Elaine

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Elaine

Gender: Feminine
Language: English
Etymology:
Elaine is the French form of Helen, a Greek name which means “Light,” or “the Bright One.”

History:
Elaine is generally considered an Old French form of Helen. Although it was used in many of the Medieval Arthurian stories (especially those of Sir Thomas Malory), it did not become common until Alfred, Lord Tennyson wrote The Idylls of the King in 1859.
Please see Helen for additional information.

Pronunciation: ee-layne

Alternates: Alayna, Elaina, Elane, Elayne, Laina.
Hawaiian: Ileina.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Elaine de Kooning (1920-1989)
American painter.
Elaine Feinstein (1930-)
British writer.

Fictional Characters:
Elaine Benes
Character on the television show Seinfeld.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.173 % named Elaine
0.004 % named Elaina
0.002 % named Elayna
0.001 % named Alayna
0.001 % named Elane

Popularity of Elaine:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 364th most popular.
1910-1920: 190th most popular.
1920-1930: 84th most popular.
1930-1940: 52nd most popular.
1940-1950: 47th most popular.
1950-1960: 82nd most popular.
1960-1970: 143rd most popular.
1970-1980: 267th most popular.
1980-1990: 349th most popular.
1990: 408th most popular.
1991: 424th most popular.
1992: 421st most popular.
1993: 443rd most popular.
1994: 447th most popular.
1995: 465th most popular.
1996: 460th most popular.
1997: 517th most popular.
1998: 540th most popular.
1999: 542nd most popular.
2000: 566th most popular.
2001: 606th most popular.
2002: 633rd most popular.
2003: 613th most popular.

Popularity of Elaina:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1980: N/A
1980-1990: 807th most popular.
1990: 868th most popular.
1991: 808th most popular.
1992: 802nd most popular.
1993: 762nd most popular.
1994: 632nd most popular.
1995: 654th most popular.
1996: 648th most popular.
1997: 710th most popular.
1998: 663rd most popular.
1999: 553rd most popular.
2000: 505th most popular.
2001: 515th most popular.
2002: 533rd most popular.
2003: 465th most popular.