Elaine Name Meaning

The name Elaine means “light” or “bright one.” It is also associated with the Greek name Helen, meaning “shining light.”

Origins of the Name Elaine

Elaine is a name of Old French origin, derived from the name “Helen.” The name Elaine was popularized by the Arthurian legend of Lancelot and Elaine. In the story, Elaine was the daughter of King Pelles and the mother of Galahad, a knight of the Round Table.

Popularity of the Name Elaine

Elaine was a popular name in the early 20th century, ranking in the top 100 names for girls in the United States from the 1920s to the 1950s. It has since declined in popularity, but still remains a classic and timeless name.

Elaine is the name of several characters in popular culture, including Elaine Benes from the TV show “Seinfeld” and Elaine Tyler May, a historian and feminist scholar. The song “Elaine” by the Scottish singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty was a hit in the 1970s.

Final Thoughts on the Name Elaine

In conclusion, the name Elaine has a rich history and origin, with a meaning that symbolizes light and brightness. Although it has declined in popularity, it remains a timeless and classic choice for parents looking for a girl’s name.

Infographic of Elaine name meaning, which is “She shines in beauty,” a variant form of Helen, which see. Elaine is the name of several women in fiction, as Elaine of Astolat who loved Sir Lancelot, and Elaine the mother of Sir Galahad.
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Elaine Name Popularity

How popular is the name Elaine? Here’s everything we know.

Year Rank # Births % Births
1910 294 136 0.0386%
1911 288 140 0.0376%
1912 254 266 0.0527%
1913 245 355 0.0626%
1914 219 537 0.0771%
1915 155 1,193 0.1313%
1916 161 1,215 0.1258%
1917 160 1,258 0.1257%
1918 152 1,458 0.1359%
1919 136 1,674 0.1599%
1920 107 2,420 0.2177%
1921 97 2,915 0.2546%
1922 102 2,787 0.2502%
1923 87 3,200 0.2857%
1924 73 3,795 0.3268%
1925 73 3,772 0.3337%
1926 68 3,997 0.3634%
1927 69 4,092 0.3697%
1928 68 4,002 0.374%
1929 67 3,846 0.3713%
1930 69 3,931 0.3763%
1931 72 3,618 0.3666%
1932 69 3,558 0.3601%
1933 61 3,562 0.3823%
1934 54 3,891 0.4025%
1935 51 4,075 0.4193%
1936 50 4,251 0.4413%
1937 45 4,525 0.4592%
1938 42 4,829 0.4717%
1939 45 4,782 0.4701%
1940 50 4,780 0.4497%
1941 44 5,371 0.4772%
1942 45 5,983 0.4738%
1943 46 5,965 0.4569%
1944 46 5,622 0.4536%
1945 44 5,882 0.4823%
1946 47 6,797 0.4606%
1947 50 7,060 0.4229%
1948 53 6,396 0.4007%
1949 57 6,217 0.3865%
1950 60 6,033 0.3747%
1951 66 6,066 0.3578%
1952 73 5,646 0.3234%
1953 77 5,494 0.3104%
1954 74 5,818 0.3183%
1955 77 5,638 0.3065%
1956 89 5,307 0.281%
1957 96 5,010 0.2604%
1958 101 4,743 0.251%
1959 105 4,453 0.2344%
1960 112 4,315 0.2277%
1961 117 3,866 0.2048%
1962 125 3,614 0.1969%
1963 134 3,113 0.1734%
1964 142 2,819 0.1602%
1965 149 2,492 0.1524%
1966 166 2,048 0.1312%
1967 181 1,759 0.1159%
1968 187 1,696 0.1129%
1969 191 1,660 0.1078%
1970 216 1,417 0.089%
1971 232 1,264 0.0841%
1972 249 1,045 0.0767%
1973 253 970 0.0748%
1974 271 914 0.0703%
1975 281 822 0.064%
1976 296 739 0.0573%
1977 283 825 0.0612%
1978 308 717 0.0533%
1979 310 744 0.0528%
1980 316 734 0.0502%
1981 311 742 0.0505%
1982 315 737 0.0493%
1983 297 747 0.0506%
1984 374 570 0.0383%
1985 365 605 0.0399%
1986 365 614 0.0407%
1987 356 633 0.0415%
1988 357 659 0.0423%
1989 385 624 0.0387%
1990 411 590 0.0356%
1991 426 559 0.0343%
1992 424 558 0.035%
1993 449 516 0.0331%
1994 461 505 0.0329%
1995 470 486 0.0322%
1996 478 475 0.0317%
1997 541 396 0.0268%
1998 518 452 0.0302%
1999 570 395 0.0264%
2000 569 414 0.0271%
2001 620 362 0.024%
2002 648 348 0.0232%
2003 645 369 0.0243%
2004 673 361 0.0237%
2005 602 427 0.0279%
2006 727 335 0.0214%
2007 695 372 0.0236%
2008 734 349 0.0226%
2009 765 318 0.0213%
2010 780 297 0.0206%
2011 690 352 0.0247%
2012 684 356 0.025%
2013 762 297 0.0209%
2014 629 397 0.0272%
2015 637 386 0.0265%
2016 580 459 0.0318%
2017 556 474 0.034%
2018 605 418 0.0304%
2019 526 507 0.0375%
2020 525 522 0.041%
2021 484 567 0.0464%
2022 474 632 0.0479%

