Declining since 2021, #8,362 for girls today.
Popularity of Ellani since 2007
Babies named Ellani per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 2000s | 5 |
| 2010s | 45 |
| 2020s | 104 |
Meaning & origin
Ellani is a modern invented name that first appeared on U.S. birth certificates in 2007, a time when many parents were drawn to melodious, two-syllable names ending in 'i'. It reached its peak popularity in 2021, when it ranked 8,362, and has been gradually falling since then. As of 2025, about 1 in 133,939 girls receives the name, making it a distinctive but not unheard-of choice. Its construction suggests a blend of the popular 'El-' prefix (as in Ella) and the Hawaiian word 'lani', meaning 'sky' or 'heavenly', giving it a soft, exotic appeal. While Ellani has not seen enough usage to enter any state-level top lists, its rarity and pleasant sound may continue to attract parents looking for a unique name that feels familiar.
Ellani is a modern coinage, first recorded in the United States in 2007. It likely combines popular name components such as the prefix 'El-' (common in names like Ella and Eleanor) with the Hawaiian-origin element 'lani', meaning 'sky' or 'heavenly'. While the name evokes a melodic, feminine sound, its etymology is not traceable to a single linguistic source.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ella, Lani, Ellie
Sibling names for Ellani
Names that share Ellani's style, for a brother or sister.
