Elaine

“Variant of Helen — To shine, burn, or glow (Proto-Indo-European root swel-)” — Old French, from Greek origin

Girl's name · #305 in the US (2025) · Comeback

Elaine was #42 in 1938, slipped to #797 by 2010, and has climbed back to #305 today. Roughly 263,000 girls have been named Elaine since 1880. Lainey is a short form of Elaine. About 3,600 girls a year are given Lainey as their full name.

Around the world: about 1 in 2,400 girls in Canada (2024) · about 1 in 4,200 girls in Ireland (2025) · about 1 in 4,500 girls in Scotland (2025).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 38 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Elaines

Elaine Thompson-Herah — Jamaican athletics competitor
Elaine Chao — 18th United States Secretary of Transportation and 24th United States Secretary of Labor
Elaine Paige — English singer, stage actress and radio presenter
Elaine May — American screenwriter, film director, actress, and comedian (b. 1932)
Elaine Hendrix — American actress

In stories & tradition

Elaine (Jean Grey) — The Marvel Super Heroes · Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends
Elaine Benes — Seinfeld
Elaine of Astolat — Le Morte d'Arthur · Idylls of the King

What Elaines become

Among 731 notable people named Elaine:

Entertainers appear 1.51× more often than among typical names — e.g. Elaine Paige, English singer, stage actress and radio presenter.

Similar names: Elaina · Bonnie · Elisa · Lorraine · Dorothy · Maxine

Browse more girl names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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