Kalani
Kalani is both a surname and a given name. Some notable people with the name include:
- Hawaiian
Meaning & Origin of Kalani
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Kalani is both a surname and a given name. Some notable people with the name include:
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Hawaiian
The Story of Kalani
As a girl name
The earliest SSA record of Kalani as a girl name dates back to 1963, when 11 babies received it. 2021 was its biggest year on record, with 959 newborns named Kalani — #339 in the national rankings. The 2020s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 54% of all recorded Kalanis. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #341 among girl names with 902 births, rising sharply (+25% over the past five years). In total, more than 11K Kalanis have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1960s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
American parents first put Kalani on the record books as a boy name in 1959, with 5 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 2009, when 86 Kalanis were born — ranking #1,762 that year. The 2000s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 29% of all recorded Kalanis. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #3,575 among boy names with 32 births, falling sharply (-24%). In total, more than 2K Kalanis have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1950s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Kalani
Phonetically similar names — useful when Kalani is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Kalani
What does the name Kalani mean?
What is the origin of the name Kalani?
How popular is Kalani in 2026?
When was Kalani most popular?
In which U.S. states is Kalani most popular?
Is Kalani a unisex name?
What names go well with Kalani?
About the name Kalani
Kalani is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1963 and has accumulated 11K births in the dataset. Kalani's peak popularity came in 2021 when it ranked #339. Use the chart and map above to compare Kalani's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2021 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "K" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.