Noreen Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Noreen is an Irish name meaning 'light' or 'shining light.' It evolved from the name Nora and became popular in the 20th century, representing characteristics such as kindness and warmth. It has no biblical relevance but is recognized for its cultural significance.
The name Noreen is most popular in Massachusetts, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Baby Boomers generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Noreen has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Noreen' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 906th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 439th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 397th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 822nd out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2418th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 5356th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 5116th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Noreen' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Noreen"
Pronunciation
/nɔːˈriːn/
Origin
Irish
Etymology
Noreen is a diminutive form of the Irish name 'Nora,' which itself is derived from 'Eleanor' or 'Helen,' meaning 'light' or 'shining light.'
Meaning
light; shining light
Language Evolution
Nora, Noreen
Historical Usage
Noreen gained popularity in the 20th century, particularly in English-speaking countries, as a feminine name derived from traditional Irish roots.
Variants & Derivatives
Nora, Norine, Norah
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Noreen is perceived as a classic and elegant name with Irish heritage, often associated with kindness and warmth.
Famous People
Noreen Nash, an American actress, Noreen Murphy, an Irish politician
Explore More Noreen Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Noreen"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Noreen"
"Noreen" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 906th of 9107 | 1,131 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 439th of 9204 | 4,546 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 397th of 12526 | 10,239 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 822nd of 19264 | 2,701 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 2418th of 27321 | 766 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 5356th of 35406 | 377 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 5116th of 30306 | 309 |
Regional Popularity of "Noreen" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Noreen" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
41.38% 586th/1416 |
48.73% 672nd/1379 |
100.00% 2366th/2366 |
53.15% 607th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
22.06% 341st/1546 |
16.65% 259th/1556 |
89.04% 2095th/2353 |
27.02% 418th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
17.29% 385th/2227 |
8.77% 213th/2430 |
43.18% 1232nd/2853 |
16.90% 469th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
29.83% 876th/2937 |
12.83% 447th/3483 |
72.85% 2563rd/3518 |
23.66% 957th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
53.51% 1972nd/3685 |
31.89% 1427th/4475 |
80.90% 4202nd/5194 |
32.10% 2028th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
100.00% 4582nd/4582 |
70.45% 3638th/5164 |
100.00% 7313th/7313 |
60.27% 4498th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
100.00% 3984th/3984 |
67.24% 3017th/4487 |
100.00% 6822nd/6822 |
68.51% 4300th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Noreen"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Noreen" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.