Given name & surname
Kalani
“from the heavens”
Kalani is used as a given name and a surname. One Hawaiian interpretation is “from the heavens.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Hawaiian interpretation is “from the heavens.”
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 1959. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Kalani through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 12,515
- 2,237 boys · 10,278 girls
- Most popular year
- 2021
- 1,003 babies
- 2025
- 821
- #387 for girls · #4,792 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +39%
- Rising
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 6% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 800 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 387 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 45.5% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 21 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (85). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 6,198 as a first name in 2020; 559 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Kalani’s family of names
Kalani has a related form in Keilani. Kalani has a related form in Kaloni. Kalani has a related form in Keilana.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 13
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Keilanivariant
- Kalonivariant
- Kalanyvariant
- Kalanievariant
- Keilanavariant
- Kalonievariant
- Kaloneavariant
- Kaloneyvariant
Show 5 moreShow fewer
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Kalani
- Kalani BrownAmerican basketball player (born 1997)
- Kalani Kossa-RienziAmerican soccer playerborn 2002
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Kalani, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Kailani
“of the sky and sea”
>99% girls
Alani
“from the orange tree”
1% boys · 99% girls
Ailani
“woman who holds rank as high chief”
>99% girls
Nalani
“a calmness of the skies; heaven's calm”
>99% girls
Aulani
“the king's messenger”
>99% girls
Anani
“from the orange tree”
8% boys · 92% girls
Meilani
Meilani is a feminine given name from Hawaiian.
>99% girls
Leilani
“child of heaven; adorned with heavenly flowers”
>99% girls