Laney

Meaning of Laney

Laney—pronounced LAY-nee—began life as the sprightly nickname of Elaine, the French-English form of the ancient Greek Helénē, “torch” or “shining light.” Over time she slipped off the sidelines and, like a café patron wandering from the shade into the sunlit piazza, claimed center stage as a given name in her own right. That glow shows in the numbers: never a chart-topper, yet from the 1940s to today she has hovered in the warm middle of the U.S. rankings, a steady lantern rather than a shooting star. Lovers of Arthurian lore hear an echo of Lady Elaine, while others picture a cheerful lane bordered by olive trees and gelaterie—a dolce, approachable image that feels both modern and timeless. With its easy two-syllable lilt, a hint of playful humor, and a meaning that whispers “light,” Laney arrives like a friendly Italian sunset: mellow, welcoming, and impossible not to notice.