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© 2026 Namesake · namesake.baby

Data: Social Security Administration, US births 1880–2024

Kalani — Meaning, Origin & Popularity | Namesake
All names
Kalana|Kalanie
Polynesian◈ Unisex · 52% boy · 48% girl↑ Rising

◈= unisex (gender-neutral)

Kalani

◈

kah-LAH-nee · 3 syllables

Share Kalani:
Compare with another name
Girl
#339
↑ Rising
Girl
#339
Popularity score: 41
↑ Rising
Peak
#339 in 2021
5yr
+41 ranks
Velocity
+41
Birth frequency
2.5 per 10,000 births
Boy
#3292
Popularity score: 18
↑↑ Surging
Peak
#2819 in 2020
5yr
+214 ranks
Velocity
+214
Birth frequency
1.0 per 100,000 births

Popularity Over Time

↑ Higher on this chart = more popular · ↓ Lower = less popular

How Popular Is This Name?

Bars show the range of popularity for each group. The dot shows where this name sits. Further right = more popular.

BOY
Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20202024

Rank #3292 · Falling since 2020

All US boy names
Top 200 boy names
Polynesian boy names
Kalani

Popularity score: 18  ·  SSA Rank: #3292

GIRL
Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20202024

Rank #339 · Rising since 2020

All US girl names
Top 200 girl names
Polynesian girl names
Kalani

Popularity score: 41  ·  SSA Rank: #339

Rare  ·  Distinctive  ·  Familiar  ·  Common  ·  Very Common

Popularity score: 0 = least popular, 100 = most popular. Based on SSA rank.

Namesake Score
64
Higher than 64% of names
Combines uniqueness, trend, meaning, feasibility, and search interest.
Trend
↑ Rising
+41 ranks
Based on SSA rank velocity
Feasibility
Unknown
— · — · —
Low friction, available
Uniqueness
85
7 per 10,000 births
Won't be common in class

Kalani scores well on uniqueness but there are tradeoffs — domain availability is limited.

Meaning Depth37% of score
64
Name Trend28% of score
58
Uniqueness20% of score
85
Feasibility15% of score
50

Scores are percentile-ranked across 43,000+ names.

Name DNA
PolynesianHawaiianNatureCelestialUnisex3-syllableModern-trendingTropical
Character
connection to nature and skyopenness and expansiveness
People with this name

Qualities shared by notable Kalanis

determinedprincipledstrategicdisciplinedinspiring
STRONG
High confidence

Kalani is a Polynesian unisex name with upward momentum in SSA rankings. It ranked #339 in the US in 2024.

Trend:↑ Rising · +41 ranks
Feasibility:— · — · —
Popularity:#3292 · very rare
Kalani at a Glance
Meaning:The sky or heavens in Hawaiian. A name evoking celestial vastness and openness.
Language root:Hawaiian
Peak rank:#339 in 2021
5yr change:+41 ranks
Sex usage:Girl #339 · Boy #3292
Notable bearers
Kalani Sitake
College football coach
Kalani Hilliker
Dancer and television personality
Similar Sound
Kai◈Alani◈Keani◈Lani◈Kailani◈
Similar Style
MahinaKai◈LeilaniNoelaniNalaniHaukea
Works well with
Kai◈LeilaniNalaniMahinaKoa◈MoanaAlohaHilo
You Might Also Like
Mahina
Polynesian · #3672
↓ Fading
Leilani
Polynesian · #66
→ Stable
Noelani
Polynesian · #1656
→ Stable
Nalani
Polynesian · #529
↑ Rising
Haukea
English · —
→ Stable
Ailani
Polynesian · #325
↑↑ Surging
Source: Social Security Administration baby names data. Popularity data reflects US births. Feasibility data updated monthly.
Kalani illustration
Name Intelligence
Kalani · Overview
Summary

Kalani is a Polynesian unisex name with upward momentum in SSA rankings. It ranked #339 in the US in 2024.

Search interest: 2/100 → Stable

Strengths
Strong fundamentals
Kalani scores 64/100 on the Namesake scale — meaning, origin, and trend all contribute positively.
Rising steadily
Rank has moved 41 positions in the last year. Consistent upward trajectory.
Works for any sex
52% boy · 48% girl. A genuinely unisex name is rare at this level of distinctiveness.
Nature · Celestial character
Kalani carries a warm, grounded, ethereal quality that makes it distinctive without being invented.
Explore

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Data source:Social Security Administration
Coverage:US births 1879–2024
Updated:January 2025
ISR:Refreshes monthly
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