As a child I hated my name because it wasn't very common and I often was called Eileen or Ellen from kids not familiar with the name Elaine. Popular culture of late has alleviated this unfamiliarity what with Elaine Benes on Seinfeld and Elaine, the uber slutty secretary on Ali McBeal and I have grown accustomed to having a name that isn't exactly common. There is still a sense of amusement upon meeting other Elaine's and I have looked at all of the phone directory pictures of the six Elaine's at my work searching for similarities to my own face. I once had a fairly close friend named Elaine and we always giggled when saying "Hi Elaine" to each other.
Doing a bit of research with my friend Google the other day I found even more references to my name.
Elaine is:
-a construction company in Massachusetts (who own Elaine.com)
-a bed and breakfast in New Mexico
-a city in Arkansas with a population of 865
-a high end clothing store in Palo Alto
-a flower shoppe in Buffalo, New York
-a bed and breakfast by the sea in Newfoundland
-the lover of Lancelot
-a fine dining restaurant in Connecticut
-the star studded restaurant in New York (which has veal on the menu by the way)
-the title of a song from Abba
It's a dead end street-a verse in the Robyn Hitchcock song Freeze
They tie your hands and tie your feet
And the street is narrow
A nowhere lane
A nowhere train for Elaine, Elaine, Elaine
You're like a goldfish in a bowl
Elaine, Elaine, Elaine
They have your mind, they'll take your soul
There's a justice in this world
She's cruel but she's fair
And I know just what she's called
She's called Elaine
I have many times emailed several of these businesses asking if I could order a t-shirt or some sort of marketing material from them but they generally end up thinking I'm rather odd. On eBay I have twice found jacket patches with the name Elaine on them (both of which I purchased). I don't know what the fascination is exactly, maybe I'm trying to reclaim my name by emphasizing how it is not as random as the kids on the playground thought when I was a kid? I fantasize about doing a road trip and visiting some of these places to see if they have a gift store or going to the thrift stores in Elaine, Arkansas and see how many items I can find with my name on them.
3 comments:
Good thing you werent named Ouida (how do you pronouce that anyway?)
Elaine Arkansas sounds to small to have shirts made but it would make a cool road trip/documantary or book. You could meet all the Elaines on the way, start an Elaine meet-up or yahoo group!
She's cruel but she's fiar, hee hee
At least you weren't named Susan Marie. The year I was born, it was THE most popular name and much to my mother's dismay, I've always found it extremely BORING. Maybe that is why my kids are named India and Adison!
Hiya,
I came across your blog looking up my name Elaine, also...I am living retired in Arkansas now, (originally from Mississippi) but not in Elaine Arkansas. I was given the name Mary Elaine, and my mom said she knew a pretty girl in school named Elaine, thus giving me that name. I, too, have looked for things with that name on it and tell people how to remember it by mentioning the movie Mrs. Robinson with Dustin Hoffman in it,when he runs into the church and yells out, E-L-A-I-N-E!!! Our name means- "Light". Sweet~~!
~ Elaine ~
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