Variant of Lorraine, from the French region name meaning kingdom of Lothar.
Laraine is a variant spelling of Lorraine, a name with deep geographical roots. Lorraine refers to the northeastern French region whose name derives from the medieval Latin Lotharingia — the kingdom of Lothair II, a 9th-century Carolingian king. The region's complicated history, passing between France and Germany across centuries and serving as a principal theater of both World Wars, gave the name a particular gravity in French and Franco-American communities where regional identity was fiercely held.
As a given name, Lorraine and its variants rose sharply in the early 20th century, particularly in the United States, where French regional names carried a romantic, sophisticated connotation. Laraine was one of several phonetic respellings — alongside Loraine and Larayne — that softened the French origin for English-speaking households while keeping the musical sound intact. Laraine Newman, an original cast member of Saturday Night Live (1975–1980), is perhaps the most prominent bearer, bringing the name into American cultural memory through comedy's golden age.
Lorraine Hansberry's landmark 1959 play A Raisin in the Sun, while using a different spelling, kept the name visible in American cultural conversation. Laraine sits in the mid-century American name aesthetic — feminine without frilliness, with a hint of French elegance and a solidly American adaptability. It feels simultaneously retro and quietly distinguished, the kind of name that rewards rediscovery.