Elior means "God is light". The similar-sounding Arabic Allahu Nuri also means "God is my light"; the modern version is Nurullah (Noorullah) ("light of God").
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Famous quotes containing the word etymology:
“The universal principle of etymology in all languages: words are carried over from bodies and from the properties of bodies to express the things of the mind and spirit. The order of ideas must follow the order of things.”
—Giambattista Vico (1688–1744)
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