Kani
A feminine name of Indian origin meaning "little ray of sunlight".
Name Census estimates that about 879 living Americans carry the first name Kani. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 72.0% of registrations being male. The average person named Kani today is around 17 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kani births was 2006 (57 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kani. 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.
People living today
879
~ 1 in 389,937 Americans
Peak year
2006
57 babies that year
Average age
17
years old
2024 SSA rank
#6,010
Tracked since 1993
Gender
Gender distribution for Kani
Kani is one of the more evenly split names in the SSA data. Of the 889 total registrations, 640 (72.0%) were male and 249 (28.0%) were female.
Kani as a male name
- Ranked #6,010 in 2024
- 15 male births in 2024
- Peak: 2006 (46 births)
Kani as a female name
- Ranked #12,729 in 2024
- 7 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2022 (18 births)
Popularity
Kani: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Kani from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 385 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2000s peak, Kani remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kani 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 Kani during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Kanis live
The SSA's state-level files cover 4 states and territories. Georgia, Florida, New York recorded the most babies named Kani, while Virginia, New York, Florida recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 13 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Kani
The name Kani has its origins rooted in various cultures and languages, each imbuing it with a unique meaning and significance. One of the earliest known references to this name can be traced back to ancient Sanskrit texts, where it was a term used to denote a female warrior or huntress.
In the Tamil language, prevalent in parts of southern India and Sri Lanka, the name Kani carries the meaning of "pure" or "unblemished." It was often bestowed upon children as a symbolic representation of their innocence and virtue.
Moving westward, the name Kani also finds its roots in the Persian language, where it translates to "source" or "origin." This connection could allude to the name's association with a person's fundamental essence or beginnings.
Delving into the annals of history, the name Kani has been borne by several notable figures across various cultures and eras. One such individual was Kani Kingi, a revered chief of the Māori people in New Zealand during the late 18th century, known for his leadership and diplomacy in navigating conflicts between indigenous communities and European settlers.
Another prominent figure was Kani Munawar, a renowned 16th-century poet and scholar from the Indian subcontinent, whose works explored themes of love, spirituality, and the human condition. His poetic legacy continues to influence literary circles to this day.
In ancient Egyptian mythology, Kani was the name of a minor deity associated with fertility and abundance. While not widely celebrated, this connection adds a layer of symbolic significance to the name's origins.
Turning to more modern times, Kani Kusruti was an influential 20th-century artist from Indonesia, whose vibrant paintings and murals captured the vibrant essence of her culture and traditions. Her works have been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world, cementing her place in the art world.
Lastly, Kani Somduth was a prominent Mauritian writer and activist, whose works shed light on the struggles and resilience of marginalized communities in her homeland. Her novels and essays played a pivotal role in shaping social discourse and advocating for equality and justice.
These examples serve as a testament to the rich tapestry of cultures and histories that have shaped the name Kani, endowing it with a multitude of meanings and associations that transcend geographical boundaries.
People
Kani + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kani 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
Kani: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kani?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 879 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kani 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 389,937 US residents.
Is Kani a common name?
We classify Kani as "Very Rare". It ranks above 89.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 889 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kani most popular?
The single biggest year for Kani was 2006, when 57 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kani is about 17 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Kani a male name?
Yes, 72.0% of people registered as Kani 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.
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.