Elaine’s Notebook: Personalized Journal for Elaine
A simple, pretty journal made for one person: Elaine. Her name is set in script above pink watercolor apple blossom on the cover.
- 160 lined pages
- 6" x 9" paperback
- Watercolor apple blossom cover with "Elaine's Notebook" on the front
- Printed and shipped by Amazon
What does the name Elaine mean?
Elaine is an Old French form of Helen, Behind the Name explains. It comes from Arthurian legend: in Thomas Malory’s 15th-century Le Morte d’Arthur, Elaine is the daughter of Pelles, the lover of Lancelot and the mother of Galahad. It was not commonly used as an English name until Alfred Tennyson’s Idylls of the King (1859), and Wikipedia agrees that Tennyson popularized it. Wikipedia also mentions a suggestion that the name may come from a Welsh word meaning “young deer”.
Elaine nicknames and other forms
Behind the Name lists Elaina as an English variant and Lainey and Laney as diminutives. Older spellings turn up in the legends too: Wikipedia says Elaine of Astolat is also known as Elayne of Ascolat. Lainey is the cheerful everyday option for an Elaine.
Some famous Elaines
Jamaican sprinter Elaine Thompson-Herah won both the 100 and 200 meters at the 2016 and 2020 Olympics, the first female sprinter to win the sprint double at consecutive Games. Elaine May was a founding member of Chicago’s Compass Players, formed the comedy duo Nichols and May with Mike Nichols, and received an Honorary Academy Award in 2022. And on TV, Elaine Benes of Seinfeld, played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, won her star an Emmy and a Golden Globe.
Elaine through the decades
Elaine peaked in the 1940s. US Social Security data has it entering the top 200 in the 1910s, rising to 51st in the 1930s and reaching its best rank, 46th, in the 1940s, when more than 60,000 American girls were named Elaine. It was 81st in the 1950s and 141st in the 1960s before leaving the top 200.
Did you know?
Arthurian legend has two Elaines. Wikipedia says Elaine of Astolat, who dies of unrequited love for Lancelot, is not the same as Elaine of Corbenic, Galahad’s mother. Elaine of Astolat’s body floats down the river to Camelot in a small boat, holding a lily, a story Tennyson retold in “The Lady of Shalott”.
Gift ideas for an Elaine
- For a sprinter. Training logs, in honor of Elaine Thompson-Herah.
- For a comedy writer. Sketch ideas, for a name shared with Elaine May.
- For a Seinfeld fan. Notes about nothing, in honor of Elaine Benes.
- For a poetry lover. Elaine was popularized by Tennyson.
Who is it for and how she can use it
Whether Elaine is eight or eighty, a 6" x 9" notebook is a comfortable size: big enough to write in properly, slim enough to carry. The 160 lined pages don’t come with a set layout, so she decides what it’s for. Journal, planner, class notes, recipes, travel log or doodle book all work. And with her name on the cover, nobody will mistake it for theirs.
Why personalized works
Personalized gifts show you thought about the person, not just the occasion. A notebook with Elaine on the cover is affordable, useful every day and still feels special. It’s also a safe choice when you’re not sure of someone’s style, because everyone needs somewhere to write things down.
Frequently asked questions
How big is Elaine’s Notebook? It’s 6" x 9" (about 15.2 x 22.9 cm), with 160 lined pages in a paperback cover.
Where do I buy it? On Amazon. It’s printed on demand and shipped by Amazon, so delivery and returns go through your usual Amazon account.
Do you have other names? Plenty. If you’re shopping for more than one person, see all name notebooks and our personalized name notebooks page.
Check out Elaine's Notebook on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Elaine's Notebook is published by Black Stag Publishing.