Given name
Ailani
“woman who holds rank as high chief”
Ailani is used as a given name. One Hawaiian interpretation is “woman who holds rank as high chief.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Hawaiian interpretation is “woman who holds rank as high chief.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Hawaiian.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1996. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Ailani through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 7,905
- 6 boys · 7,899 girls
- Most popular year
- 2025
- 1,807 babies
- 2025
- 1,807
- #168 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +136%
- Rising fast
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 1,807 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 168 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 136.2% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (340). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,182 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Ailani’s family of names
Ailani has a related form in Aelaney. Ailani has a related form in Aelani. Ailani has a related form in Ailana.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 10
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Ailanyvariant
- Ailanavariant
- Ailannilikely variant
- Ailanievariant
- Aelanivariant
- Ailaneahvariant
- Ailaneavariant
- Ailaneyvariant
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Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Ailani, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Meilani
Meilani is a feminine given name from Hawaiian.
>99% girls
Ulani
“one who is cheerful”
>99% girls
Wailani
“water” · “sky”
>99% girls
Kawailani
“the” · “water”
>99% girls
Okalani
“from the heavens”
>99% girls
Halia
“the remembrance of one who was loved”
>99% girls
Olina
“one who is joyous”
>99% girls
Mililani
“caress” · “sky”
>99% girls