Laina
Laina is a girl's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Shining light, sun ray; or grant, loan.
Origin and history
Laina is a given name with roots in Greek, where it often serves as a variant of Elaine or Helena, as well as Finnish, where it means 'loan' or 'grant'. It has gained modest visibility in the United States as an alternative to names like Layla and Alaina. The name offers a soft, modern phonetic appeal while maintaining classic ties.
Popularity in the United States
3,569 babies in the United States have been named Laina since 1880. It ranks #2959 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1612.
States where it is most popular
- CA (15.9 %)
- PA (12.6 %)
- OH (11.5 %)
- TX (8.8 %)
- FL (8.6 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 5 |
| 1910-1920 | 51 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 0 |
| 1950-1960 | 56 |
| 1960-1970 | 204 |
| 1970-1980 | 236 |
| 1980-1990 | 358 |
| 1990-2000 | 411 |
| 2000-2010 | 789 |
| 2010-2019 | 970 |
| 2020-2029 | 489 |
Fun facts
- In Finnish, Laina is a vocabulary word meaning 'loan' or 'grant', whereas in English-speaking contexts it usually derives from Helena or Elaine.
- Laina shares the popular 'ay-na' sound heard in contemporary favorites like Alaina and Layla.