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The short answer
Elaine is a feminine name used in English and Arthurian Cycle. Behind the Name describes it this way: "From an Old French form of Helen. It appears in Arthurian legend; in Thomas Malory's 15th-century compilation Le Morte d'Arthur Elaine was the daughter of Pelles, the lover of Lancelot, and the mother of Galahad." It ranked #305 for girls in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, from an Old French form of Helen. It appears in Arthurian legend; in Thomas Malory's 15th-century compilation Le Morte d'Arthur Elaine was the daughter of Pelles, the lover of Lancelot, and the mother of Galahad. The entry lists its usage as English, Arthurian Cycle.
Editorial confidence: likely
Popularity
Elaine ranked #305 for girls in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #305 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Elaine in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Elaine mean?
Behind the Name does not give Elaine a one-word meaning. It describes the name as follows: from an Old French form of Helen.
Is Elaine a popular name?
Elaine ranked #305 for girls in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Elaine a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Elaine appears in the girls' list; Behind the Name labels it feminine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Elaine — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
