Kamakani
A Hawaiian name meaning "child of the wind".
Name Census estimates that about 10 living Americans carry the first name Kamakani. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Kamakani today is around 16 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kamakani births was 2006 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kamakani. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Kamakani. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
10
~ 1 in 34,275,434 Americans
Peak year
2006
5 babies that year
Average age
16
years old
2013 SSA rank
#13,095
Tracked since 2006
Popularity
Kamakani: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Kamakani from the 2000s through to the 2010s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 5 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kamakani by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Kamakani during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Kamakanis live
Origin
Meaning and history of Kamakani
Kamakani is a beautiful Hawaiian name that has its origins in the vibrant Polynesian culture of the Hawaiian Islands. The name is derived from the Hawaiian words "kama," meaning child, and "ka'ni," meaning wind or breeze, forming the poetic interpretation "child of the wind."
This name has deep roots in the rich traditions and mythology of Hawaii. In ancient Hawaiian legends, the wind played a vital role, symbolizing the breath of life and the connection between the physical and spiritual realms. The name Kamakani was often bestowed upon children born during windy or breezy conditions, believed to be a sign of good fortune and spiritual guidance.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Kamakani can be traced back to the 18th century, with references found in historical documents and oral traditions passed down through generations of Hawaiian storytellers. One notable example is the legendary figure of Kamakani, a revered Hawaiian chieftain and navigator who was said to have an exceptional understanding of the winds and currents, guiding his people across the vast Pacific Ocean.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Kamakani. One of the earliest was Kamakani Nui, a powerful Hawaiian chief who lived in the late 18th century and played a significant role in the unification of the Hawaiian Islands under King Kamehameha I. Another notable figure was Kamakani Kapu, a respected kahuna (priest) and healer who lived in the early 19th century and was renowned for his knowledge of traditional Hawaiian medicine and spiritual practices.
In the realm of Hawaiian music and culture, Kamakani Beamer (1913-1992) was a celebrated composer, musician, and kumu hula (hula teacher) who played a pivotal role in preserving and promoting the traditional Hawaiian arts. His compositions and teachings have left an indelible mark on the cultural landscape of Hawaii.
More recently, Kamakani De Dood (born 1977) is a renowned Hawaiian artist and sculptor, known for her intricate wood carvings and sculptures that capture the essence of Hawaiian mythology and the natural world.
The name Kamakani continues to be cherished and celebrated in Hawaii, a testament to the enduring legacy of Hawaiian culture and the deep connection between the people and the elements that shape their island home.
People
Kamakani + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kamakani as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with K
Other first names starting with K with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Kamakani: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kamakani?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 10 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kamakani going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 34,275,434 US residents.
Is Kamakani a common name?
We classify Kamakani as "Very Rare". It ranks above 28.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 10 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kamakani most popular?
The single biggest year for Kamakani was 2006, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kamakani is about 16 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Kamakani in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Kamakani a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kamakani in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Kamakani still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Kamakani in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Kamakani can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How common is the name Kamakani?
For a quick modern take, check how many Americans are named Kamakani on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.