Given name & surname · also Hawaiian
Lani
“from the sky; one who is heavenly”·“a servant”
Lani is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “from the sky; one who is heavenly” and “a servant”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “from the sky; one who is heavenly” and “a servant”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Where it comes from
This spelling has been associated with Hawaiian and Irish naming traditions.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1917. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Lani through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 7,556
- 183 boys · 7,373 girls
- Most popular year
- 1979
- 143 babies
- 2025
- 131
- #1,603 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +35%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 131 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,603 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 32.5% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 143 in 1979. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (22). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 7,463 as a first name in 2020; 403 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.
Lani’s family of names
Lani has a related form in Laney. Lani has a related form in Lanie. Lani has a related form in Lanee.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 7
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 5
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Lani
- Lani PallisterAustralian swimmerborn 2002
- Lani MisaluchaFilipino singer (born 1969)
- Lani WittevrongelBelgian cyclistborn 2004
- Lani GuinierAmerican activist, lawyer and academic1950–2022
- Lani MinellaAmerican voice actressborn 1950
- Lani CayetanoFilipino public servant and congresswoman; Mayor of Taguig Cityborn 1981
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Lani, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Lindsay
Lindsay is used as a given name, a surname, and a nickname. One English interpretation is “from the island of linden trees; from Lincoln's wetland.”
1% boys · 99% girls
Lesley
“garden of hollies”
2% boys · 98% girls
Rina
“one who sings a joyous song”
>99% girls
Brianne
“from the high hill; one who ascends”
>99% girls
Dara
“a wise woman” · “from the oak tree”
14% boys · 86% girls
Leanna
“the shining light”
>99% girls
Siobhan
“God is gracious” · “a gift from God”
>99% girls
Neely
“the champion” · “a champion”
>99% girls