Dylan
Welsh
“son of the sea”
Mostly girls · English diminutive of Elaine, French and Scottish
“bright shining light”
Say it LAY-neePronunciation may vary by region.
A little maybe, saved for later.
The story behind the name
Lainey developed as a familiar form of Elaine, a name connected with the Helen family and traditionally associated with light. It can now be used as a complete given name rather than only as a nickname.
Its two-syllable pronunciation keeps the sound of the longer name while changing its rhythm. Families comparing Lainey and Elaine can consider whether they prefer the everyday form or the more formal original.
A little perspective
Recorded US births over time
| Year | Category | US rank | Births |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | 13,116 | 5 |
| 2025 | Girls | 30 | 5,738 |
| 2024 | Girls | 38 | 5,156 |
| 2023 | Girls | 54 | 3,941 |
| 2022 | Boys | 13,508 | 5 |
| 2022 | Girls | 174 | 1,698 |
| 2021 | Girls | 250 | 1,229 |
| 2020 | Girls | 366 | 844 |
| 2019 | Girls | 381 | 822 |
| 2018 | Girls | 460 | 684 |
| 2017 | Girls | 510 | 615 |
| 2016 | Girls | 542 | 577 |
| 2015 | Girls | 576 | 531 |
| 2014 | Girls | 585 | 514 |
Rankings are calculated separately for boys and girls. Records below the publication threshold may be missing; gaps are not zero births.
No nicknames are listed yet. The name can stand beautifully on its own.
Keep the possibilities coming
More names with a similar feeling or shared roots.
Welsh
“son of the sea”
Scottish
“small hollow”
Scottish
“son of the fair hero”
Hebrew
“rest, repose”
English and Irish
“Rye land”