Given name
Elain
“resembling a fawn”
Elain is used as a given name. One Welsh interpretation is “resembling a fawn.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Welsh interpretation is “resembling a fawn.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Welsh.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1918. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Elain has a related form in Elaine. The history of Elaine gives this family its wider story. Elaine’s literary history includes the stories of King Arthur and his knights.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Elain through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 260
- 0 boys · 260 girls
- Most popular year
- 1947
- 11 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 5 in 2024. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 763 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Elain’s family of names
In English usage, Elain has a related form in Elaine. Elain has a related form in Elaen. Elain has a related form in Elayn.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 4
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Elain, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Elayne
“the shining light”
>99% girls
Gwynn
“a handsome man; one who is fair”
>99% girls
Regan
“born into royalty; the little ruler”
20% boys · 80% girls
Ellaine
“the shining light”
>99% girls
Gwyn
“one who is blessed with happiness” · “a handsome man; one who is fair”
>99% girls
Gwen
“a handsome man; one who is fair” · “one who is fair; of the white ring”
>99% girls
Wonda
“a wanderer”
>99% girls
Myrna
“one who is much loved”
>99% girls