Home β€Ί Baby Names Directory β€Ί Lani

Lani

♀ Girl

Pronounced LA-nee /ˈla.ni/Medium

Meaning: Sky, heaven, royal, majestyMedium

In 30 seconds: Lani is a Hawaiian girl's name meaning 'sky' or 'heaven', with overtones of royalty and majesty.
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Origin MediumHawaiian
MeaningSky, heaven, royal, majesty
U.S. rank (2024)#1911 β†— Rising
2024 U.S. births104 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1979
Total births (all-time)β‰ˆ 7,241

Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data

peak 197919172024

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Lani comes from Hawaiian, where it means sky or heaven and also carries a regal sense of majesty. The word turns up inside many longer Hawaiian names, but it stands on its own as a short, airy given name. Its meaning roots it firmly in island tradition.

The light two-syllable sound matches its skyward meaning. American singer Lani Hall, a Grammy winner and lead vocalist with Brasil '66, is a notable bearer.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Lani is 'sky, heaven, royal, majesty', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Lani β€” etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration β€” 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • β˜…Lani Hall (b. 1945)
    American singer who was lead vocalist for Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 and won a Grammy for Best Latin Pop Performance; she also sang the title song for the James Bond film Never Say Never Again.

If you like Lani…

Leilaniβ€” A Hawaiian name built on the same 'lani' element meaning heaven.
Noelaniβ€” Another Hawaiian name containing Lani's 'heaven' root.
Kalaniβ€” A Hawaiian name sharing the 'lani' sky-and-royalty element.
Lanaβ€” A short name close to Lani in sound and soft feel.

Frequently Asked

What does the name Lani mean?

Lani is usually explained as meaning 'sky, heaven, royal, majesty' and is most often linked with Hawaiian tradition.

How do you pronounce Lani?

It's commonly said LA-nee /ˈla.ni/.

Is Lani a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Lani is used as a girl name.

How popular is Lani?

In 2024, Lani ranked #1911 in the U.S. for girls, with 104 births recorded.