Lanie is a short form of Elaine, the Old French form of Helen that is usually explained as "light" or "torch", and it also works as a nickname for Delaney and Melanie. It has a sunny, casual sound that fits alongside Laney and Lainey. Lanie peaked at number 1069 in the United States in 2003, just outside the top 1000, and ranks 2227 in 2025 with 83 births.