Elaine
Meaning of Elaine
Elaine, pronounced ih-LAYN, began life as a French variant of the Greek Helene, “torch” or “light,” and—much like a lamp carried through the tiled courtyards of Isfahan—its glow has been refracted by centuries of storytelling. The name slipped into medieval romance, giving Arthurian lore two memorable Elaines: the wistful Maid of Astolat and the quietly determined mother of Sir Galahad. In the United States, Elaine enjoyed a meteoric rise after World War II, peaking in the late 1950s when it hovered just outside the Top 50, before retreating to steadier, more contemplative ranks; recent data show a modest upswing, suggesting that parents still find its vintage shine appealing. Literary associations range from Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s lyrical tragedy to more modern, understated heroines, reinforcing an image that balances softness with resolve. In short, Elaine offers a familiar silhouette—sleek, luminous, and quietly enduring—for parents who prefer a classic that neither shouts nor fades.
Pronunciation
English
- Pronunced as ih-LAYN (/ɪˈleɪn/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Elaine
| Dame Elaine Jill Paige is an English singer and actress celebrated for her prominent career in musical theatre. |
| Elaine de Kooning was a post World War II Abstract and Figurative Expressionist painter who also wrote widely on art and served as an editorial associate at Art News. |
| Elaine Thompson-Herah is a Jamaican sprinter and five-time Olympic champion, the fastest woman alive at 100 m and third fastest ever at 200 m. |
| American journalist Elaine Welteroth made history as Teen Vogue's second African-American and second youngest editor-in-chief, transforming the magazine with a pioneering focus on politics and digital media. |
| Elaine Morgan was a Welsh writer who championed the aquatic ape hypothesis in her bestselling book "The Descent of Woman" and was later honored as one of Wales' greatest figures. |
| Elaine is a South African R&B singer who became the first independent female artist to top iTunes and Apple Music charts with her debut EP "Elements." |
| Elaine McKenna Evans was an Australian singer and actress known for late 1950s and 1960s television on the Tarax Show and In Melbourne Tonight, winning the 1961 Logie Award for Best Singer, moving to the United States that year to appear on The Bob Newhart Show, and returning to Melbourne by 1968. |
| Katherine Elaine Hendrix, known as Elaine Hendrix, is an American actress best known for The Parent Trap, Dynasty, Superstar, Romy and Micheles High School Reunion, Get Smart, Inspector Gadget 2, and What the Bleep Do We Know. |
| Elaine Estrela Moura is a Brazilian footballer and coach, a versatile defender or midfielder who played for Brazil and for Tyresö, Umeå IK, and Saint Louis Athletica. |
| Elaine Lainey Lui is a Canadian TV personality and reporter, founder of LaineyGossip, anchor of CTV etalk, and former cohost of The Social. |
| Elaine Wynn is an American billionaire businesswoman, art collector, philanthropist, and education reformer who co-founded Mirage Resorts and Wynn Resorts with her former husband Steve Wynn. |
| Elaine Sterne Carrington was an American writer who pioneered radio soap operas and authored over 12,000 daily dramas. |
| Elaine Smith - Elaine E. Smith was a Democratic member of the Idaho House of Representatives who represented District 30 from 2002 to 2012 and District 29 from 2012 onward, serving as House Minority Caucus Chair. |
| Elaine Watt is a Canadian physical education instructor and three-time barrel racing champion who was inducted into the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2012. |
| Elaine Rochelle Sisman is an American musicologist and Columbia University professor specializing in 18th and 19th-century music, rhetoric, and aesthetics. |
