How Many People Are Named Elaine?
Complete statistics for the name Elaine: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Elaine is a classic French name rooted in the Old French form of Helen, meaning 'bright, shining light.' About 149,651 people named Elaine are living in the US today, making it genuinely rare at 1 in 2,205 Americans. Its peak in the late 1940s made it a defining name of that generation, and it's still quietly making a comeback.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life path number 1 traditionally represents independence, leadership, and a pioneering spirit. People associated with the number 1 are seen as self-driven and original, often forging their own path rather than following the crowd.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 76All 262,520 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1947Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Rising
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Elaine Through the Generations
Elaine had its golden moment in 1947, when 7,071 babies were given the name in a single year. That postwar peak explains a lot about who carries the name today. A striking 84% of all living Elaines are over 60, and the average age sits at 76, which means this is overwhelmingly a name of the older generation. Of the 149,651 living Elaines, only 13,479 are under 30, compared to 220,797 over 60. The gap between all-time births of 262,520 and the current living count reflects that many Elaines from those peak decades have passed. What's surprising is the trend arrow pointing upward. Despite its deep association with mid-century America, the name is rising again, suggesting a new wave of parents are rediscovering it. It spent 17 years in the US top 10, a real sign of how dominant it once was.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named Elaine
Elaine is a feminine given name, an Old French form of the name Helen. The name Elaine was popularized in the Anglosphere by its use by Alfred, Lord Tennyson for a character in his 1859 Arthurian romance Idylls of the King. It has also been suggested that the name might actually be derived from a Welsh word meaning 'young deer'.…
Full list on Wikipedia →🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Elaine's Old French roots
📄 About the Name Elaine
How Many People Have the Name Elaine?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 149,651 people in the United States currently share the name Elaine. That works out to roughly 1 in every 2,205 Americans, placing it in the Rare category.
Is Elaine a Common or Rare Name?
Elaine is classified as Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Elaine Mean?
Elaine means "bright, shining light" and comes from Old French origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 1.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Elaine in SSA data, approximately 0% are male and 100% are female.
When Was Elaine Most Popular?
The name Elaine reached peak popularity in 1947, with 7,071 babies registered that year. Current trend: Rising.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Elaine?
Approximately 149,651 people named Elaine live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 262,520. That works out to roughly 1 in 2,205 Americans.
Is Elaine a rare name?
Elaine is classified as Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 2,205 Americans has this name.
What does the name Elaine mean?
Elaine means "bright, shining light" and comes from Old French origins.
Is Elaine more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 0% of people named Elaine are male and 100% are female.
When was Elaine most popular?
Elaine peaked in 1947 with 7,071 births that year. Current trend: Rising.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.