Makani
The Story of Makani
As a girl name
American parents first put Makani on the record books as a girl name in 2003, with 5 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 2022, when 24 Makanis were born — ranking #5,306 that year. About 64% of every Makani on record arrived during the 2020s, its defining decade. As of 2026, Makani ranks #7,511 for girls with 14 births, rising sharply (+56% over the past five years). All told, over 162 Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 2000s to the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Makani as a boy name dates back to 1996, when 9 babies received it. 2022 was its biggest year on record, with 27 newborns named Makani — #3,989 in the national rankings. About 38% of every Makani on record arrived during the 2020s, its defining decade. As of 2026, Makani ranks #4,143 for boys with 26 births, rising sharply (+84% over the past five years). All told, over 406 Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1990s to the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Makani
Phonetically similar names — useful when Makani 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 Makani
What does the name Makani mean?
How popular is Makani in 2026?
When was Makani most popular?
In which U.S. states is Makani most popular?
Is Makani a unisex name?
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About the name Makani
Makani is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1996 and has accumulated 406 births in the dataset. Makani's peak popularity came in 2022 when it ranked #3,989. Use the chart and map above to compare Makani's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2022 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "M" →
- Browse all boy 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.