Kehlani
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "beautiful wanderer".
Name Census estimates that about 12,458 living Americans carry the first name Kehlani. It sits at #150 in the overall ranking, outside the top 50 but still well-represented. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Kehlani today is around 5 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kehlani births was 2024 (1,972 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kehlani. 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
- • Kehlani is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 5 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
12K
~ 1 in 27,513 Americans
Peak year
2024
1,972 babies that year
Average age
5
years old
2024 SSA rank
#150
Tracked since 2015
Gender
Gender distribution for Kehlani
Out of the 12,533 babies given the name Kehlani since 1880, 99.6% were registered as female. The name sits firmly on the female side of the spectrum, with only a handful of male registrations across the entire dataset.
Kehlani as a male name
- Ranked #13,252 in 2024
- 5 male births in 2024
- Peak: 2019 (10 births)
Kehlani as a female name
- Ranked #150 in 2024
- 1,967 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2024 (1,967 births)
Popularity
Kehlani: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Kehlani from the 2010s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 9,320 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
Kehlani 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 Kehlani during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Kehlanis live
The SSA's state-level files cover 46 states and territories. Texas, California, Florida recorded the most babies named Kehlani, while District of Columbia, South Dakota, Montana recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 266 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Kehlani
The name Kehlani has its roots in the Polynesian language of Samoa, where it originated as a feminine name meaning "the way of life" or "the way of the sea." Traditionally, it was given to girls born near the ocean or with a strong connection to the sea.
In Samoan culture, the name Kehlani was often associated with the goddess of the sea, known as Nafanua. It was believed that daughters bearing this name would be blessed with grace, beauty, and a deep connection to the natural world.
The earliest recorded use of the name Kehlani dates back to the 16th century, when it appeared in ancient Samoan chants and oral traditions passed down through generations. However, it wasn't until the 19th century that the name gained wider recognition outside of Samoa.
One of the earliest documented individuals with the name Kehlani was a Samoan chieftain's daughter born in 1825. She was renowned for her beauty and her skill in traditional Samoan dances and ceremonies.
Another notable figure in history bearing the name Kehlani was a Samoan princess born in 1876. She was known for her diplomatic skills and served as an ambassador for her people, facilitating trade and cultural exchanges with neighboring islands.
In the early 20th century, a Samoan writer and poet named Kehlani Tuiasosopo gained acclaim for her works celebrating the beauty of her homeland and the rich traditions of her people. She was born in 1902 and her poetry continues to be studied and revered in Samoa.
A more contemporary figure with the name Kehlani was a Samoan-American activist and environmentalist, Kehlani Tualaulelei, born in 1945. She dedicated her life to raising awareness about the impact of climate change on Pacific Island nations and advocating for sustainable practices.
Another notable individual bearing the name Kehlani was a Samoan-New Zealander artist and sculptor, Kehlani Faalupega, born in 1968. Her work, which drew inspiration from traditional Samoan motifs and the natural world, gained international recognition and is featured in several prestigious museums.
While the name Kehlani has its roots in Samoa, it has since gained popularity across various cultures and regions, particularly in recent decades. However, its rich history and connections to Polynesian culture and the ocean remain an integral part of its meaning and significance.
People
Kehlani + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kehlani 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
Kehlani: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kehlani?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 12,458 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kehlani 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 27,513 US residents.
Is Kehlani a common name?
We classify Kehlani as "Uncommon". It ranks above 98% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 12,533 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kehlani most popular?
The single biggest year for Kehlani was 2024, when 1,972 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kehlani is about 5 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Kehlani a female name?
Yes, 99.6% of people registered as Kehlani 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.