Elaine

[trueblueari]

Opinions on Elaine?

Too old fashioned or due a comeback?

I’m old enough to remember it first time round, and always thought it was an awful name even then. I’ve never known a nice one, which doesn’t help ...

Please don’t revive this name, and let it stay in the fifties and sixties with Sharon, Tracey and Linda!

Gislaine is beautiful but don't do the daggers on Elaine. The one Elaine I know is the most permanent and lovely ever.

She was born about three months after the NHS was conceived; a much wanted and late in her parent's window of opportunity baby.

She is amazing.

Depends on how Elaine is pronounced.. Eeee lane stressing the Eeee, or
ilane stressing the lane.

I like the French version, Eliane pronounced Elly anne at least the French lady with that name pronounced it that way.

The Elaine’s I know are all in their 40-50s. It’s a name I’ve never liked - it seems v bland and harsh. Awful name imo.

I don’t like it at all, yet Eleni is one of my favourite names ever. So what do I know.

Waaay too middle-aged!

I think its really pretty! And I'd bet you would be just ahead of a comeback! I taught a Florence and a Mabel 12 years ago and people remarked on their incredibly old fashioned names - but they were just ahead of the trend!

I actually quite like it. And It's is very similar to a lot of names which are currently popular so other children probably wouldn't bat ah eyelid. I only know one under thirty and she often goes by ellie, so if you're dd didn't like it she would have options for a name that "fits in".

The nearest names I like would be Elena and Alannah.

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.

Elena?

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

Failed cross out there

I prefer Eliana, Elena and Elin.

But Elaine is also nice.

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

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

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

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

Helena and Elena are nice.

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

This is my name, I am 40

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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!