Holding steady, #14,942 for girls today.
Popularity of Iolani since 2001
Babies named Iolani per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 2000s | 32 |
| 2010s | 51 |
| 2020s | 19 |
Meaning & origin
Iolani is a Hawaiian name with strong royal and natural imagery. It first appeared in U.S. records in 2001 and reached its peak rank of 14,942 in 2013, with roughly 1 in 321,453 girls receiving the name in 2025. The name has shown stable usage, remaining a rare but consistent choice for parents seeking a Hawaiian heritage name. Its components, 'io' (hawk) and 'lani' (heavenly), reflect traditional Hawaiian significance. While it has not been recorded in any top states, its cultural resonance ties to Hawaiian monarchy and the natural landscape. Iolani offers a distinctive alternative to more common Hawaiian names like Leilani.
Iolani is a Hawaiian name derived from 'io' meaning 'hawk' and 'lani' meaning 'heavenly, royal, sky'. In Hawaiian tradition, the 'io' is a sacred hawk. The name is also associated with Hawaiian royalty, notably King Kamehameha IV, whose full name includes Iolani. It gained usage as a given name in the modern era, particularly after 2000.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Io, Lani, Iola
Variants: Iolana, Iolanna
Sibling names for Iolani
Names that share Iolani's style, for a brother or sister.
