Hawaiian Girl Names That Mean the Sea
Hawaiian girl names that mean the sea keep circling back to two root words, kai and lani, which explains why so many sound alike.
Names58
OriginHawaiian
Meaningthe Sea
GenderGirl
Look closely at this list and you'll notice the same two syllables resurfacing again and again. Kai means sea in Hawaiian, and lani means sky or heaven — so Kailani, Kaylani, Kailany, Keilani, and Kaylanni are all essentially the same idea, restyled.
Not every name here leans on that pair. Moana uses the wider Polynesian word for ocean, Kaia carries the sea meaning alongside separate Scandinavian and Greek readings, and Kai stands alone as a one-syllable root. Kehlani and Kaiya soften the sound further still.
Why Hawaiian girl names that mean the sea repeat the same sounds
Hawaiian naming tradition often works by combining short, meaningful words rather than borrowing whole names, which is why kai and lani keep pairing up in new combinations. Kailani and Kaylanni are really the same compound spelled to taste, and Keilani shifts the emphasis to describe a 'heavenly sea' rather than sea and sky side by side.
Familiar versus unexpected picks on this list
Kehlani and Kaylani now rank inside the U.S. top 200, both climbing, so a parent who wants the sea meaning without an unusual first day of school can lean on either one. Moana reads as instantly familiar thanks to the film, while Kaylanni and Kailany stay rare enough to feel personal rather than borrowed.
Names List
Kehlani#149 in the U.S.Sea, ocean — possibly derived from Hawaiian kai (sea) or a variant of Kailani (sea and sky); likely a modPronounced keh-LAH-nee▶Kaylani#185 in the U.S.Sea and sky; variant of Kailani, from Hawaiian kai (sea) + lani (sky, heaven)Pronounced kay-LAH-nee▶Kaia#193 in the U.S.Sea — from Hawaiian kai (sea, ocean); also used as a Scandinavian variant of Katja (pure) and a Greek varPronounced KY-uh▶Kailani#253 in the U.S.Sea and sky; from Hawaiian kai (sea) + lani (sky, heaven)Pronounced ky-LAH-nee▶Malia#349 in the U.S.Hawaiian form of Maria/Mary, from Hebrew Miryam. Also connected to the Hawaiian word for 'calm' or 'gentlPronounced mah-LEE-ah▶Kailany#581 in the U.S.Creative elaboration blending Hawaiian elements: kai meaning 'sea' or 'ocean' and lani meaning 'sky' or 'Pronounced ky-LAH-nee▶Keilani#727 in the U.S.Hawaiian name from kai (sea, ocean water) and lani (sky, heaven, heavenly, royal chief), meaning 'heavenlPronounced kay-LAH-nee▶Kaiya#994 in the U.S.From Japanese kai meaning ocean, sea, or forgiveness, combined with the suffix -ya or from Hawaiian kaia Pronounced KY-uh▶Kai#1133 in the U.S.Sea; from Hawaiian kai (sea, ocean)Pronounced KY▶Kelani#1356 in the U.S.Heavenly flower; also a river name in Sri LankaPronounced keh-LAH-nee▶Maliya#2993 in the U.S.Variant of Malia, the Hawaiian form of Mary/Maria, from the Hebrew Miriam meaning beloved, wished-for chiPronounced mah-LEE-yah▶Moana#3197 in the U.S.From Hawaiian and Polynesian moana, meaning 'ocean' or 'wide expanse of water'; used across many Pacific Pronounced moh-AH-nah▶Kaylanni#4144 in the U.S.Styling of Kailani — Hawaiian kai, 'sea', plus lani, 'sky, heaven' — 'sea and sky'Pronounced kay-LAH-nee▶Kehlany#4145 in the U.S.