NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Nor

A Scandinavian feminine name meaning "north" or "glory".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Nor is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Nor popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5581, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2001, with 3 births.

This profile covers 9 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2001 to 2021. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 9 living people in the UK are called Nor. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2022 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Nor ranked #5581 for girls in England and Wales in 2021, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2001, when 3 girls were registered as Nor.
  • About 9 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nor as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5581

2021

Births in 2021

3

Latest year

Peak year

2001

3 births

Estimated living

9

2026

Meaning

What does Nor mean?

The given name Nor has its origins in the Armenian language and culture. It is a shortened form of the Armenian name Norayr, which means "new fire" or "new light." This name can be traced back to ancient times, with references found in early Armenian literature and historical records.

In the 5th century, the Armenian historian Movses Khorenatsi mentioned the name Norayr in his work "History of Armenia." He described it as a name associated with the Arsacid dynasty, which ruled Armenia from the 1st century BC to the 5th century AD.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Nor was Nor Ardzruni, an Armenian prince who lived in the 9th century. He played a significant role in the defense of Armenia against Arab invasions during that period.

In the 12th century, another notable figure named Nor Ter Grigor Tghay was a prominent Armenian clergyman and writer. He is known for his works on theology and philosophy, which had a profound influence on Armenian intellectual and religious life.

During the 13th century, Nor Khatun was a notable Armenian woman who served as the wife of the Seljuk Sultan of Rum, Kaykhusraw II. She played an important role in the political affairs of the Seljuk Empire and was respected for her wisdom and diplomacy.

In more recent history, Nor Armen Matossian (1929-2017) was an Armenian-American historian and author. He wrote extensively on the history and culture of Armenia, and his works have been widely acclaimed for their scholarly contributions.

The name Nor has been popular throughout Armenian history, and its meaning of "new fire" or "new light" has carried symbolic significance, often representing hope, renewal, and enlightenment.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Nor over time

The chart below shows babies named Nor registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2001 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Nor, the clearest high point is 2001. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2021, compared with 3 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Nor
01223200120112021

Decades

Nor by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nor was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #5581 3 1
2010s #5876 3 1
2000s #3998 3 1

Related

Names similar to Nor

FAQ

Nor: questions and answers

How popular is the name Nor in the UK right now?

In 2021, Nor was ranked #5581 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Nor most popular?

The peak year on record was 2001, with 3 babies registered as Nor in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Nor?

A Scandinavian feminine name meaning "north" or "glory".

How many people are called Nor in the UK?

A total of 9 babies have been registered as Nor across the 3 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.