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A bit elderly sounding, but pretty. Kind librarian vibes.

I like it. It’s a bit dated, would be fine for a middle name, but still is usable as a first name. You could also make it more modern by making it Elaina, Alaina, or Elena.

Such a pretty, sweet name! I don't think it was ever ubiquitous enough for the datedness to affect it deeply.

I have liked to for many years. I don't think it sounds dated, it sounds rather fresh these days. I really like it. But not enough to use it.

I don't mind datedness if there's nothing else wrong. In this case, my cousin's best friend at school was Elaine, and everyone except my aunt said it the normal way. My aunt called her EElaine, which set my teeth on edge and still does. And, on the other side, I love Helen so much that Elaine always seems like a missed opportunity - there goes a sad person who was almost Helen but she just got unlucky!

I actually really like it and I do think it's dated but not in a "stuffy and dusty" sort of way. Not to the extent that everyone else seems to see it as. It would be nice to hear it being used again. Would be a bit refreshing.

Elaine is lovely. It reminds me of Arthurian myth and of medieval times when Arthurian myths were pop culture. It did have a spike in popularity along with Helen, but I think it will eventually make a come back. For me, Elaine could honor a family member, so I would consider using it as a middle name.

I don’t mind it, it makes me think of Elaine from Seinfeld which is a good association to me.

This message was edited 1/20/2020, 9:22 AM

prefer Elena, Eliana, Alayna. Yes seems dated

I don't hate it. I like its medieval flavor. But the only Elaine I've ever known was a nice girl but unintelligent, and every time I hear the name I think of her, and because I always think "What a dummy she was" it's not the best association. It's dated, but whether or not it's too dated depends on how one feels about a name being dated.

It has a very 1960s/70s vibe to me.

I actually really like Elaine. I think it's pretty, yet simple and underused. I find it dated only in a "Hazel" kind of a way where it could easily make a come-back, not a "Maureen" kind of way where it's likely to stay dated for a very long time. On a related note, Elaina is in my top 10.

I feel like Helen, Ellen, Eileen, and Elaine are all dated but not really unpleasantly so. I'd probably like it, if I weren't disinterested in El* names as a group.

I love it. It does have a dated feeling to it, bringing to mind the Seinfeld character. At the same time, though, I think of Arthurian legends, poetry, strength. I would use it in a heartbeat.