Lauraine is of French origin and means "laurel wreath". It was initially a surname derived from the plant laurel, but later transformed into a given name for females. The name gained popularity in the United States during the early 20th century and has since been used steadily, though not extensively. Notable individuals with this name include American actress Lauraine Bennett and Canadian poet Lauraine Snider. In literature, it appears as a character name in several works, such as "The House on Mango Street" by Sandra Cisneros and "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd. The variant spelling Lauren has been more widely used, but Lauraine offers a distinctive touch while still being easy to pronounce and spell.
Lauraine was quite popular at the start of the century, with notable peaks in popularity in the late teens to early twenties, particularly in 1922 and 1945. However, its usage declined significantly post-1950, with only sporadic appearances until it virtually disappeared by the mid-seventies.