-y styling of Kehlani — Hawaiian, read 'sea and sky / heaven' (kai + lani lines)Pronounced kə-LAH-nee▶Kailea#4234 in the U.S.Modern coinage joining Kai ('sea' in Hawaiian) to a -lea ending (Kailani/Kaylee echoes); no single fixed Pronounced ky-LEE-ah▶Malea#4244 in the U.S.From Hawaiian malie, 'calm, gentle (waters)', or a form of Malia (the Hawaiian Mary); routes layeredPronounced mə-LAY-ah▶Makaia#4333 in the U.S.Modern coinage joining Ma- to Kaia (Hawaiian 'sea', or a Katherine echo, 'pure'); no single fixed rootPronounced mah-KY-ah▶Makiah#4961 in the U.S.Modern coinage echoing Makai ('toward the sea', Hawaiian) and Micah ('who is like God', Hebrew); here forPronounced mə-KY-ah▶Makiya#4962 in the U.S.Modern coinage echoing Makai ('toward the sea', Hawaiian) and Kiya; no single fixed rootPronounced mə-KY-ah▶Kaylanii#5352 in the U.S.Double-i spelling of Kailani/Kalani — Hawaiian, 'the heavens; the sea and sky; royal'Pronounced kay-LAH-nee▶Khailani#5867 in the U.S.Kh-spelling of Kailani — from Hawaiian kai, 'the sea', plus lani, 'heaven, sky' — 'the sea and sky/heavenPronounced ky-LAH-nee▶Marlani#5882 in the U.S.A modern name joining a Mar- opening ('of the sea', Latin) with the -lani ending ('heaven, royal', HawaiiPronounced mar-LAH-nee▶Kehlanii#6259 in the U.S.A spelling of Kehlani — from Hawaiian, variously 'the sea and the sky' and 'a heavenly one' (linked to laPronounced keh-LAH-nee▶Cai#6415 in the U.S.A Welsh form of Kai — variously 'rejoice' (Welsh) and 'the sea' (Hawaiian kai); used for both sexes; herePronounced KY▶Kaimani#6485 in the U.S.A modern name joining Kai ('the sea', Hawaiian) with -mani (echoing 'mana', power, or Amani, 'peace'); usPronounced ky-MAH-nee▶Cailani#6656 in the U.S.A spelling of Kailani — from Hawaiian kai, 'the sea', plus lani, 'sky; heaven'; 'sea and sky'Pronounced ky-LAH-nee▶Khaylani#6780 in the U.S.A modern coined name, echoing the Hawaiian Kailani ('sea and sky'); the Kh- styling personalizes it; routPronounced ky-LAH-nee▶Kailanii#7075 in the U.S.A double-i spelling of Kailani, from the Hawaiian kai ('sea') and lani ('sky; heaven') — 'sea and sky; hePronounced ky-LAH-nee▶Maleiah#7092 in the U.S.A spelling of Maliyah/Malia — variously a Hawaiian form of Mary ('beloved; star of the sea') and 'calm; gPronounced mah-LY-ah▶Maleya#7093 in the U.S.A spelling of Malia/Maleah — variously a Hawaiian form of Mary ('beloved; star of the sea') and 'calm; gePronounced mah-LAY-ah▶Kailana#7383 in the U.S.A modern name, joining Kai (Hawaiian 'the sea') with Lana ('calm; afloat; light'); routes uncertainPronounced ky-LAH-nah▶Lahna#7769 in the U.S.A spelling of Lana — variously Hawaiian, 'calm/still water; a float; a harbor', and a Slavic short form oPronounced LAH-nah▶Nalu#7825 in the U.S.From Hawaiian, 'a wave; the surf; the surging sea'Pronounced NAH-loo▶Malie#8224 in the U.S.From the Hawaiian/Samoan, 'calm; gentle; serene; peaceful' (of the sea and weather); also a Samoan form oPronounced MAH-lee-eh▶Nahlani#8257 in the U.S.A modern name, joining a Nah- element (echoing Nahla, 'a drink of water', Arabic) with the -lani ending (Pronounced nah-LAH-nee▶Kailan#9845 in the U.S.A modern name, joining a Kai- element ('the sea', Hawaiian) with a -lan ending; used for both sexes; no sPronounced KY-lin▶Kailanni#9846 in the U.S.A spelling of Kailani — from the Hawaiian kai, 'the sea', + lani, 'heaven/sky', hence 'the sea and sky; hPronounced ky-LAH-nee▶Malyah#9958 in the U.S.A modern name, a spelling of Maliyah/Malia — variously the Hawaiian form of Mary ('beloved; of the sea') Pronounced mah-LY-ah▶Kehlanie#10652 in the U.S.A variant spelling of Kehlani, a