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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Elaine

108 replies

trueblueari · 17/06/2018 22:48

Opinions on Elaine?

Too old fashioned or due a comeback?

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MaddeningtheUnhelpful · 18/06/2018 21:38

awful. And it's my own name... I am an oddity. Under 30 and called Elaine, no idea what my mother was thinking. Forever having to clarify I'm Elaine not Lorraine. And some buggers call me Lainey which gives me irrational rage

grasspigeons · 18/06/2018 21:31

sshh don't tell anyone but I think its beautiful
what about Elena like vampire diaries (is sounds like elaine-a) so its more modern or Helene said the French way

MatildaLovesBooks · 18/06/2018 21:24

Elaine the Pain from Tracy Beaker

TatianaLarina · 18/06/2018 19:40

Hélène is very close but much more chic.

IveNoImagination · 18/06/2018 19:39

Ok I didn't like it when I saw it as the thread title and I don't think it's due a comeback but saying it out loud, it's kind of grown on me. Something I've learnt when it comes to naming babies is that if you like it, use it! It doesn't matter so much what strangers think. Grin

daisypond · 18/06/2018 19:12

I only know Elaines who are in their 70s - a completely different generation from those in their 50s, so I don't see it as middle-aged, and not the same generation as Tracy, Donna, etc. I rather like it. It's got a lot of heritage behind it. Or you could have Helene.

LoveInTokyo · 18/06/2018 17:28

It is unfortunately dated but for what it’s worth I think it’s a pretty name. I like it.

EllenJanethickerknickers · 18/06/2018 17:02

I prefer Ellen-Jane. Wink

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 18/06/2018 16:56

People are so narrow minded. Just because it was very popular for a generation who are now over 50 does not make it an 'awful name'.

No, it just means that certain names aren't that nice! ( sorry to any Elaine's ) take names like Jennifer, Juliet, Catherine, Rachel etc they were popular around the time Elaine was used a lot but they are still popular now because they're a nicer name!

Pemba · 18/06/2018 16:38

People are so narrow minded. Just because it was very popular for a generation who are now over 50 does not make it an 'awful name'.

It's Arthurian, like BevBrook said, and surely it's just an Anglicization of the spelling of the French form of Helen - 'Helene' (can't do accents).

I also think it's perhaps snobbery at work, as it was popular across all social classes. In the same way that Tracey is now thought of as beyond the pale - someone said to me that it was a 'dinner lady' name! - but originally it was thought of as very high class. For example Katharine Hepburn's character in 'The Philadelphia Story'/Grace Kelly's character in 'High Society' - which is probably where it's 1950s/60s popularity came from. Became very very popular and subsequently is now thought of as both dated and lower class.

Elaine is a perfectly decent name.

MrsSchadenfreude · 18/06/2018 14:37

I’m from London. I have a cousin called Eeeelaine and another called Yyyyyyvonne.
Not a fan.

HalfStar · 18/06/2018 14:32

I'm surprised at the hate. I think it's v elegant and timeless, it's one of my dds' middle names. Would love to meet a little Elaine.

I'm not in uK though.

BevBrook · 18/06/2018 14:30

Zoflorabore I was at school with someone with both those names (ie first and middle) and she changed them both. Grin

I actually like the name Elaine, as with a PP it brings to mind the maiden of Astolat/ the Lady of Shalott. I can see why people don't like it because they associate it with a certain age group but to call it an awful name is going a bit far in my opinion - it's a pretty sound, it looks pretty and it has the King Arthur connotations.

Zoflorabore · 18/06/2018 14:24

This is my name, I am 40 Blush

I hate it. I get called "Lainey" or "Laine" as it's easier due to my mum also being called bloody Elaine! How original Grin

There was one other in my class in secondary school. I once asked my mum what other names they had in mind for me and it was just one- Claire.

I would have been happy with that.

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 18/06/2018 14:16

My friend is from London and her sister is Elaine and she says Eeeelaine. Drives me potty Grin

TatianaLarina · 18/06/2018 14:13

Awful particuarly with a London accent. It comes out Eline. Or rather Elaaaayyyyn

Helena and Elena are nice.

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 18/06/2018 13:48

It's awful. Similar to Irene, Brenda, Diane and Sheila. None of them will ever make a come back.

RantyMare · 18/06/2018 13:42

I went to school with an Elaine and I'm nid thirties. I quite like it.

17caterpillars1mouse · 18/06/2018 13:41

I don't see Elaine as old fashioned more dates still I Deborah and Donna.

Not a fan really, though saying rgar i do like Eileen and Lorraine

MariaMadita · 18/06/2018 12:55

I prefer Eliana, Elena and Elin.

But Elaine is also nice.

Liloslilo · 18/06/2018 12:52

Failed cross out thereBlushGrin

Liloslilo · 18/06/2018 12:52

How about Elaina? (thinks of the beautiful girl in Vampire Diaries)

OllyBJolly · 18/06/2018 08:51

Elena?

Zadocthepriest · 18/06/2018 08:46

We have all just said we like Kenneth, so why is everyone saying Elaine is dated and wrong. And, unlike Tracy and Sharon, it has come and gone throughout history.

Octopeppa · 18/06/2018 05:37

The nearest names I like would be Elena and Alannah.

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