Elaine
Meaning of Elaine
Elaine is a classic and elegant name of French origin, derived from the Old French form of Helen, meaning "shining light" or "bright one." Pronounced ih-LAYN (/ɪˈleɪn/), Elaine has maintained a steady presence in the United States over the decades. It experienced peak popularity in the mid-20th century, particularly during the 1940s and 1950s, when it ranked within the top 50 names for baby girls. Although its usage has declined since then, Elaine remains a timeless choice with enduring appeal. The name also carries literary associations; Elaine appears in Arthurian legend as "Elaine of Astolat," known for her unrequited love for Sir Lancelot. Variations of the name include Elaina and Elena, offering modern twists on this traditional favorite. With its rich history and graceful sound, Elaine continues to be a beloved name for parents seeking something both meaningful and classic for their daughters.
Pronunciation
English
- Pronunced as ih-LAYN (/ɪˈleɪn/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Elaine
| Elaine Jill Paige is a renowned English singer and actress, celebrated for her contributions to musical theatre and her West End debut in the 1968 production of Hair. |
| Elaine de Kooning was a prominent Abstract Expressionist and Figurative Expressionist painter known for her extensive writing on art and her role as an editorial associate for Art News magazine. |
| Elaine Thompson-Herah is a Jamaican sprinter and five-time Olympic champion, known for her exceptional speed in the 100 meters and 200 meters events. |
| Elaine Marie Welteroth is an influential American journalist, editor, and author known for her groundbreaking work at Teen Vogue, where she became the second person of African-American heritage to hold the title of editor-in-chief, and for her efforts to increase coverage of politics and social justice. |
| Elaine Morgan OBE, FRSL, was a Welsh writer and advocate of the aquatic ape hypothesis, known for her influential book "The Descent of Woman" and her contributions to evolutionary anthropology. |
| Elaine, also known as Ndivhuwo Elaine Mukheli, is a South African R&B singer and songwriter who gained recognition for her debut EP "Elements" and became the first independent female artist to reach No. 1 on both the national iTunes and Apple Music album charts. |
| Elaine McKenna Evans was an Australian singer and actress known for her television appearances in the late 1950s and 1960s, winning the Logie Award for Best Singer in 1961 before relocating to the United States and later returning to Melbourne. |
| Katherine Elaine Hendrix is an American actress recognized for her roles in Superstar, Romy and Michele's High School Reunion, The Parent Trap, Dynasty, Inspector Gadget 2, and What the Bleep Do We Know!? |
| Elaine Estrela Moura, also known as Elaine, is a Brazilian footballer and coach who has represented the Brazil women's national football team and played for various clubs internationally. |
| Elaine Lui - Elaine "Lainey" Lui is a prominent Canadian television personality, reporter, and co-host known for her work on CTV's etalk and The Social, as well as her popular website, LaineyGossip. |
| Elaine Farrell Wynn is an American billionaire businesswoman, philanthropist, and art collector known for co-founding Mirage Resorts and Wynn Resorts with her former husband, Steve Wynn, and for her support of education, performing arts, and visual arts. |
| Elaine Sterne Carrington was a prolific American writer who achieved great success in radio, originating soap operas and writing over 12,000 daily dramas during her career. |
| Elaine Smith is a Democratic Idaho State Representative and the House Minority Caucus Chair, representing District 29 in the B seat since 2012, after previously representing District 30 Seat B from 2002-2012. |
| Elaine Watt is a Canadian physical education instructor and three-time Canadian barrel racing champion, inducted into the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2012. |
| Elaine Rochelle Sisman is an American musicologist and the Anne Parsons Bender Professor of Music at Columbia University, specializing in music, rhetoric, and aesthetics of the 18th and 19th centuries, with a focus on topics such as memory and invention in late Beethoven, ideas of pathétique and fantasia around 1800, Haydn's theater symphonies, the sublime in Mozart's music, and Brahms's slow movements. |
