Given name
Xolani
“one who asks forgiveness”
Xolani is used as a given name. One African interpretation is “one who asks forgiveness.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One African interpretation is “one who asks forgiveness.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is African.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 2004. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Xolani through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,111
- 72 boys · 1,039 girls
- Most popular year
- 2024
- 217 babies
- 2025
- 214
- #1,124 for girls · #13,821 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +376%
- Rising fast
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 7% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 209 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,124 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 429.7% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 5 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (34).
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Xolani’s family of names
Xolani has a related form in Xolanea. Xolani has a related form in Xolanee. Xolani has a related form in Xolaney.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Similar names
If you love Xolani, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Xola
“stay in peace”
>99% girls
Khadija
“a perfect woman” · “a child born prematurely”
>99% girls
Nairobi
“woman from the capital of Kenya” · “from the capital of Kenya”
>99% girls
Safia
“one who is pure” · “having the lion's share”
>99% girls
Kumani
“fulfilling one's destiny”
>99% girls
Yuna
“a gorgeous woman”
>99% girls
Bahati
“one with good fortune”
14% boys · 86% girls
Hawa
“one who is desired”
>99% girls