Kayani
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "my gift" or "valuable".
Name Census estimates that about 281 living Americans carry the first name Kayani. It is a predominantly female name (97.9% of registrations). The average person named Kayani today is around 9 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kayani births was 2024 (36 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kayani. 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.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Kayani with official rankings and popularity over time.
People living today
281
~ 1 in 1,219,766 Americans
Peak year
2024
36 babies that year
Average age
9
years old
2021 SSA rank
#4,063
Tracked since 2002
Gender
Gender distribution for Kayani
Kayani leans heavily female at 97.9% of total registrations, but 6 boys have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Kayani as a male name
- Ranked #11,447 in 2021
- 6 male births in 2021
- Peak: 2021 (6 births)
Kayani as a female name
- Ranked #4,063 in 2024
- 36 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2024 (36 births)
Popularity
Kayani: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Kayani from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 135 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
Kayani 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 Kayani during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Kayanis live
Origin
Meaning and history of Kayani
The name Kayani is believed to have its origins in the Persian language, with its roots traced back to the ancient Indo-Iranian civilization that flourished in the region now known as South Asia and the Middle East. The name is thought to be derived from the Persian word "kayan," which means "noble" or "aristocratic."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kayani can be found in the epic poem Shahnameh, written by the renowned Persian poet Ferdowsi in the late 10th century. In this literary masterpiece, Kayani is mentioned as a title bestowed upon noble warriors and rulers, reflecting the name's association with nobility and valor.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Kayani. One such figure was Kayani Khan, a Pashtun warrior and leader who played a pivotal role in the Afghan resistance against the Mughal Empire in the 17th century. His unwavering bravery and leadership skills earned him a place in the annals of Afghan history.
Another prominent figure bearing the name Kayani was Akbar Khan Kayani, a Pakistani four-star general who served as the Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army from 2007 to 2013. His tenure was marked by significant efforts to combat terrorism and strengthen Pakistan's defense capabilities.
In the realm of literature, the name Kayani is associated with Kayani Baksh, a renowned Sindhi poet and writer who lived in the 19th century. His poetic works, which explored themes of love, spirituality, and social commentary, are celebrated as significant contributions to the Sindhi literary heritage.
The name Kayani also holds historical significance in the Indian subcontinent. Kayani Begum was a prominent Mughal princess and the daughter of Emperor Akbar. Known for her intelligence and political acumen, she played a influential role in the affairs of the Mughal court during the reign of her brother, Jahangir.
These are just a few examples of the numerous individuals throughout history who have borne the name Kayani, each leaving their mark on various fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of cultural heritage across different regions.
People
Kayani + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kayani 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
Kayani: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kayani?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 281 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kayani 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 1,219,766 US residents.
Is Kayani a common name?
We classify Kayani as "Very Rare". It ranks above 78.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 283 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kayani most popular?
The single biggest year for Kayani was 2024, when 36 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kayani is about 9 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 Kayani in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Kayani a female name?
Yes, 97.9% of people registered as Kayani in the SSA data are female. 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 Kayani still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Kayani 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 Kayani 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 many people share the name Kayani?
Find out how many people have the name Kayani on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.