girl's name
Elaine
ee-LAYN (English)
- Origin French
- Gender Girl
- Syllables 2
- Letters 6
- Popularity Top 1000 (US)
- Births on record 280,662
the United States
#304
2025 births
Elaine is a girl's name, the Old French form of Helen, whose meaning was never established. It is the strongest of the reviving vintage names in this group, at 304th in the United States on 1,007 births.
- Elaine is a name of French origin.
- Peaked in 1947, when 7,072 babies were given the name.
- After peaking in the 1940s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival.
- Today about 1 in 3,292 babies in the United States is given this name.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 2.
Elaine Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 1880s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 41 |
| 1890s | 239 |
| 1900s | 783 |
| 1910s | 8,582 |
| 1920s | 35,018 |
| 1930s | 41,254 |
| 1940s | 60,260 |
| 1950s | 54,320 |
| 1960s | 27,545 |
| 1970s | 9,809 |
| 1980s | 7,150 |
| 1990s | 5,441 |
| 2000s | 4,138 |
| 2010s | 4,384 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 4,579 |
What Elaine Means
Elaine carries Helen's meaning, which is not securely known. Torch and shining light are the usual readings, and a connection to an older solar or dawn deity is proposed but unproven.
Where Elaine Comes From
Elaine is the Old French form of Helen, and it reached English through Arthurian romance rather than through the classical name directly. Several Elaines appear in the legend, and the one who lasted is Elaine of Astolat, who dies of unrequited love for Lancelot and is floated down to Camelot on a barge — Tennyson retold her as The Lady of Shalott in 1832, and it is that poem, not the medieval source, that made the name common in English. Helen's own origin is unresolved: helene, a torch, and selene, the moon, are both proposed and neither is settled.
Elaine in Use
Elaine peaked in the United States in 1947, when 7,072 babies were registered, and it is reviving. It now ranks 304th in the United States on 1,007 births, 623rd in Ireland, 1,136th in England and Wales on 29 and 5,586th in France, across 280,662 lifetime births in five markets. Of the reviving names in this group — Agnes, Ethel, Marjorie and Elaine — this one holds much the strongest current position.
How Popular Is Elaine?
In 2025, Elaine was given to 1,007 babies in the United States, ranking #304 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in the United States.
Where Elaine Is Used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
How Elaine Is Spelled
Birth registers count each spelling separately, so every one has its own ranking.
| Spelling | What it is | Births on record |
|---|---|---|
| Elaïne | Elaïne is a rare spelling of Elaine, written with a diaeresis and recorded about 10 times, mostly in France. | 10 |
Names That Peaked Alongside Elaine
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Elaine Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Elaine over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Elaine
- English ee-LAYN /ɪˈleɪn/
1 nickname for Elaine
Each one is a name in its own right — the figure underneath is how it is doing today, so you can see which short forms are rising and which have faded.
Elaine in Other Languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling Names for Elaine
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Elaine — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Elaine
What does the name Elaine mean?
It carries Helen's meaning, which is not securely known — torch and shining light are the usual readings.
Is Elaine the same as Helen?
Yes, Elaine is the Old French form, which reached English through Arthurian romance.
Who was Elaine of Astolat?
The woman who dies of unrequited love for Lancelot — Tennyson retold her as The Lady of Shalott in 1832.
Is Elaine coming back?
It is reviving, and it ranks 304th in the United States on 1,007 births.
How popular is the name Elaine?
In 2025, Elaine was given to 1,007 babies in the United States, ranking #304 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in the United States.
Is Elaine a girl's or a boy's name?
Elaine is given almost entirely to girls in birth records.
How many syllables are in Elaine?
Elaine has 2 syllables.
When was Elaine most popular?
Elaine peaked in 1947, when 7,072 babies were given the name. After peaking in the 1940s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival.
What are the nicknames for Elaine?
Elaine is usually shortened to Lainey.
Is Elaine a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Elaine currently ranks #304 in the United States. After peaking in the 1940s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.