Elayne
Elayne was the 3732nd most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 40 babies. Its best year was 1924, when it ranked 732nd; the most babies were born in 1946 (104). Over the last ten years it has moved up 1,787 places. More babies were named Elayne in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Elaine) Old French form of Helen · Greek, French
- Rank in 2025
- #3,732 girls, up 370 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 40girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1946104 babies
- Total since 1880
- 4,114babies recorded
What does the name Elayne mean?
Elayne is a spelling of Elaine, pronounced the same way, so it shares Elaine's meaning and origin.
Elaine is an Old French form of Helen. DMNES notes that the popularity of Elaine was driven by the several women of that name in the medieval Arthurian romances, among them the mother of Galahad. Wiktionary adds that a Celtic origin has also been suggested because of the Arthurian setting. Helen itself is Greek and of uncertain meaning.
Ἑλένη (Ancient Greek, “Helen (meaning uncertain)”)
How sure is this? Probable. As a form of Helen it is standard; Helen's own meaning is uncertain, and a Celtic source has been suggested.
Related names: Helen, Elena, Ellen, Elaina, Lainey.
See also: Greek names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Elaine', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources (ed. S. L. Uckelman), Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Ellen', DMNES, Durham University
- Dictionary.com Unabridged (based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary), with Collins English Dictionary, s.v. 'Elaine', Dictionary.com / Random House / HarperCollins
Elayne popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,732 | 40 |
| 2020 | #4,102 | 34 |
| 2010 | #9,392 | 12 |
| 2000 | #4,697 | 25 |
| 1990 | #5,358 | 17 |
| 1980 | #4,575 | 16 |
| 1970 | #3,625 | 17 |
| 1960 | #1,795 | 40 |
| 1950 | #1,138 | 66 |
| 1940 | #1,154 | 40 |
| 1930 | #892 | 66 |
| 1920 | #1,054 | 50 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Elayne, counting every spelling?
Elayne is a spelling of Elaine, a name family that ranked #310 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #3,732 for Elayne on its own. Together these spellings went to 1,066 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elaine | 1,007 | #305 | 3,996 |
| Elayne | 40 | #3,732 | 163 |
| Ilene | 19 | #6,202 | 96 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Elayne?
40 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Elayne (0.01 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Elayne born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 210 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Elayne.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Elayne?
About 2,300 people born in the US named Elayne are alive today, with a median age of 60; half are between 24 and 76. That makes Elayne a name most people associate with older generations. The wide spread shows a name popular in two different eras.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Elayne by state
How common Elayne was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. In 48 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Elayne: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Elayne, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Elayne
What does Elayne mean?
Elayne is a spelling of Elaine, which means “Old French form of Helen” (Greek, French origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Elayne?
Elayne was the 3732nd most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 40 babies. Its best year was 1924, when it ranked 732nd; the most babies were born in 1946 (104). Over the last ten years it has moved up 1,787 places. More babies were named Elayne in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Is Elayne a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Elayne in the US.
Where is Elayne most popular?
In 2021–2025, Elayne was most common in Ohio (0.02 per 1,000 girls), followed by Texas and California.