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Data via SSA.gov.

Names Like Elaine

If you like Elaine, you’ll love these other names like Elaine.

What names are variants of Elaine?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Elaine.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Alaina

Little rock

French

Alayna

Little rock

English

Alayne

Precious; precious; awakening; sun ray, shining light

Polynesian

Allaine

Precious; sun ray, shining light

Greek

Elaene

Sun ray, shining light

Greek

Elaina

Shining light

Greek

Elaini

Sun ray, shining light

Greek

Elana

Tree

Hebrew

Elane

Sun ray, shining light

Greek

Elanna

Sun ray, shining light; tree

Hebrew

Elayna

Sun ray, shining light

Greek

Elayne

Sun ray, shining light

Greek

Ellaine

Sun ray, shining light

Greek

Ellane

Sun ray, shining light

Greek

Ellayne

Sun ray, shining light

Greek

Elle

She

French

Elliana

My God has answered

Hebrew

Ellie

Shortened form of El- names

English

Helaine

Sun ray, shining light

Greek

Laine

Path, roadway

English

Lainey

Bright and shining

French

Layney

Sun ray, shining light

Greek

What names sound like Elaine?

If you like how Elaine sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Elaine.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Alaine

Precious

German

Eline

Noble kind; God has answered

Hebrew

What names are similar to Elaine?

Find a name that’s like Elaine, but just a little bit different.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Alana

Little rock

English

Eleanor

Of unknown meaning

English

Elnora

Compassion

Greek

Lists With Elaine

Find inspiration in these baby girl name lists featuring the name Elaine.

6 Comments

  1. My beautiful Mother was born in 1932 and her mother( my grandmother) and her aunt ( my great aunt) were both pregnant and due about a week apart. They both loved and wanted Elaine to be the name if they had a girl. They decided whoever had their baby first, and if it was a girl, then Elaine would be the name. Well, my grandmother had my Mom first and she was named Elaine. I’m not sure exactly how long after my great aunt had her little girl, but her name became Olaine. She went by Olly!!? My daughter’s name is Danyelle Elaine. I haven’t heard that name used my entire life and I’m 60 y/o. My beautiful Mother just passed away on 8/29/23. She was 90 y/o. God bless her and her beautiful name which means brightness and light!! ?

    Reply

  2. I have loved this name for as long as I can remember. This name feels ageless and beautiful. When I found out I was having a girl, there was no question about the name, it could only be Elaine.

    Reply

  3. She is our light , God’s shining light her dad named her before she was born

    Reply

  4. Ney at the end

    Reply

  5. When my husband and I found out we were having a beautiful baby girl, almost instantly we knew her name was going to be Elaine. Within the 39 weeks of her developing, I knew she would be strong, gracious and most of all have Both of our grandmother’s fierce characteristics. My husband’s grandmother’s name is Elaine. My grandmother’s middle name is Annie. So we named our first daughter Elaine Annie. 🙂

    Reply

    • I never knew my name was so beautiful

      Reply

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