Elaine
A girls’ name of Greek origin, meaning bright light; form of Helen.
How Elaine has moved
View as table
| Year | US rank |
|---|---|
| 2015 | #676 |
| 2016 | #606 |
| 2017 | #590 |
| 2018 | #634 |
| 2019 | #562 |
| 2020 | #520 |
| 2021 | #486 |
| 2022 | #465 |
| 2023 | #381 |
| 2024 | #369 |
| 2025 | #305 |
Elaine by the numbers
In 2025, 29 babies in England and Wales were named Elaine. In the US, 506 were, though that figure is from 2017, the most recent full year we hold.
For the size of the two countries, it is given noticeably more often in the US than in England and Wales.
Its American peak was 7,063 babies in 1947, so it is a 1940s name that has since fallen a long way.
At its height, in 1945, about 1 in 230 American girls born that year was called Elaine.
Names that come from Elaine
Forms of Elaine in other languages, names built from it, and names that mean a son or daughter of it. Not always the same sex.
- Laineybright, shining one; from Elaine219 in England and Wales (2025)
- Elainahbright light; a form of Elaine10 in the US (2017)
- Lainey-Maebright light; a form of Elaine or Laney6 in England and Wales (2025)
Other names that come from Helen
Like Elaine, each of these traces back to Helen: a form of it, a name built from it, or a son or daughter of it. Not always the same sex.
- Lanabright or fair; a form of Helen or Alana185 in England and Wales (2025)
- Helenbright, shining light758 in the US (2017)
- Aleenabright, shining; a form of Helen or Alena150 in England and Wales (2025)
- Alenabright, shining; form of Helen462 in the US (2017)
- Nelliebright shining one; diminutive of Helen458 in England and Wales (2025)
- Aileenbright; shining; a form of Helen454 in the US (2017)
- Elinabright shining light; form of Helen69 in England and Wales (2025)
- Elaynabright light; a form of Helen185 in the US (2017)
Spelled almost the same
Other names in the records within a letter or two of Elaine. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.
- Elainabright light; a form of Helen1,137 in the US (2017)
- Elaynebright light; a form of Helen29 in the US (2017)
- Elinebright light; a form of Helen9 in England and Wales (2025)
- Elainfawn, doe5 in the US (2017)
- Ellieshining light; short for Eleanor5,000 in the US (2017)
- Elisemy god is an oath; a form of Elisabeth1,707 in the US (2017)
Sounds like Elaine
Names that are said the same way as Elaine, however they are written. Sounding alike does not mean they share a history.
- Eileenbright or shining one; form of Evelyn421 in the US (2017)
- Ellenbright, shining; form of Helen383 in the US (2017)
- Elinbright, shining; related to Helen40 in England and Wales (2025)
- Elanenthusiasm; liveliness; spirited vigor142 in the US (2017)
- Ellynbright light; a variant of Helen21 in the US (2017)
- Eyleenbright or shining; a form of Eileen19 in the US (2017)
Other names that mean light
Like Elaine, each of these has light in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
Names about as common as Elaine
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