Home › Baby Names Directory › Wailani

Wailani

♀ Girl

Pronounced wy-LAH-nee /waɪˈlɑː.ni/Medium

Meaning: From Hawaiian wai, 'fresh water', and lani, 'heaven; sky; royal' — read together as 'heavenly water' or 'royal water'. A documented Hawaiian name pattern; we note that Hawaiian names carry cultural weight and are best used with respect.Medium

In 30 seconds: Water and sky in one name: Wailani is Hawaiian for 'heavenly water' (said 'wy-LAH-nee').

💕 Browse more names

Origin MediumHawaiian

MeaningFrom Hawaiian wai, 'fresh water', and lani, 'heaven; sky; royal' — read together as 'heavenly water' or 'royal water'. A documented Hawaiian name pattern; we note that Hawaiian names carry cultural weight and are best used with respect.

U.S. rank (2024)#13339

2024 U.S. births7 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2024

Total births (all-time)≈ 7

History & Origin

Wailani joins Hawaiian wai ('fresh water') and lani ('heaven; sky; royal'), giving 'heavenly water' or 'royal water'. It belongs to the same family as Leilani and Noelani, where lani lends a sense of the sacred and the high-born. A Hawaiian name carries real cultural weight, which we note with respect (said 'wy-LAH-nee').

It appears only rarely for girls in the U.S. Rare, Hawaiian, and beautifully elemental.

Did you know? In Hawaiian, wai is fresh water — so precious that the word for wealth, waiwai, is simply water doubled. Add lani, 'heaven', and Wailani becomes 'heavenly water' (said 'wy-LAH-nee').

Overall data confidence 55%

References — Wailani — Hawaiian wai 'water' + lani 'heaven; royal'

Variations

WailanaWailanie

Nicknames

WaiLani

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Wailani…

Leilani— the best-known lani name

Kailani— a near sound-alike in Hawaiian

Noelani— a similar 'heavenly' lani compound

Alani— a like Hawaiian pick

Explore names like Wailani

By themeheritage nature melodic hawaiian

By meaningSky / Heaven Sea / Water Royal / Noble

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Wailani mean?

Wailani joins Hawaiian wai ('water') and lani ('heaven; sky; royal') — 'heavenly water'.

How do you pronounce Wailani?

It's said wy-LAH-nee /waɪˈlɑː.ni/ — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Wailani a boy or girl name?

Wailani is used as a girl's name; Hawaiian lani names can be unisex.

How popular is Wailani?

Wailani is a rare name for girls in the U.S.