Elaine is a Scottish and French girl’s name that means “bright, shining light”, “torch”, or “moon”. Elaine is a version of the names Helene and Helen and ultimately comes from the Greek terms “helene” or “selene”. Elaine has been regaining popularity since 2011 alongside names like Helene and Ellen.

Meaning of the name Elaine:

Scottish, French: bright, shining light, torch, moon

Origin of the name Elaine:

Elaine is the Scottish and French version of the Greek name Helen. The name either derives from the Greek term “helene” which means “bright, shining light, torch” or “selene” which means “moon”.

Symbolism of the name Elaine:

Whether a bright torch or the moon, Elaine is a name that is a guiding light in the dark.

Baby name Elaine

Style of the name Elaine:

traditional

Gender of the name Elaine:

Elaine is a girl's name.

Pronunciation of the name Elaine:

i-LAYN, ee-LAYN(English)

Number of syllables in the name Elaine:

two

Emotion evoked from the name Elaine:

Elaine evokes feelings of peace and compassion.

Alternative spellings for the name Elaine:

Alaine, Elene

Nicknames for the name Elaine:

Popularity of the name Elaine:

According to the Social Security Administration, Elaine is a popular baby girl’s name that has been in the top 1000 names since 1900. Elaine was in the top 100 names from 1923 to 1957. Popularity is on the rise again since 2011.

Related names for the name Elaine:

Great middle names for the name Elaine and their meanings:

Famous people with the name Elaine:

  • Elaine Hendrix (American actress)
  • Elaine Yiu (Hong Kong actress)
  • Elaine Ingham (American microbiologist)
  • Elaine O'Neal (American painter)
  • Elaine Konigsburg (American novelist)

Elaines in popular culture:

  • Elaine Marie Benes (television, “Seinfeld”‘)
  • Elaine of Astolat (Arthurian legend)
  • Elaine Jenkinson (television, “Broadchurch”)
  • Elaine Marley (video game, “Monkey Island”)
  • Elaine Dickinson (film, “Airplane!”)