UK name, mostly boys
Laine
A French name meaning "of the wool" or "made of wool".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 58 girls.
Laine is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Laine popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3688, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 7 births.
This profile covers 59 England and Wales registrations across 15 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 71% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 59 living people in the UK are called Laine. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Laine ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 7 boys were registered as Laine.
- • Laine is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 59 living people in the UK are estimated to have Laine as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 50.4% of Laine registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3688
2024
Births in 2024
5
Latest year
Peak year
1996
7 births
Estimated living
59
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Laine
In England and Wales birth records, Laine has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 50.4% of registrations are for boys and 49.6% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Laine registered for boys
- Ranked #3,688 in 2024
- 5 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 1996 (7 births)
Laine registered for girls
- Ranked #5,591 in 2019
- 3 girls registered in 2019
- Peak: 1997 (6 births)
Meaning
What does Laine mean?
The name Laine has its origins in the French language and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "laine," which means "wool" or "woolen cloth." This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with the wool trade or the textile industry, which was a significant part of the economy in medieval France.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Laine can be found in the "Chanson de Roland," an Old French epic poem from the 11th century. In this work, a character named Laine is mentioned, although details about their role or significance are scarce. Additionally, there are references to the name in various historical documents and records from the 12th and 13th centuries, indicating its use during that period.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Laine. One of the earliest was Laine de Cormillon (1235-1293), a French nobleman and military commander who fought in the Seventh Crusade. Another prominent figure was Laine de Béziers (1270-1345), a Catalan scholar and philosopher who made significant contributions to the fields of logic and metaphysics.
In the 15th century, Laine de Langeais (1410-1472) was a French noblewoman and courtier who served as a lady-in-waiting to Queen Marie of Anjou. She played a crucial role in the political and cultural life of the French court during her time.
Moving into the modern era, Laine Randjel (1912-1990) was a Swedish actor and director who gained recognition for his work in both film and theater. He was particularly known for his performances in several notable Swedish films of the mid-20th century.
Another notable figure was Laine Talley (1925-2014), an American fashion designer and entrepreneur. She founded the successful clothing company Laine Talley Couture and was known for her elegant and sophisticated designs, which were popular among the Hollywood elite and high society circles.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Laine throughout history, highlighting its enduring presence across various cultures and time periods.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Laine over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Laine in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Laine, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Laine by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Laine was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4367 | 15 | 4 |
| 2010s | #4390 | 14 | 4 |
| 2000s | #2985 | 15 | 4 |
| 1990s | #2145 | 15 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Laine
- Luke 72,247
- Lewis 69,555
- Leo 63,249
- Liam 60,482
- Lucas 49,061
- Logan 40,771
- Louis 35,898
- Luca 30,323
- Louie 24,242
- Leon 22,308
- Levi 9,931
- Lee 7,861
FAQ
Laine: questions and answers
How popular is the name Laine in the UK right now?
In 2024, Laine was ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Laine most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 7 babies registered as Laine in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Laine?
A French name meaning "of the wool" or "made of wool".
How many people are called Laine in the UK?
A total of 59 babies have been registered as Laine across the 15 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.