Find out how popular the first name Jehlani has been for the last 24 years (from 2000 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Jehlani by gender

Based on the last 24 years of data, Jehlani is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 71% of people named Jehlani being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 35 female babies and 14 male babies born with the name Jehlani.

The history of the first name Jehlani

The name Jehlani has its origins in Arabic and Swahili cultures. It is derived from the Arabic word "jahlan" which means "ignorant" or "unwise". The name was likely given to children in hopes that they would grow up to be wise and knowledgeable individuals.

In its Swahili form, the name is spelled "Jhelani" and has a similar meaning related to wisdom and knowledge. It is believed to have been introduced to East Africa through Arab and Islamic influences in the region.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the 10th-century Arabic text "Kitab al-Aghani" (The Book of Songs), which mentions a poet named Jehlani ibn Abi Arabi. However, the exact details of this person's life and work are unclear.

In the 12th century, a famous Sufi mystic and scholar named Moinuddin Chishti, also known as Jehlani, lived in what is now modern-day Afghanistan and India. He is credited with spreading the Chishti order of Sufism in South Asia.

Another notable figure with the name Jehlani was Jehlani ibn Yahya al-Barmaki, a 9th-century Persian scholar and statesman who served as a vizier during the Abbasid Caliphate.

In the 13th century, a scholar and poet named Jehlani al-Djilani lived in Baghdad and wrote several works on Islamic jurisprudence and mysticism.

In more recent history, Jehlani Hussain was a renowned Pakistani diplomat and politician who served as the country's Foreign Secretary and Ambassador to several nations in the late 20th century.

These are just a few examples of historical figures who bore the name Jehlani, though there may be others whose records have been lost or obscured over time.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Jehlani was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Jehlani, please contact us.

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