Elaine
How to say it: ih-LAYN · /ɪˈleɪn/
Old French form of Helen, from Greek 'Helene' meaning 'torch' or 'shining light'; a name from Arthurian legend.
Elaine was the 325th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 1,007 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1940s, its births are up 2.4-fold in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #212 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #325 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 1,007 |
| Share of births | 1 in 3,292 |
| Peak decade | 1940s |
| Change over 10 years | ×2.4 |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #212 |
| In France, 2025 | #2,541 among girls’ names, 5 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Long established with a high in the 1940s, Elaine now rests far below that mark. A modest lift looks likely ahead.
What goes with it
Smooth and soft with a glowing close, it feels calm and gracious. Louise shares its style.
Middle names that flow with Elaine →
Nicknames
- Ellie
- Lainie
- El
Honouring a Elaine in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Elaine is about 1 in 138.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French, Greek.
In France: #2,541 for girls in 2025.
Famous people named Elaine
- Elaine Thompson-Herah (born 1992)Jamaican athletics competitor
- Elaine Chao (born 1953)18th United States Secretary of Transportation and 24th United States Secretary of Labor
- Elaine Paige (born 1948)English singer, stage actress and radio presenter
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
Keep exploring
About as popular as Elaine
Find names you'll both love, starting with Elaine
The one-minute style quiz.