Rising since 2002, #1,548 for girls today.
Popularity of Maelani since 1999
Babies named Maelani per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 5 |
| 2000s | 58 |
| 2010s | 178 |
| 2020s | 571 |
Meaning & origin
Maelani is a modern feminine name that first entered U.S. records in 1999. Since then, it has climbed steadily in popularity, reaching its peak rank of 1548 in 2025, with a trajectory described as rising since 2002. In 2025, it was given to approximately 1 in every 11,818 girls. The name is most popular in Connecticut, Indiana, and Massachusetts. Like many contemporary coinages, Maelani is likely a blend of the familiar short form Mae and the fashionable suffix -ani, seen in names such as Leilani. It exemplifies the modern trend of creating melodic, two-syllable feminine names ending in 'i'.
Maelani first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1999. It is almost certainly a modern invention, formed by combining the name Mae (itself a diminutive of Mary or a separate English name) or Maely with the fashionable Hawaiian-inspired suffix '-ani' (seen in names like Leilani and Melani). There is no evidence of historical usage in any traditional language. The name reflects a broader trend of creating feminine names ending in '-ani' with a melodic quality.
Where Maelani is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mae, Lani, Maela
Variants: Maelyni, Maelany, Maylani
Sibling names for Maelani
Names that share Maelani's style, for a brother or sister.
