Rising since 1992, #1,818 for girls today.
Popularity of Kaelani since 1988
Babies named Kaelani per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1980s | 11 |
| 1990s | 31 |
| 2000s | 155 |
| 2010s | 457 |
| 2020s | 661 |
Meaning & origin
Kaelani is a modern American coinage first recorded in 1988, blending the popular "Ka-" prefix with the Hawaiian word Lani, meaning "sky" or "heaven." This type of invented feminine name surged in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. In 2025, it ranked 1818 nationally, given to about 1 in every 14,612 baby girls, reflecting a rising trajectory since 1992. Its peak year was 2023. The name is most popular in Kentucky, Indiana, and Georgia, showing a regional concentration in the South and Midwest. While a purely contemporary creation, its melodic sound and nature-related meaning have contributed to its steady growth. Kaelani exemplifies a modern naming pattern: combining familiar phonetic elements to create fresh, pleasant-sounding names that feel both unique and accessible.
Kaelani is a modern coinage, first recorded in the United States in 1988. It appears to be a combination of the name elements Ka- (as in Kaia or Kayla) and the Hawaiian-derived Lani, meaning "sky" or "heaven." Such blendings were especially common in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, creating melodious, feminized names that evoke natural beauty. The name gained steady traction in the 2020s, peaking in 2023.
Where Kaelani is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Kae, Lani, Kiki
Sibling names for Kaelani
Names that share Kaelani's style, for a brother or sister.
