indicate the level to which a name has been verified.
Gender Feminine
Usage Breton, Breton Legend, Theatre
Other Forms FormsAdenor, Adenora, Azena, Azénor, Azénore, Azenorig, Noric/Norig (NO-reek), Senara?
Meaning & History
Breton name of uncertain origin and meaning.
It is sometimes linked to Breton enor "honor", a theory which goes back to the fact that Saint Azénore is occasionally rendered as Honora in Latin texts. Another theory, however, links this name to Eleanor (via Aenor, which is occasionally considered a contracted form of Azenor. Compare also Aanor), while yet another theory was put forth that Azenor might in fact represent an unknown Celtic name, possibly one containing the theonym Esus. In Breton legend it is borne by the mother of Saint Budoc, a 6th-century princess of Brest (however, the name Eleanor was not coined until the 12th century). It was used for a character in Paul Le Flem's opera Le Rossignol de Saint-Malo (1938) and also occurred briefly in the French TV series Kaamelott (as Azénor).
It is sometimes linked to Breton enor "honor", a theory which goes back to the fact that Saint Azénore is occasionally rendered as Honora in Latin texts. Another theory, however, links this name to Eleanor (via Aenor, which is occasionally considered a contracted form of Azenor. Compare also Aanor), while yet another theory was put forth that Azenor might in fact represent an unknown Celtic name, possibly one containing the theonym Esus. In Breton legend it is borne by the mother of Saint Budoc, a 6th-century princess of Brest (however, the name Eleanor was not coined until the 12th century). It was used for a character in Paul Le Flem's opera Le Rossignol de Saint-Malo (1938) and also occurred briefly in the French TV series Kaamelott (as Azénor).