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Baby names

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

Original poster

Elaine?

104 replies

jfoyo26 · 10/11/2019 00:31

Love the meaning, look of this name, straight out the pages of Aurthurian legend!
Great nickname options...El, Lain, Lainey.
Possible sister to Louise...Think Louise and Elaine, plus nicknames Lou and Lainey, sound pretty good together IMO!

Thoughts?

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Timetobegood · 10/11/2019 17:29

Louise is still a lovely name and hasn’t dated like Elaine.

FizzyGreenWater · 10/11/2019 17:26

The problem is that it is not a classic name. Louise is.

The comparison with Beverley, Sandra, Valerie is good. They're names which have a moment and then are really gone, and there are reasons for that. Elaine is objectively just not very nice. It's whiney and peters out at the end. It's not at all interesting, it has no gravitas, no history to it. It couldn't be more different to Louise, even though yes Louise has been in and out of fashion. It also very much does not have good nicknames - Lainey? Really?!

There are lots of names which would fit with Louise much better.

mbb1 · 10/11/2019 17:09

In what way is Elaine "more out there"? It's ordinary and boring. Was at school/college with any number of Elaines and not one of them had any of those nicknames.

bluerad · 10/11/2019 17:06

Too 60s for me. Perhaps in another ten years time.
As others have said it's Maureen and Sandra territory

NoSauce · 10/11/2019 16:59

God no way.

Original poster
jfoyo26 · 10/11/2019 16:44

Thank you all. Very mixed bag, to be expected I think, but haven't heard any comments to really put me off! Interestingly when considering Louise we had a similar mixed bag a lot of people thought it was a Mum name, geez Louise and all that, but we used it and now love it! Want to make sure that my kid has a short, classic name with good nicknames and Elaine seems to fit that bill. Don't really like Elina, Elena and the other names suggested seem too trendy, try hard to me and we know far too many Eleanor's. Agree Elaine is more out there than Louise but if she really hated it my thought is she could always become mainstream and go by Ellie - which I don't hate!

OP posts:
Awwlookatmybabyspider · 10/11/2019 15:27

I think Elaine is in the same name group as Beverley Pamela and Valerie. They’re dead and gone and won’t be cool for many decades if ever. That’s just my opinion though. Runs and hides before the Valeries Elaines Beverlys and Pamelas come and get me. Grin

Timetobegood · 10/11/2019 14:57

Some of the 1960s/70s names are lovely eg Susan, Linda, Donna but not keen on Elaine.

daisypond · 10/11/2019 14:38

I like it. The only Elaines I know are in their 70s and 80s. It’s due a revival.

FizzyGreenWater · 10/11/2019 14:30

I think it's time we brought these types of names back like Carol, Linda, Susan, Claire, Wendy,Joanna Donna etc they are due a revival!

I went to school with all of these except Carol. Even then, Elaine was dreary and there weren't many of them! I knew one who was a few years older and her name didn't even fit then.

Agree totally that soon we'll be seeing Wendy, Joanna, Claire on the way back.

FizzyGreenWater · 10/11/2019 14:27

No, really no.

Yvonne, Pauline, Glenda, Maureen - that's where Elaine sits I'm afraid.

And I don't agree that it's nice if you take away the middle aged associations - it's very whiney. Elaaaine.

Don't do it!

Eleanor is so much nicer and classic, if you like the base sound go for that.

CurtainTwitch · 10/11/2019 14:15

I'm an Elaine, mid 30s & I very rarely meet another one Grin I was Lainy at school & still am to family & friends. Works well as it's a 'grown up' name at work too.

PsychosonicCindy · 10/11/2019 14:14

I like the name Elaine. I think it's time we brought these types of names back like Carol, Linda, Susan, Claire, Wendy,Joanna Donna etc they are due a revival! Also can't wait to hear about the first new babies called Alan or Barry!

Timetobegood · 10/11/2019 14:14

I don’t like it at all and it’s not due a comeback. Agree it’s much like Maureen and Pauline. Some names of the same era are nicer.

Humpdayruminations · 10/11/2019 14:10

Love it!

Sparklysunflowers · 10/11/2019 14:00

Elaine works best in English. The pronunciation is unambiguous.

Elena, Eliana, Elaina etc have several pronunciations.

I love Elaine - feminine and beautiful.

jamdhanihash · 10/11/2019 11:01

Smartest woman at my work is called Elaine. I think it's a winner.

Howgreenwasmyvalley · 10/11/2019 10:59

My sister in law is Laina.

Cbeebiesrehab · 10/11/2019 10:55

Like Lainey, like Elaina/Elena...dislike Elaine.

NaturalBornWoma · 10/11/2019 10:16

For me it's in the same group as Maureen and Pauline.

Starryskiesinthesky · 10/11/2019 10:06

I don’t think it’s about negative views of older women. All the granny chic names wouldn’t be popular if that was the case. It’s about it being too recent but not modern. I know a few Elaine’s and I like them and don’t think yuck to their names but I wouldn’t call a baby it.

Love / like Eleni and Elena though.

IVflytrap · 10/11/2019 09:52

I really like it. It would be popular today if people didn't associate it with older women (because older women are a negative thing, apparently). Other short El-names are popular, it's vowel-heavy and feminine like the most popular girls names today.

The main reason I love it is the Arthurian link.

It will probably come back in fashion in the next 20-30 years, so if you use it now you'll be ahead of the curve.

Sportsnight · 10/11/2019 08:58

I really like Lainey. I considered it. Elaine is an excellent character in Seinfeld. I’ve never met one in real life.

MilkTrayLimeBarrel · 10/11/2019 08:50

How about Eliana - I knew a German girl called this and always thought it pretty? It's pronounced El-ee-arna.

Marinetta · 10/11/2019 08:46

I hate it. It used to be my middle name but I legally changed my name so I could remove it and eliminate all trace of it from my ID documents. Even though a middle name is rarely used I used to cringe everytime I saw it on my passport. I couldn't tell you why I dislike it though, its a bit of an irrational hatred I think.