Kaylani
Hawaiian feminine name meaning "lei for the heavenly chief".
Name Census estimates that about 10,119 living Americans carry the first name Kaylani. It sits at #241 in the overall ranking, outside the top 50 but still well-represented. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Kaylani today is around 8 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kaylani births was 2024 (1,299 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kaylani. 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
- • Kaylani is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 8 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
10K
~ 1 in 33,872 Americans
Peak year
2024
1,299 babies that year
Average age
8
years old
2024 SSA rank
#241
Tracked since 1987
Popularity
Kaylani: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Kaylani from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 5,807 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
Kaylani 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 Kaylani during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Kaylanis live
The SSA's state-level files cover 40 states and territories. California, Texas, Florida recorded the most babies named Kaylani, while West Virginia, Delaware, Nebraska recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 230 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Kaylani
The name Kaylani is a relatively modern invention, blending elements from different cultures and languages. Its roots can be traced back to the Hawaiian language, where the name Kayla means "laurel plant" or "the sea." This name gained popularity in the Western world during the latter half of the 20th century.
The latter part of the name, "lani," is also derived from Hawaiian and means "heaven" or "sky." When combined, Kaylani could be interpreted as "heavenly laurel" or "laurel from the sea." However, it's important to note that the name itself is not a traditional Hawaiian name but rather a creative fusion of elements from the Hawaiian language.
There are no known historical references or appearances of the name Kaylani in ancient texts, religious scriptures, or historical records. Its emergence seems to be a product of modern name invention, likely inspired by the growing interest in Hawaiian culture and the desire for unique and melodic names.
While the name Kaylani itself may not have a long historical record, there have been a few notable individuals who have carried this name in recent times. One example is Kaylani Juanita, an American singer and songwriter born in 1985, known for her work in the R&B and pop genres.
Another individual named Kaylani is Kaylani Lei, a Hawaiian actress and model born in 1980, who has appeared in various television shows and films. Additionally, Kaylani Ricketts, a Jamaican-American model and television personality, has gained recognition for her work in the fashion industry.
In the world of sports, there is Kaylani Ricketts, a Jamaican-American model and television personality, who has gained recognition for her work in the fashion industry. Additionally, Kaylani Noa, a Hawaiian-born professional surfer, has made a name for herself in the surfing community.
While the name Kaylani may not have a rich historical background, its unique blend of cultural elements and modern appeal has contributed to its growing popularity in recent decades. As with many contemporary names, its significance lies in the personal stories and achievements of those who bear it.
People
Kaylani + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kaylani 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
Kaylani: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kaylani?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 10,119 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kaylani 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 33,872 US residents.
Is Kaylani a common name?
We classify Kaylani as "Uncommon". It ranks above 97.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 10,193 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kaylani most popular?
The single biggest year for Kaylani was 2024, when 1,299 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kaylani is about 8 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Kaylani a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kaylani 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.
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.