Elaine

[Andacherryonthetop]

The more I look at it the more I think it’s actually quite a pretty name and maybe due a come back. I’m not pregnant or planning on it so this is purely hypothetical. Just pondering

I think you're right.

It still feels a bit dated to me. I think it needs another generation or so to come back properly. Elena is very popular though. I think the name trend at the moment for girls is still firmly in the frillier, -a ending names: Diana rather than Diane; Clara rather than Claire; Louisa over Louise; Susanna rather than Susan.

I agree. It certainly is pretty.

It is dated but I think Elaine, Penelope and Valerie might be due back quite soon.

i'm definitely not a fan. I knew one in primary school it was the first time I had heard of it obviously and a thought it's not a nice name. My opinion had nothing to do with that Elaine herself who I didn't mind. I know sometimes if you know someone with a name and you have strong feelings about them good or bad it can influence the way you view the name.

Nah, Elaine the Pain from Tracy Beaker is all that springs to mind

Too early. We’ve only in the 1929s revival now. We’ve got the mid century peter and Jane to come, then we’ll get to Melanie and Elaine in he 1960s revival - probably from about 2935 when people born in the 60s are in their 70s

@lottiegarbanzo

It is dated but I think Elaine, Penelope and Valerie might be due back quite soon.

I think Penelope & Valerie are more current than Elaine

Sorry OP: Elaines I know are in their 60s, I’m not usually so forthright but I think it’s really dated and not coming back soon

What about: Ellen, Eliana (Brazilian name) or Eleanor/Elena?

My numbers have gone mad - I mean we’re in the 1920s revival now. The 60s revival probably isn’t due till 2035 / 2040

PS - @Luredbyapomegranate is 100% right, well put!

Elaine has a nice sound but I don't think it's ready yet for a revival. It peaked in the 1950s so there are still plenty of older Elaines about. It will probably be several decades before midcentury names come back in a big way.

Elaine is one of my favourite names based on its sound alone. It’s so lovely - Elaine. No frills, but so delicate and feminine. But unfortunately, if I move beyond the sound alone, I do find it very dated, and it conjures an image of a rather sour-faced checkout woman with a faded dolphin tattoo on her shoulder. Igraine has a similar sound, although not quite so delicate, but without being dated.

Noooo, it’s not due a comeback. Elena or Elaina is better.

it's rather old-fashioned and of the same generation as Julie, Susan and Karen

@DoWhatYouLike

it's rather old-fashioned and of the same generation as Julie, Susan and Karen

I don’t think it’s of that generation. It’s the generation above. I’m of that generation - I have one of those names! - and Elaine was the name of my friend’s mum.