Elaine first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Elaine has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Elaine

A feminine name of French origin meaning "shining light" or "sun ray".

Popularity of Elaine by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Elaine is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Elaine being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 806 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Elaine.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 0 806
2022 0 678
2021 0 645
2020 0 582
2019 0 545
2018 0 470
2017 0 507
2016 0 497
2015 0 422
2014 0 439
2013 0 360
2012 0 400
2011 0 399
2010 0 343
2009 0 371
2008 0 399
2007 0 406
2006 0 393
2005 0 469
2004 0 413
2003 0 427
2002 0 399
2001 0 408
2000 0 453
1999 0 462
1998 0 481
1997 0 452
1996 0 531
1995 0 540
1994 0 567
1993 0 559
1992 0 603
1991 0 610
1990 0 632
1989 6 673
1988 8 707
1987 0 668
1986 0 664
1985 5 655
1984 0 617
1983 6 797
1982 7 777
1981 0 784
1980 6 772
1979 5 782
1978 5 757
1977 0 864
1976 0 782
1975 6 860
1974 0 950

The history of the first name Elaine

The name Elaine has its roots in the ancient Greek language, where it originated as a variation of the name Helena. The name Helena itself is derived from the Greek word "helene," meaning "bright one" or "shining light." Elaine gained popularity as a distinct name during the Middle Ages, particularly in France and Britain.

In the medieval French epic poem "The Matter of Britain," which recounts the legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, Elaine is a prominent character. She is portrayed as the daughter of King Pelles and falls deeply in love with Sir Lancelot. This literary work played a significant role in popularizing the name Elaine across Europe.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Elaine can be found in the 12th-century work "The Lais of Marie de France," a collection of narrative poems written by the French poet Marie de France. In one of the lais, titled "The Lay of Eliduc," the name Elaine is used for a character who is the wife of a Breton knight.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Elaine. One of the most famous was Elaine de Lessenden (c. 1285–1332), an English noblewoman who was the mistress of King Edward II of England. Another was Elaine Goodale Eastman (1863–1953), an American poet and activist known for her work with Native American communities.

In the world of literature, Elaine Dundy (1921–2008) was a renowned American novelist and biographer, best known for her satirical novel "The Dud Avocado." Elaine Tanner (1920–1985) was an American soprano who had a successful career in opera and on Broadway.

In the realm of politics, Elaine L. Chao (born 1953) served as the 24th United States Secretary of Labor under President George W. Bush and the 18th United States Secretary of Transportation under President Donald Trump. She was the first Asian American woman to be appointed to a President's Cabinet in American history.

These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals who have carried the name Elaine throughout history, each leaving their mark in their respective fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of the name's legacy.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Elaine was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Elaine, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Elaine first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 13, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/elaine-meaning-and-history/.

"Elaine first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/elaine-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 13 December, 2024

Elaine first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/elaine-meaning-and-history/.

Search for a name

Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.

Simple as that.