Given name & surname
Lanai
“a veranda; from the island”
Lanai is used as a given name and a surname. One Hawaiian interpretation is “a veranda; from the island.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Hawaiian interpretation is “a veranda; from the island.”
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 1960. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Lanai through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 556
- 0 boys · 556 girls
- Most popular year
- 2008
- 26 babies
- 2025
- 16
- #6,999 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +9%
- Steady
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 16 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 6,999 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 9.1% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 460 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.
Lanai’s family of names
Lanai has a related form in Lenai. In Greek usage, Lanai as a surname is a transliteration of Λανάι. In Greek usage, Lanai as a surname is a transliteration of Λανάϊ.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 3
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Lanai, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Aolani
“cloud from heaven”
>99% girls
Lahela
“as innocent as a lamb”
>99% girls
Lokelani
“resembling a small red rose”
>99% girls
Hawaii
“from the homeland; from the state of Hawaii”
>99% girls
Kaili
“a god”
>99% girls
Louna
“happy”
>99% girls
Miliani
“of the gentle caress”
>99% girls
Mauli
“a black-haired man; a giver of life”
>99% girls