Hawaiian-styled name read as 'sea and sky' or 'heaven' (from lani, 'sky;Pronounced keh-LAH-nee▶Kehlanni#10653 in the U.S.A variant spelling of Kehlani with doubled -nn, a Hawaiian-styled name read as 'sea and sky' or 'heaven' Pronounced keh-LAH-nee▶Kheilani#10665 in the U.S.A Hawaiian-styled spelling in the Kailani/Kehlani family, read as 'sky; heaven' or 'sea and sky' (from laPronounced kay-LAH-nee▶Kailanie#11557 in the U.S.An -ie spelling of Kailani, from the Hawaiian kai ('sea') and lani ('sky; heaven'), 'sea and sky.' The spPronounced ky-LAH-nee▶Kailanny#11558 in the U.S.A -nny respelling of Kailani, from the Hawaiian kai ('sea') and lani ('sky; heaven'), 'sea and sky.' The Pronounced ky-LAH-nee▶Kailanys#11559 in the U.S.A modern -nys respelling of Kailani, from the Hawaiian kai ('sea') and lani ('sky; heaven'), 'sea and skyPronounced ky-LAH-nees▶Maleeya#11794 in the U.S.Maleeya is a phonetic respelling of Malia/Maliyah. Malia is the Hawaiian form of Mary ('beloved', or 'bitPronounced mah-LEE-uh▶Kani#12729 in the U.S.Kani reads mostly as a short, modern coinage or a clipping of longer Ka- names; separately it is a HawaiiPronounced KAH-nee▶Wailani#13339 in the U.S.From Hawaiian wai, 'fresh water', and lani, 'heaven; sky; royal' — read together as 'heavenly water' or 'Pronounced wy-LAH-nee▶Kailiany#14250 in the U.S.A modern elaboration of Kailani/Keilani, names built on the Hawaiian kai ('sea') and lani ('sky; heaven')Pronounced kay-lee-AH-nee▶Kaimana#14251 in the U.S.A Hawaiian name read two ways: as kai ('sea; ocean') plus mana ('spiritual power; strength') — 'power of Pronounced kai-MAH-nah▶Keylany#14352 in the U.S.Keylany is a modern spelling of Kailani/Kalani, names built from Hawaiian elements kai ('sea') and lani (Pronounced kay-LAH-nee▶Kaiyana#16352 in the U.S.Kaiyana joins Kai, a short name with several origins, most familiarly Hawaiian for 'sea,' to the flowing Pronounced kye-AH-nuh▶Kaylanis#16403 in the U.S.A modern coinage echoing Kaylani/Kailani (Hawaiian, 'sea and sky') with an -is ending. By that echo it toPronounced kay-LAH-nis▶Khilani#16427 in the U.S.A modern coinage echoing Kailani and Kalani (Hawaiian, 'the sky; sea and sky'). By that echo it touches 'Pronounced kih-LAH-nee▶Keylanie#16450 in the U.S.A modern coinage echoing Kaylani/Kailani (Hawaiian, 'sea and sky'). By that echo it touches 'heavenly'; aPronounced KAY-luh-nee▶Kealia#16455 in the U.S.From Hawaiian kealia, 'salt bed' or 'salt encrustation' - a natural salt flat left where seawater evaporaPronounced keh-ah-LEE-ah▶Makayah#16691 in the U.S.Makayah reads as a modern name close to Makai, the Hawaiian word meaning 'toward the sea,' reshaped with Pronounced muh-KY-uh▶KheilanyA modern coinage echoing Kailani (Hawaiian, 'sea and sky'). By that echo it touches 'heavenly'; as a coinPronounced kay-LAH-nee▶NamakaFrom the Hawaiian Namaka (Namakaokahai), 'the eyes (of the sea)' (na maka, 'the eyes'); the Hawaiian sea-Pronounced nah-MAH-kah▶
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Frequently Asked
What does Kailani mean in Hawaiian?
Kailani combines kai (sea) and lani (sky), so it translates loosely to 'sea and sky.' Variants like Kaylani and Kailany use the same two root words with a different spelling.
Is Moana a real Hawaiian word?
Yes — Moana is the Hawaiian and wider Polynesian word for ocean or sea; the word existed long before Disney's 2016 film borrowed it as a character name.